# Pumpkin Pasta Necklace Threading > Shake pumpkin-shaped pasta with orange gel food color in a zip-top bag. While the bottoms are still a little soft, kids thread the pasta on a needle and thread to make a wearable pumpkin necklace. It's great fine-motor, counting and patterning practice. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-pasta-necklace-threading/ - Ages: 5–9 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium - Time: prep 10 min, activity 20 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group - Skills: fine-motor, needle-threading, counting, patterning, colors - Cautions: wheat-gluten, food-dye, ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - 2 handful Pumpkin-shaped pasta - Orange gel food color - 1 piece Zip-top bag (household) - 1 piece Cookie sheet (household) - 1 piece Tray with a lip - 1 piece Sewing needle (household) - Thread (household) - 1 piece Scissors (household) - Pumpkin spice (optional) (household) ## Substitutions - Instead of pumpkin pasta: Regular dyed pasta (TurkeyMom previously colored regular pasta for rainbow necklaces. Unlike the pumpkin pasta, regular pasta threading uses fully dried pasta.) ## Safety - The post uses a regular sewing needle, which is sharp. An adult should supervise closely and collect the needles when threading is done. - Small pasta pieces are a choking hazard. Not for children who still put things in their mouths. - Colored craft pasta is not food. Don't eat the necklace pasta; only uncolored leftover pasta should go to the kitchen. - Gel food color can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Wash hands after handling the damp colored pasta. - Supervise while kids wear the necklace, and take it off for naps, sleep and rough play. - If adding pumpkin spice, keep hands away from eyes and wash hands afterwards. ## Before you start - Color the pasta and spread it to dry before threading time. Check that the bottoms are still slightly soft when kids start. ## Steps 1. Put the pumpkin pasta in a zip-top bag and add a few squirts of orange gel food color. 2. Seal the bag and shake until all the pasta is evenly coated. 3. Spread the colored pasta on a cookie sheet to dry, but not completely. The bottoms should stay a little soft. 4. Thread the needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread to hold the pasta. 5. Poke the needle through the soft bottom of a pumpkin and pull the thread through the other side. 6. Keep adding pumpkins on your tray. Count them or make a pattern as you go. 7. Adult: when the necklace is long enough, remove the needle and tie the ends together. 8. Wear your pumpkin pasta necklace proudly! ## Tips - Unlike regular pasta threading, don't let the pasta dry too much. A little moisture left keeps the bottom soft, and that makes threading easier. - The soft bottom part of the pasta helps in pulling the thread through to the other side. - We use a Gallery Tray with a lip for many fine motor activities like this. It contains the mess and gives the kids a definite working space. - I got this pasta on a crazy sale at a local gourmet food store. In the fall season, keep your eyes peeled for sales. - You probably need a couple of handfuls for a necklace. Use up the rest for a delicious pasta meal. - This could be a great first needle threading activity for kids. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2016) Pasta Threading is such a classic kids craft with good reason. [**Pasta crafts**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/pasta/) and activities are great because they are fun and lend themselves so many **play based learning activities**. The entire pasta threading activity is a great way to develop fine motor skills, practice **[counting](https://www.funlittles.com/math-games-for-kids-pot-o-gold-math-game/)** and **patterning**, recognize and identify **colors** all while creating something that you can proudly wear. Kids love pasta crafts. A while ago we colored our pasta and made [**rainbow necklaces**](https://www.funlittles.com/how-to-dye-pasta-for-art-projects/) Materials **[Pumpkin Shaped Pasta](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LK2E3JK/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[AmeriColor Gel Paste Food Color](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002K6XVXA/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Ziploc Bags](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXCNQW2/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Gallery Tray](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00885MBC4/?tag=blmemo-20)** **Needle & Thread** I purchased some really cute pumpkin shaped pasta that were already faintly orange. Now I got this pasta on a crazy sale at a local gourmet food store. Considering that it is the fall season, keep your eyes peeled for sales and you might snag one of these guys for a good price. You probably need a couple of handfuls for a necklace and use up the rest for a delicious pasta meal. I dumped all the pasta in a Ziploc and added a few squirts of orange food coloring. { We always use **[AmeriColor Gel Paste Food Color](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002K6XVXA/?tag=blmemo-20)** for its vibrant color} is I started shaking until all the pasta is coated evenly with the color. Transfer the colored pumpkin pasta to a cookie sheet and let them dry. For many fine motor activities like this we use **[Gallery Tray](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00885MBC4/?tag=blmemo-20)** with a lip to contain the mess and to have a definite working space for the kids. Unlike regular pasta threading don't let the pasta dry too much. It needs to have a little but moisture left so that the bottom part of the pasta is still soft and hence making treading easier. The best way to thread this pasta is through a regular needle. Start off with a knot at the end of your thread to hold the pasta. Thread your needle and poke through the bottom part of the pumpkin The soft bottom part of the pasta should help in pulling the thread on the other side. This could be a great first needle threading activity for kids. Thread through and finish off with a cute pumpkin pasta necklace. You can even add a bit of pumpkin spice while coloring the pasta and the kids will have a ball wearing this beautiful pasta necklace. Thanks for reading More Fall Fun Stuff [](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/fall-season/)