If you’re like me, you can’t bear to throw out any scrap of yarn. Even the little 6 inch leftover scraps I trim off after weaving in ends…I keep them all. This is not just me being a little over obsessive about yarn. It does serve a practical purpose, as looking at all those scraps shoved together in a plastic baggie often give me new ideas for color or texture combinations that I may not have thought of otherwise.
However, sometimes little boys find those bags of scraps. Sometimes those little boys want to “make something” with those scraps. And sometimes a mom wants to try to get a few minutes of peace and quiet and decides that not all those scraps are really that important. With that thought, I give you this very, very mini tutorial on how to make a monster with your pre-schooler.
1. Put your baby down for his nap first. That way you will get your ten minutes of quiet.
2. Gather your pre-schooler and explain that it’s a special day: they get to use Mama’s Yarn Scraps. Watch them jump up and down with glee.
3. Grap a handful of scraps and cut them up into little furry pieces.
4. Draw a monster. Make sure he’s got a big, fat body. As you can see, refined drawing skills are not necessary!
5. Fill up your monster’s furry spots with glue.
6. Now comes the best part. Tell your child to put the monster’s fur on. Show him how to mash down the yarn onto the glue. Tell them to do a few pieces at a time so it sticks really well. And then, sneak away. Mop the floor, do the dishes, fold some laundry, or (gasp!) say the hell with housework and go and knit. I was a good girl and mopped the kitchen.
7. You may get called back to draw a monster dog and box to add to the picture. But nevertheless, your child will happily glue yarn, you’ll get a little break and when you’re all done:
You’ve got a furry little monster, one baggie less of yarn scraps, a thrilled pre-schooler and a happy mom.
Knittymama 
That has got to be one of the cutest things I’ve seen in a very long time. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am absolutely sure that I have several of those monsters lurking in my stash – perhaps Little Man could hunt them down for me?
Awesome! I’m totally saving yarn scraps for the days when Jackson is ready for a glue project. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hysterical!
I love it! My Mom did that when we were little. It is so fun.
great idea.
Awwww…too cute…I mean SCARY, too scary! ;o)
VEry cute idea! I have to try this out with some of my leftovers:)
My kids would love to do this. Thank you for sharing!!!
That’s a brilliant idea!!
That’s too funny! Good idea!
Awwww…such a cute little monster! Not scary at all like most monsters. And any monster that brings a few minutes peace to Mom is a very good monster, indeed!
That’s such a cute idea! Such a crafty ,innovative mom you are 🙂
Cute idea!
That is a fantastic idea!
I am definitely doing that with the next accumulated baggie of yarn scraps. My kids will love it. Thanks for the great idea.
What a great idea! I may have to steal that one… 😉
You are Brilliant!
That is the most creative use of yarn scraps ever.
🙂
What a great idea
That is the best idea for an activity I’ve seen in a long time!!
very cute monster! great use of old scraps!