PL 7.02Lacing Card
The child laces through pre-punched holes in a stiff card, going up and down in a running stitch.
Age 3½–4½Work 2 of 5 in Sewing
Presentation
- 1
Invite the child and bring the lacing card to the table.
- 2
Hold the card upright. Point to the first hole, marked with a dot.
- 3
Push the lace tip up through the first hole from the back. Pull until the knot stops at the back.
- 4
Push the tip down through the next hole from the front. Pull it through.
- 5
Say 'up' and 'down' as you go. The alternating up-and-down is the difficulty isolated here.
- 6
Continue around the shape.
- 7
Unlace the card and invite the child to lace it.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Lace a card with more, smaller holes
- Lace using a whipstitch (always coming up from the back)
- Lace a card with a curved shape, then a picture the child draws and an adult punches
Control of error
Skipped holes are visible; lacing the wrong way leaves the lace tangled or on the wrong side.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Laces up and down through each hole without skipping
- Follows the shape all the way around
- Unlaces and puts the card away