Weaving Camp Part 6

3rd graders' burlap weaving with feathers

Burlap weaving made by 4 year old

Weaving on Burlap
Weaving camp has been over for a couple of months now and I'm finally getting around to updating the last of the lessons I taught for the camp.  Just a refresher, the weaving camp was for kids going into kindergarten to about 3rd grade.  Each day focused on a different type of weaving and kids could sign up for one day or all of the days.  Each class lasted for 2 1/2 hours (approximately-- we had a break in there).  One of my favorite weaving projects was weaving on burlap.  First you need to cut the burlap into rectangles about 8 x 10".  Then the kids will pull out a few threads here and there from the burlap to create a space for weaving.  Just choose either horizontal or vertical threads to pull out.  Stay away from the top or bottom edge, otherwise the piece will keep unraveling.  So, then you can use yarn (with a plastic needle) to weave over and under in the spaces you have created by pulling out threads.  Show the kids how they can skip a few strands-- they don't need to go over each and every strand.  

Burlap Weaving in Progress

The kids can also weave in feathers, ribbons, pipe cleaners, or loopy wire and beads.  I would encourage them to use some thicker materials otherwise they might become frustrated at the amount of time it takes to weave.  Time is up and someone is not finished??  No problem!  Just take some foam stamps and tempera paint and have the child stamp in the blank spots.

Finished burlap weaving with foam stamp (kindergarten)

I think a great way to finish the weaving is to hot glue it to a piece of slightly larger felt.

 

 When I teach weaving at school, a book I like to read to the children is:







I just received another story book from Amazon that explains the weaving process but also focuses more on the creative process and how artists can be inspired by nature.

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 5

Weaving on Straws

Here is a really fun and addicting way to weave... on plastic drinking straws!  There's no reason to re-write all the directions out, so here is a link to how to weave on straws.   If you get stuck, there are plenty of websites with full directions and even videos... simply google "weaving on straws."  With this project, I set up the straws ahead of time for the kids.  (There were only about 6 or 7 kids there that day.)  Kids in grades 3 and up could probably set up the straws themselves.  For the youngest kids (kindergarten/ 1st grade) I started them on only 2 or 3 straws and increased the straws with a following weaving.  This was a complicated weaving for the kids to get the hang of, but once they started, they were addicted and several kids made multiple weavings. 

 

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 4

Part 4 of my Weaving Wonders Camp:

Some of the kids tried finger weaving or finger knitting.  It was too hard for the youngest kids to figure out, but 3rd grade seems about the right age to start.   Detailed directions are here: Knitty, which is a really cool knitting blog if you are a knitter.

Weaving Wonders Part 3

Paper Weaving.  One of the projects I did with the kids for my Weaving Wonders Camp was Paper Weaving.  Paper weaving is, of course, one of the first and most basic types of weaving.  Kids in kindergarten, first or second grade will often complete paper weavings as introduction to weaving. 

Preparation:   Gather fancy scrapbook paper, with patterns, bright colors and maybe even glitter.  Add some solid colors if you wish.  Cut strips on a paper cutter, approximately 1/2-1 inch thick.  Don't be too obsessive about making them exactly the same size, you'll go crazy.

Starting to Weave:  Line up all of your strips on the table, making sure there are no overlapping edges.  Take a long piece of masking tape and tape the strips down at the top edge.  These kids, kindergarten-4th grade, finished the project in about 30 minutes.  If you are worried your kids won't finish before the class ends, then have them tape the strips to a piece of cardboard so you can pack them up at the end of class. 

Weaving:  Just like in any other paper weaving, take a strip and weave over and under each of the taped strips.  The following strip will need to be woven the opposite way, under-- then over. 

To finish:  Trim the edges, glue down all the ends on all four sides.  Gently remove the tape.  Cut a piece of poster board slightly bigger than the finished weaving.  Apply hotglue on the back of the weaving and mount it to the poster board to finish the work.

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 2

Circular Weaving is another one of my favorite ways to teach weaving. We did these circular weavings at my Weaving Wonders camp. Beesybee Fiber's has an explanation as to how it's done. Obviously, this link shows a very advanced form of this weaving. What we did was to take these mini-pizza cardboard circles and cut an uneven number of slits in them. Then we set up the loom by poking the yarn through the center and then each attach to each of the slits. Kids who are older than grade 2 could probably set up the loom themselves. The example below is by a child who just finished kindergarten. I like how they look when they are left on the loom. Weaving is tiring for little hands and so since we were running short on time, she finished the weaving by poking in feathers and those silk flowers from an old lei. Magnificent! Using a variety of textures, beads and feathers, these projects could be amazing!

Weaving Wonders Camp

Styrofoam Weaving



At the beginning of this summer, I taught a "Weaving Wonders" camp at my school. Kids entering grades K-4 could sign up. The camp took place from 10-12:30 each day. A different weaving technique was taught each day. Campers could sign up for any of the days or the entire week.

Weaving on Styrofoam was one of the projects. A restaurant supply store near our school had a huge package of styrofoam plates for very cheap. Slits were cut at the top and bottom of the styrofoam and string was placed in these slits for the loom. These looms were set up ahead of time, as a I figured the younger kids would have trouble setting them up. If the children were 3rd grade and older, I would have them set up the looms themselves. The campers chose a color of yarn and wove it straight across the loom (over, under, over, under). Because of the age of these campers, I had the students simply cut the yarn and only weave straight across. If the students were older, they could continue weaving the yarn back and forth. Suggest to the kids to choose a variety of colors and textures. I put out some colored wire, chenille stems, beads, feathers, ribbons and sticks. There are so many materials that can be incorporated into a weaving!

Where to obtain yarn: I don't think I have paid full price for any yarn for s in the 5 years I have been at this particular school. Hit up yard sales, church garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist.org and Yahoo Freecycle groups. You will be amazed at what people will give away for free. Send out notes to your parents that you are always looking for bright, colorful, textured and snazzy yarn. I found that if I don't ask for "fancy, textured or bright colored" yarn, I receive a whole bunch of faded, dusty, gross yarn. By best yarn has come from members of my knitting group. Since I knit in my free time and belong to a knitting group, I have told the members that I would be interested in any of their scrap yarns and leftover skeins for my school. I suppose you could find a knitting group online (such as a local group that has a Yahoo group) and put out feelers for yarn for your school. If you offered a small price, I'm sure some of the members would be happy to sell you their leftovers or even donate them.