On a breezy day a recycled Milk Jug Windsock Craft is the perfect craft for kids! The fabric and ribbon scraps blow in the wind and are so festive. Run with the jug in your hand or hang it up to see it flutter in the breeze!
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Cute Craft Alert!
It has been SO windy where I live. So I played the “be positive” game and thought about how the wind can be an advantage. My list was short, but I came up with a few positives about wind. The wind's good for flying kites, drying clothes on the line, and wind socks!
Well windsocks are fun to make so I was off to the craft closet to find recycled supplies to make craft windsocks. A recycled milk jug and strips of fabric were the winners of the search.
Hold the milk jug handle and take the windsock for a run. Or hang it up to flutter in the wind. Both are good options.
What is a Windsock?
A windsock is a device that is hung or attached to a pole. It resembles a giant sock and blows in the breeze. It tells the viewer what direction the wind is coming from. Special fabric windsocks used are in airports to give information about the wind patterns.
So the meaning of a windsock is for telling the wind direction!
Our windsock is for fun, not to determine the wind at an airport! But even at home it's fun to know the direction of the wind.
How to Read a Windsock
A windsock blows with the breeze. So the direction the windsock is blowing tells the direction the wind is blowing. If the windsock is pointing to the south you have a north wind.
The north wind is blowing the sock from the north so it flutters to the south. In other words, the wind is coming from the opposite direction the windsock is blowing.
Supplies
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make this wind sock craft!
- Recycled milk jug- Wash out a milk jug to use in this craft (full size or ½ gallon size).
- Fabric scraps- The fabric is cut into one inch strips that are about 24-36 inches long.
- Ribbons (optional)- The ribbons are cut and used amidst the fabric strips.
- Fabric scissors- A fabric scissors makes it easy to cut the material.
- Hole punch- The hole punch will make the holes to pull the fabric through.
- String or fishing line (optional)- Use string or fishing line to hang the jug up.
- Fishing swivel (optional)- Put a fishing swivel at the end of the string for hanging.
- Permanent markers (optional)- Draw a design on the milk jug with permanent markers.
Steps to Make a Windsock Craft
1. Let’s start with the milk jug
Cut the bottom of the milk jug off. I cut mine up about an inch from the bottom but you can do it even higher than that if you would like.
Use the hole punch to punch holes around that bottom edge about a half an inch from the edge. I made mine about ¾ of an inch apart.
2. Fabric prep
Take your fabric and cut it into 1 inch wide strips that are between 24 and 36 inches long. They do not need to be all the same length. If you have ribbon that you would like to use they can be any length- but if it's on a roll cut it to about 24 to 36 inches as well. You will need the same number of fabric strips and ribbons as you have holes in the bottom of the jug.
Fold one of the strips in half and pull it through one of the holes, making a loop. Then pull the two ends of that strip up through the loop that you just made. Pull on the two ends of the strip and it will pull it up tight.
Fill each hole with a fabric or ribbon strip.
3. Decorate the milk jug
Using permanent markers you can color designs and patterns on the milk jug. This is optional.
Use the windsock as it is and hold onto the handle while letting the fabric flutter in the breeze as you run.
Or put two holes in the top of the jug and run a string or fishing line through the holes. I put the lid back on the milk jug.
Tie the two ends of the string to a large fishing swivel. Hang up the windsock outdoors or inside.
Craft Tips
These tips can help making this Festive Milk Jug Windsock Craft even easier!
- Xacto knife- Use an Xacto knife instead of a scissors for cutting the milk jug. Children would need help with this option.
- Tear fabric- After making a slit in the edge of the fabric, tear the fabric from side to side instead of cutting it.
- Fishing swivel- A fishing swivel will keep your string from twisting up if you hang your wind sock out in the wind. The swivel goes in a circular motion and the string will not break as easily either.
- Yarn needle- Use a yarn needle to bring the string through the holes in the top of the milk jug. This is easier than trying to do it with your fingers.
Craft Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few ways you can customize and play with this craft.
- ½ Gallon milk jug- Use a different sized plastic container for your windsock. Or a different container all together. Plastic works best if it is to be outside.
- Ribbons- Use all ribbons for a different look to your windsock.
- Fabric variety- You can use other materials instead of fabric. Things such as plastic bags, yarn, an old shirt, or recycled fruit net bags.
FAQ
Yes you can! Make your windsock from a recycled milk jug and shirts that are no longer good to wear. Use the same directions as are in the post for how to make a windsock.
This is a perfect craft for kids. This spring craft is a good hand-eye coordination activity. Follow the instructions in the post and help your child as needed.
More DIY Summer Crafts for Kids
Looking for more easy summer crafts to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
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Make a Festive Milk Jug Windsock Craft
Equipment
- Fabric scissors fabric scissors
- Hole punch hole punch
Items Required
- Recycled milk jug
- The fabric to cut into strips
- The ribbons (optional)
- fabric scissors
- hole punch
- string or fishing line (optional)
- a fishing swivel (optional)
- permanent markers (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the bottom of the milk jug off. I cut mine up about an inch from the bottom but you can do it even higher than that if you would like.Use the hole punch to punch holes around that bottom edge about a half an inch from the edge. I made mine about ¾ of an inch apart.
- Take your fabric and cut it into 1 inch wide strips that are between 24 and 36 inches long. They do not need to be all the same length. If you have ribbon that you would like to use they can be any length- but if it's on a roll cut it to about 24 to 36 inches as well. You will need the same number of fabric strips and ribbons as you have holes in the bottom of the jug.
- Fold one of the strips in half and pull it through one of the holes, making a loop. Then pull the two ends of that strip up through the loop that you just made. Pull on the two ends of the strip and it will pull it up tight.Fill each hole with a fabric or ribbon strip.
- Using permanent markers you can color designs and patterns on the milk jug. This is optional.Use the windsock as it is and hold onto the handle while letting the fabric flutter in the breeze as you run.
- Or put two holes in the top of the jug and run a string or fishing line through the holes. I put the lid back on the milk jug.Tie the two ends of the string to a large fishing swivel. Hang up the windsock outdoors or inside.
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