Day 3 we made Prayer Windsocks. While searching for my crafts online, I ran across Artist Holiday and LOVED the concept of prayer flags that she used at her church’s SKY VBS this year. See her post about them here, where she gives a more detailed understanding of prayer flags. Inspired by her shared information and wanting to give our VBS kids the same opportunity to explore prayer with pen and fabric, I developed a similar project.
These windsocks were hopefully brought home and hung up to be a pretty reminder of God’s presence as one who loves to hear our prayers.
Each windsock is made from a 12″x22 1/2″ piece of muslin. I got 90″ muslin at Jo-Ann’s (with a coupon for 50% off, of course). 90″ wide makes 4 of these windsocks across, and you’ll get 3 per 36 inch length, so 12 a yard. (certainly 45″ would work fine, to, just plan on 6 a yard. But per piece, 90″ wide was cheaper.)
I cut the rectangle with pinking shears to limit fraying. Fold over and stitch a channel in one end. (For a no-sew version, just use hot glue or liquid stitch for this part.) Mark (in pencil or chalk) the top block and 6 streamers about 11″ long and 2″ wide. Sorry for the wrinkly pictures!
Thread a piece of yarn about 18 inches long through the top of each at the middle and tie it there- this will eventually hang the windsock.) With so many to do, I cut a looong piece of yarn and after stitching through and tying off at the end, I just cut to length and kept going. Otherwise you’ll be threading that needle a lot.)
The kids used permanent marker to draw/write their prayer(s) on the windsock. I encouraged them to think of things they were thankful for or things they wanted to ask God about or talk to God about.
I just reminded them that anything drawn on the windsock tails would be cut apart if they didn’t stay in the lines there. After coloring, cut up the tail lines (but don’t cut them off, of course…). These tails have been waving in the breeze for a little while now, and are holding up pretty well.
Then a bit of hot glue (I did this part for them). I wrapped around a pringles can for a form to work on. Just overlap the two edges and glue down the main body portion of the windsock.
I pre-cut and twisted wire to go through the channel sewed in the top. Total length is about 14″ with a small loop twisted into each end, so finished size is just over 12″. Mine is cut from a roll of picture hanging wire. Pipe cleaners might work fine here if they’re long enough- I just didn’t have that on hand when I was making these.
The kids put the wire through the channel. The loose end of the yarn was then threaded through both wire loops and tied to form the hanging portion of the windsock. (In my pictures of finished windsocks, a different wire method was used. The way I describe here is how I they were finished for VBS and is much easier to do for the kids and for those preparing the craft.)
Beautiful reminders of prayer, the connection we have with God through prayer, and the ability to pray in different ways.
For more VBS/ kids crafts, check my VBS tab.
