Simple Weaving

Simple Weaving Make a coaster!

Make the Loom

A loom holds the threads in place. It makes a frame which you can weave on. You can make a simple loom out of a piece of cardboard

Cut out a rectangle of card, and then make notches on two oposite sides

Start in the middle of the edge with the first notch
Cut the 2nd notch half way between the 1st notch and a corner
Keep cutting notches in the middle to help keep them even
(or measure even spaces with a ruler!)

Tuck the end of your thread into the 1st notch. Lay it across the card down to the opposite notch on the other edge.

Turn the card over and move along one notch. Tuck the thread in, through to the other side.

This is how the back should look. Do you see how the thread goes sideways between the notches?

These up and down threads are called the "Warp"

The thread you weave with is called the "weft" It goes over and under the threads already on the card (the warp).

You could use a cardboard "Shuttle" if this makes it easier.

When you get to the end, weave the thread back the other way. This time you go under every thread you went over before ...

Different Patterns

This pattern is called "Tabby" weave. The weft follows the pattern "over 1, under 1, over 1, under 1 ..."

You can make a pattern by changing the colour of thread you are using

You can also change the pattern by weaving differently.

Using two threads at once, over 2, under 2, over 2

Try "over 2, under 1, over 2, under 1 ..."

Weavers were the first people to make code pattern cards. They then made weaving machines that could read the code. Now we have machines that can weave dreams from digital code. I wonder what will happen next?

When you have woven a big enough piece, you can unloop the weft (up and down threads) from the card.

Start with the middle loop on one edge. Pull the loop on the opposite edge to make the first loop smaller.

This way you can pull the warp through your weaving until all you have left are two long dangly bits of warp (the yellow thread in the picture).

Then you can tuck the loose ends back into the weaving neatly and cut off all the extra length.

Now you have a wee mat to put your cup on!

If you make a really big loom it will take longer to make your weaving. Start small and experiment with different colours and weaving patterns too.

More craft activities here!

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Created By

Simon Lidwell

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