Thanks for all your sweet comments on my Valentine’s Day Mantel! I’m back today to share my tutorial for the LOVE yarn letters I created. I had never tried wrapping anything in yarn {other than a wreath}, so I had a few trial and errors along the way 🙂 I’m going to share the technique that ended up working the best and fastest for me.
Start with your letters… mine are 8″ hollow cardboard letters. I found them at JoAnn’s for $1.99 each, but I’m sure you could find something similar at any craft store. I used 3 different colors of yarn because I wanted to create an “ombre” effect, but I think they would look just as cute in one color if you have some yarn you need to use up 🙂 {I will say, after using a pretty thin yarn I think next time I would try something a little thicker. It would take less wrapping and might give it a more textured look.}
The trick to wrapping these letters is the number of surfaces that have to be covered. You can’t simply wrap in one direction and cover the front, back, and all the edges. On a few of my edges {ends of the letters} I ended up using a technique where I glued the yarn instead of wrapping. I tried both ways, and this ended up being much faster. You need to figure out which edges need the “glue” method and do those first. Here’s how I did it:
1. E was the hardest letter so I figured I’d show you that one 🙂
2. Loop your yarn into 2″ segments, then cut the loops with scissors to create several small pieces of yarn.
3. Take 6-8 pieces of yarn at a time and group them together. {Make sure your glue gun is ready!}
4. Apply a generous amount of hot glue on the edge of you letter – enough to cover the width of your 8 pieces of yarn – a little less than 1 inch. Place the yarn on the glue and press down quickly. Make sure the pieces are nice and snuggled together so you get a tightly wrapped look 🙂
5. Once the top has been glued down, the ends of the yarn will be sticking out. Just trim them evenly, leaving enough room to glue them down on the sides.
6. You only need to cover the edge to the point where the actual wrapping will begin. {See, I only went about 2 inches in on the top and bottom of the E.} Here’s a view of the top:
Now you are going to start wrapping!
7. For the letter E, you will need to wrap each of the 3 “arms” first, in a vertical direction. Wrap each section separately, and secure the ends of the yarn on the back of the letter with a drop of hot glue {or tape, if you don’t want to burn your fingers like I did!}
8. Once all 3 sections have been wrapped vertically, you will start at the top of the letter and wrap in the other direction – horizontally 🙂 Do you like my arrows? This will cover the long section of the E, as well as the remaining exposed edges. Just make sure if you are using different colors that you switch your yarn accordingly 🙂
9. Finally you’re done! I’m going to be honest, it probably took me at least an hour to complete each letter. I’m not exactly sure because I was working on them random times during the day and night {whenever my kids let me!} So I dragged out the process for several days before I finished 🙂 But if you had one night to completely devote to the project, you could definitely bang it out.
Here is how I made the transition between colors to create the “ombre” effect:
As I was reaching the point where I would be switching colors, a started leaving a few little gaps in between my wrapped rows {to leave space for the next color}. Then I taped the end of the first color of yarn on the back and started in with my next color, filling in the gaps. Once everything was tight and in place where I wanted it, I took the tape off and glued it in place. Then just keep wrapping with your second color.
I wanted to show you a picture of the top view of the letter so you can see how nice it looks to have your edges wrapped nicely 🙂
Knowing how much time and patience this would take, I’m not sure if I’d do it again! Hahaha 🙂 But, each time I completed a letter it looked so great… it motivated me to keep going. And I LOVE the end result.
Oooo I love that bookends idea!! Glad you posted this tutorial because when I saw them on your mantle I knew I wanted to make something like this, but I wouldn’t have known until I got started that it’s a little bit complicated! Glad that when I do it I won’t have to learn through trial and error! Pinning this 🙂
Thanks cute friend! It really isn’t that bad once you get going, I think it just took be forever because I was doing it in smaller chunks of time, instead of devoting an entire evening to it 🙂 Plus, my baby girl kept getting into my yarn!
Hi! I’m wondering if you glue all of the pieces along the way or tie it off somehow? Thanks so much! Love this idea!
these are fantastic what a fun idea I hope you’ll add it to my What We Wore and Made Party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW
Fantastic idea! Fabulous colour. Love your site.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
These are great. I love them… Thanks for sharing a how-to.
Greetings from Germany
Catrin
These are the best wrapped letters I’ve seen yet! I love the color combinations, and your tutorial/tips on wrapping are fantastic. I haven’t made these before and hadn’t really thought about just how difficult it would be to cover all the edges. Great Job.
Meg, you are too sweet 🙂 Thank you! I’m glad you like the bright pinks… I love color. Hahaha, can you tell by my turquoise mantel??
Great tutorial and love the pictures too – pinning this down!
Thanks for pinning! Glad you found us 🙂
OMG! These are lovely!! Great job on the tutorial, so detailed, thanks for sharing. I have the letters on hand that could spell KISS so I think I’ll try it!!
xoxo
twentyfour7
http://xoxotwentyfour7.blogspot.com
Thanks Susan 🙂 If you try it, please let me know and I’ll link up to your project!
I love these letters, no pun intended. Besides my weekly linky fri-monday, I am also hosting a Valentine contest, please linky up you valentine posts for a chance to win some great prizes.
http://bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/
Thanks Mindie… we’re linked up 🙂
OMG…I totally ♥ these!! And I’m a little jealous, because you beat me to the punch, lol. I’m doing the same thing.
Your letters do look amazing!!
your newest follower from the link party.
What an AMAZING idea! I’ve been thinking about doing yarn letters for awhile now, I just wanted to come up with something a little more interesting than solid colors…now I have it! YAY! Also, totally digging the pin it button for this post! Xo Lori
http://lorilynn-alittlesliceofspecial.blogspot.com/
This is so cute! and I LOVE your mantel! I’d love it if you would share at my party!
http://www.cherishedbliss.com/2012/01/craft-and-tell.html
I LOVE this!! 🙂 I love the ombre effect and the pink and the yarn, it’s like 3 of my favorite things in one! lol So Cute!
3 of your favorite things… I love it 🙂 Thanks for leaving such a nice comment. You guys make me feel so loved!!
looks great! i love the color variation in each. and great tutorial, too.
these are so pretty!!!! would love for you to link them up at my Handmade Valentine Link Party:
http://www.summitstreetjoy.com/2012/01/handmade-valentines-day-crafts-and.html
And I’m so pinning them! 🙂
lauren
OMG! This is just gorgeous! 🙂
This is such a good idea! I like the way you layered the different colors.
How sweet! The crafts folk create with yarn is amazing! Love your “Love”
Visiting from Under $100 linky party at Beyond The Picket Fence 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us!
~Smiles, Suzanne in NW Illinois
Thanks, I might have to try that brand next time. I’m not a knitter or crocheter (is that a word??) so going down the yarn aisle is a little overwhelming 🙂 I’m usually drawn to the bright colors and anything that’s really soft & fuzzy. That being said, I have no idea what brands are good 🙂 So thank you!
Adorable! Thank you for linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
Those are absolutely Amazing!!! I love them! I am a new follower!
I currently have a link party going that I would love you to share these at.
http://twoyellowbirdsdecor.blogspot.com/2012/01/thursdays-temptation-link-party-2.html
Jill
Jill, thanks for inviting us over. You are so cute! We just linked up 🙂 And added your button to our party page 🙂 Have a great weekend!
These look AWESOME! I totally want to do this!
Brilliant! I’ve seen plenty of yarn letter tutorials, but you took the idea to a whole new (AWESOME) level with the ombre effects! Great job & thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’m glad you love it… I really like how the ombre effect turned out too. Wasn’t sure when I first had the idea but glad I tried it 🙂
Cool project. I love how it turned out. I tried doing a similar thing for a Halloween project with “BOO” letters. I got fed up and only made it half-way through the B. I may have to revisit that project after reading this tutorial. Thanks!
You should! It will be totally worth it when you get them done. Luckily, you have about 9 months before Halloween 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
This is just fabulous! I featured it on my Friday Favorites today. Come check it out 🙂 Happy Friday to you!
Thanks Tanya! We are so excited to be featured 🙂 Have a great weekend!
These are AMAZING!!!!! And love that you used three different colors, very cute! I’ve been looking everywhere for cardboard letters like that, I’ll have to check JoAnn’s and see if they have any…. Love your project!!!!
I’ve seen lots of variations of wrapped letters (including yarn), but these are BY FAR my fave!
So pretty and polished!
I would be absolutely THRILLED if you would stop over at my place and link this up to Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL…going on right now!: http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/01/feature-friday-free-for-all-4.html.
So looking forward to seeing you there!
P.S. I tried to follow so I could keep up with your lovely blog, but the connection kept timing out. I’ll try back soon! : )
~Abbie
Hi Abbie 🙂 I just linked up to your party and added it to our “Parties we Love” page! You have some really cute projects linked up. We’re your newest follower!! Hope you can follow back {if the connection will work!} hahaha, I hate it when that happens 🙂 Have a great weekend! Oh, and congrats on getting 1000 followers, that is amazing!
Saw these over on TidyMom – so adorable! Love that they’re so inexpensive too!
LOVE this!!!! So cute! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my “featured” button.
Thanks Michelle!!! Can’t wait to see the feature, you are so sweet 🙂 I’ll definitely grab your button for our featured page. Have a great weekend!
Pinning this!! SO cute and I love ombre color style on anything!!
I pinned this straight away. It has all of my favourite things. Thanks for the great inspiration!
Your ombre letters are so inspiring, I wanted to share it with my readers. Come check it out!
http://coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com/2012/01/few-amazing-posts-or-kicking-my-rear.html
Thanks so much! I just went out and read your post… you are so sweet to feature our yarn letters 🙂 I am having a great Friday with all the love out there in blogland! Thanks again, and I’m excited to look around your blog 🙂
Oh my goodness! These are beautiful! I love the ombre. I did a jute wrapped letter that I used as a wreath on our front door.
OH MY WORDY WORD! How gorgeous are your ombre letters???!!!! I love, love, LOVE anything yarn and you have taken it to a whole new extraordinary level. So stinkin impressed with you! AMAZING!
Hahaha, I love you! Your comment made me smile 🙂 Thanks so much for making me feel loved! Have a great weekend 🙂
Oh, WOW! Those are GORgeous! I love how you used the ombre, and you did a fantastic job with the wrapping…this is my favorite yarn wrapped letter project that I’ve ever seen! So impressed…and I wish I had the patience to do it myself! I would be so thrilled if you’d share them here:
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/shine-on-fridays-12.html
I am in LOVE!
Super CUTE… pinning!
These are ADORABLE! Great job! I found your blog through T&J and I am loving it! Off to read more posts!
Kendall
{songbirdsandbuttons.blogspot.com}
How cute is this… love it!! Would really love it if you could share this with us here http://www.mamamiasheart2heart.com/2012/01/sharing-saturday-4.html
Thanks so much 🙂
MiaB
Very Very cute!
The colors you used make this fantastic – I think it is a fantastic idea!
adore these. i love your ombre. pinned them to try.
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! I bought these letters the other day at Joanne with plans on wrapping them in some thick red yarn and now I need to go back and get more colors, these are awesome! Thanks for the inspiration! Come check me out at http://www.yankeedoodledesigns.com
I have a question about how you get your linky party icons so nicely organized on the bottom of your post. I can never seem to get mine to lined up and all the same size, what’s the trick? I’ve only been blogging for about a month now so I would appreciate any help you could give me. Thanks
Karin,
Thanks for your sweet comments! I found this link about a month after I started blogging and it helped me a TON! It took me a few times playing around with the html code, but all I really do now is just make sure and add this code right before the end of the picture reference tag: height=”100″ and it makes all the buttons the same size. If you want them smaller, you could do 75 or 50 too. Go here for her full tutorial: http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-clean-up-those-buttons-yo.html
Hope that helps! good luck 🙂
Thanks so much I’ll give it a try!
Karin,
Thanks for your sweet comments! I found this link about a month after I started blogging and it helped me a TON! It took me a few times playing around with the html code, but all I really do now is just make sure and add this code right before the end of the picture reference tag: height=”100″ and it makes all the buttons the same size. If you want them smaller, you could do 75 or 50 too. Go here for her full tutorial: http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-clean-up-those-buttons-yo.html
Hope that helps! good luck 🙂
Oh my, your yarn covered letters are beyond charming! I love the ombre effect, you did a gorgeous job! I’d be so excited if you’d come and share this (and any other post you’d like to show off) at the Head to Head Showdown link party, going on right now at http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com Hope to see you there! ~Jen
We just linked up! We love your blog and are following you 🙂 Thanks for inviting us!
Awesome job!
I love these. I never realized how difficult they were – thanks for the extra tips about covering the ends. I just figured I could buy some yarn and start wrapping. You totally saved me from a craft fail!
I found you through the Someday Crafts Link up.
Hey, just wanted to let you know that I featured this today from my Show & Share party! Thanks for linking up!
http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2012/01/show-share-24-features.html
These look AWESome! Love the colors of the yarn.. I am your newest follwer and I hope you will share with my Pink Hippo party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2012/01/pink-hippo-party-65.html
ohhh! I am so loving this!!! so gorgeous!!! Pinning
Natasha xxx
http://www.serenityyou.blogspot.com
Awesome letters!!!! Thanks for the tutorial!
Those are totally cool.
Love this! And I love the way you created the ombre affect! Great directions! I featured it on my CraftBliss blog and linked back to you. ~Dee
We love this idea! It’s soooo cute and super easy! We’re so glad you linked up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. We loved having you!! Please come back next Saturday and share more of your great ideas! -The Sisters
These are so beautiful and they really make a statement. I am pinning them for sure. I would love it if you would share at my party!
http://herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/01/fabulous-friday-10.html
I’m your newest follower.
Thanks Kelly! We just linked up to your party 🙂 And we’re following you!
This is fabulous! I tried it and.. it didn’t look anything like this! Your patience and craft is admirable!! =)
Nancy
alifedesigned.blogspot.com
these are really stunning. i love how much time you put in to wrapping each letter just perfect, it really paid off. they are lovely and i would be proud to display them 🙂 have a wonderful day!
katie
Hi, I love these and I was wondering if you would be interested in sharing this tutorial on my blog the CSI Project, next week. The challenge is yarn projects and I have 3 tutorials. For some reason I forgot to get a 3rd, so I would love to have you. You could use the same tutorial and just add in a bio on your blog. Pics of you.
The blog is popular and gets 4 to 5,000 views a day. So, it would be great exposure.
Please email if you are interested and you can do more tutorials in the future or even be a guest judge.
Come on by.
http://www.thecsiproject.com
Email me at dee@thecsiproject.com
And I have you down for May and the other tutorial. I will just email you!!!
Seriously…these yarn letters are one of the coolest projects I’ve ever seen on-line. So sweet and very cool! Kudos to you!!! 🙂
I featured this on my blog tonight! Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday 🙂 Come check it out and grab a button! http://www.mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/2012/01/your-whims-wednesday-44-and-features.html
We had the same idea with LOVE yarn wrapped letters! Yours look amazing!!!! The ombre effect is so pretty!
Wow!!! I L.O.V.E. these!!!! Perfect for Valentine’s Day or a little girls room!! I would love for you to link up to my new linky party! http://mariahscreations.blogspot.com/2012/01/terrific-tuesday-1.html
LOVE these letters!!! New follower of yours!
These are great. Thanks for the tute.
These are so flippin cute! Wish I had thought of this!
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Totally fabulous – I hope you don’t mind I am including this on my blog tomorrow. Thanks, Laura
Of course I don’t mind!!! I am so happy that you like them (or even LOVE them! hahaha) Thanks so much for featuring us 🙂 I’ll have to check it out tomorrow!
Hey there, I just featured these on my blog as well.
Here it is:
http://lifeofahomeschooledteenager.blogspot.com/
Hope you like it!
Sincerely, Katie Leach
I found you on Tip Junkie. Would you please share this with my readers for our Fun Stuff Fridays Valentine’s Linky Party? I think it would be a great fit. http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/02/14-days-of-valentines-fun-stuff-fridays.html
so adorable! saw this somewhere out in blog land! i will be pinning this to make sometime soon. LOVE the ombre effect!!
We are hosting our first Kitchen Fun and Crafty link party next Friday (the 10th) and would love for you to share this! Feel free to stop by and grab a party button! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/
Wonderful! I am definitely going to be trying this one 🙂
Those are awesome!!!! I love how they look!
I highlighted this cute craft on my little blog at http://wadelmat.blogspot.com/
Adorable! Featuring you today in my Valentine round up! Thank you so much for sharing!
Ginger @ gingersnapcrafts.com
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/02/take-look-at-you-be-mine-valentine.html
I love yarn wrapped crafts and this one is adorable. I have featured you today as one of my favourite Valentines Day Crafts.
http://michellescraft.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/favourite-valentines-crafts.html
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I love this! Thanks for the inspiration. I made some of my own but had difficulty with the yarn (because my letters were more curvy) so I opted for covering them in paper. Thank you.
I tried it! I loved your tutorial, it was great! I made these as decorations for my sisters bridal shower decorations.
You can see them at
http://thesassypenguin.blogspot.com/2012/03/yarn-wrapped-letters.html
Thanks again for sharing. 🙂
Becca
Wow! I am having so much anxiety right now with wanting to head to Joann’s and get to crafting these cute letters. I really appreciate you offering this easy-to-follow tutorial. THANKS!
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Such a cute craft and wonderful tutorial. I will surely being decorating some letters for around my house. I have shared your tutorial on my blog. Thanks for being creative! http://craftingfairy.com/2012/07/07/yarn-letters/
I am working on an “E” currently and having difficulty with getting my yarn to the tips of the arms without slipping off. Also, my hot glue is bubbling up between strands and looks messy-any tips?
I just made an “M” to hang on our front door for my son’s first birthday. I made my own base letter from cardboard, so it is not a 3D letter, but looks cute anyway!
I’m so glad to have found this post/tutorial because I certainly wouldn’t have figured out the yarn tip on my own. Right now, I’m having trouble getting my yarn to look smooth on my (yarn) wreath. I finally unraveled it all and started over. ugh! The yarn letters look great and I’d love to try them out…..the bookends sound like a great idea. This is definitely another great project by you two…please keep them coming.
How did you do the “O?” That is the one I am struggling with.
Thanks!
Nat and Holly,
This is super cute! I shared your Love Yarn Letters with my readers as a part of my 5 {DIY} Valentine’s Day Inspirations.
Thank you for your inspiration!
Jessica
a Shimmering Star
It feels like I pinned this so long ago (er, multiple times…woops) and I finally tried it! It’s going to start out as decor at my daughter’s party and then go up in her room and I’m really excited.
I looove the ombre effect you created and wish my computer wasn’t being so ridonkulous when I was making it (and not loading your page) because your tutorial is great!
http://shoes-off-please.com/2013/02/28/mias-party-prep-yarn-wrapped-letter/
Interesante y original propuesta, saludos, Lumi
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Thanks for the tutorial!! I referenced it when making the letters for mu daughters room. I linked to you in my post.
http://spotofteadesigns.com/2013/09/15/brielles-nursery-yarn-wrapped-letters/
This is terrific project! I’m featuring it today in a collection of Valentine’s Day decorating ideas on my blog!
http://www.andersonandgrant.com/2014/01/12-of-best-valentines-day-decorating.html
Just wanted to let you know, I featured your post on my blog TDBabyB.blogspot.com as one of my Friday Favorites. So adorable!
LOVE Yarn Letters are just super adorable! Thanks for sharing!!! ♥♥♥
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing. It was my inspiration to do this vase…
http://missfrugalfancypants.com/easy-diy-valentine-vase/
but I still want to do the letters!
Hey sisters! I am working on a blog post for a nonprofit – http://gopaintlove.com/ on valentine’s day crafts, would you mind if I featured this? Just doing a link list with maybe a thumbnail image, but wanted to check with you first!
Thanks,
Madison
Madison,
Of course! We’d love to be included. Thanks for asking!
Hola! I’ve been reading your blog for some time now and
finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Texas!
Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!
I’m having problems with their letter R.how do u do that one
These are so super cute!! Just loving them, can’t wait to try to make them. Thanks for posting <3
This tutorial was just what I needed! I found the idea on another site, but it didn’t really give any instructions on how to actually wrap the yarn (aside from wrap it and use lots of glue). I love the idea of cutting to cover the odds edges. It will make the Mother’s day project I am doing with the kids so much easier! A dad, 10 year old boy and 7 year old girl are going to create this. Should be fun to see how long it takes the kids to do the letters!
I’m thinking about going one step further and framing each letter…we’ll see how long this process takes and I’ll decide then
Thank you so much for commenting! I love that you are getting the kids involved – I’m sure Mom will love it!