These DIY MEOW yarn letters are perfect birthday party decor for your upcoming themed cat birthday party! They're super easy to make and take about 20 minutes for each letter.
This DIY cat project is part of a full series for a themed cat birthday party. Be sure to check out the other posts and stay tuned for the full cat birthday party reveal!
The cat birthday party series is PERFECT for any cat-obsessed kids. It's such a cute idea that they are sure to love and remember. I mean, how could you say no to these cute birthday party decor ideas?! It's such an adorable birthday party idea.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Colorful + Cozy: Wrap your favorite letters in yarn for a fun, textured craft that pops!
- Perfect for Personalizing: Spell out names, words, or initials for room decor or gifts.
- Fun + Mess-Free: No paint or glitter—just peaceful wrapping and creative vibes!
Cat Birthday Party Decor
Birthday party decor can really add up and there are only so many options. This is why I love to make my own DIY birthday party decor when possible. These yarn letters are ideal as they are simple and relatively inexpensive.
The yarn letters can also double as an activity for older kids. Since there are 4 of them to complete, it can be accomplished quickly when you have multiple participants. You could easily get all of them finished in 20-30 minutes if you have some help.
After the fun and excitement of your cat birthday party has passed, you can use this for bedroom decor as well. If kitty cats are an obsession, they will jump all over hanging these in their room.
Now, just scroll down for step-by-step directions on how to make your yarn letters!
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Colored yarn - purple, white, pink, and teal
- 5.5" wooden letters - M, E, O and W
- Tape
- Scissors
- Paint - purple, white, pink, and teal
🖌️How to Make Meow Yarn Letters
To get started, tape the end of the string to the back of one of the wooden letters. For extra tight coverage, pinch the tape to the string as you place it on the letter.
Start wrapping the string in the color of your choice around the letter, making sure to wrap them very tightly next to each other so that no wood shows. This starts the base where you will layer more string over the top.
To create more depth and character, crisscross the string to make X shapes and double up on layers as you wrap the string. Make sure you are pulling the string nice and tight at all times throughout the process to ensure it will stay in place.
As you start wrapping, you'll notice that curves and corners can be a bit tricky and require lots of extra layers and overlapping. Don't worry about messing anything up - you can always crisscross to a different area and make it more even to your liking. This project is very forgiving!
The letter O may require a few long pieces of string since you need to wrap around and through the inside of the letter to get to the other side. It's important to note that a ball of yarn will not fit through the wooden letter as you wrap it around. Instead, tape the end of a piece of string down and then tape the beginning of a new string right over the same area on the back.
Once you're done, tape down the end of the final string to the back, as this will not show. If you plan to display letters in a way that it does show, you might want to use hot glue instead.
Paint the edges of the wooden letter the same color as the string, if desired. This is not completely necessary but does look nice in the offchance the ends become visible.
Repeat this process for each of your letters and then display for your cat birthday party!
💡 Pro Tip: Tuck the starting end of the yarn under the first few wraps instead of knotting to create a smooth, seamless beginning point on every letter.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Pre-Shape the Letters: Outline your letters on thick cardboard first to test how the yarn will sit before committing to full wrapping.
- Firm Yarn Tension: Keep a consistent, gentle pull on the yarn while wrapping to prevent sagging loops or uneven coverage across the letters.
- Anchor Points: Add small dabs of clear glue at key turns or sharp edges to keep the yarn secure without creating messy buildup.
- Accent Threads: Twist in a thin metallic thread alongside your main yarn for a subtle shimmer effect that looks polished without overpowering the design.
- Letter Backing: Attach a felt or foam backing to each letter once wrapped to give a cleaner finish and better durability for wall hanging.
- Color Blocking: Switch yarn colors at natural letter breaks, like the corner of an "M" or middle of an "O," to create trendy color-blocked sections without extra cutting.
💭 FAQs
Yarn letters introduce soft textures and depth to event photo backdrops, making them ideal for birthday shoots, pet parties, or themed events.
Mini yarn-wrapped initials can be turned into personalized keychains, bookmarks, or bag tags, offering thoughtful and lightweight gift options.
Yes, yarn letters can bring a playful yet polished touch to a desk or wall shelf, especially in creative studios or pet-themed businesses.
Crafting yarn letters into words like "Read" or "Cozy" can warm up a reading space, making it feel more inviting and personally styled.
🖌️ Related Crafts
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DIY Yarn Letters
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Colored yarn – purple white, pink, and teal
- 5.5 ″ wooden letters – M E, O and W
- Tape
- Paint – purple white, pink, and teal
Instructions
- To get started, tape the end of the string to the back of one of the wooden letters. For extra tight coverage, pinch the tape to the string as you place it on the letter.
- Start wrapping the string in the color of your choice around the letter, making sure to wrap them very tightly next to each other so that no wood shows. This starts the base where you will layer more string over the top.
- To create more depth and character, crisscross the string to make X shapes and double up on layers as you wrap the string. Make sure you are pulling the string nice and tight at all times throughout the process to ensure it will stay in place.
- As you start wrapping, you’ll notice that curves and corners can be a bit tricky and require lots of extra layers and overlapping. Don’t worry about messing anything up – you can always crisscross to a different area and make it more even to your liking. This project is very forgiving!
- The letter O may require a few long pieces of string since you need to wrap around and through the inside of the letter to get to the other side. It’s important to note that a ball of yarn will not fit through the wooden letter as you wrap it around. Instead, tape the end of a piece of string down and then tape the beginning of a new string right over the same area on the back.
- Once you’re done, tape down the end of the final string to the back, as this will not show. If you plan to display letters in a way that it does show, you might want to use hot glue instead.
- Paint the edges of the wooden letter the same color as the string, if desired. This is not completely necessary but does look nice in the offchance the ends become visible.
- Repeat this process for each of your letters and then display for your cat birthday party!
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This is so simple but so cool! I'm going to make these for my kids' bedroom walls! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You're welcome. It is a fun thing to make.