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Portrait of Kendra
by: Kendra

Teaching Weaving to Children

In a recent post touting the different uses of Halcyon Yarn’s Weaver’s Stash Bag, I mentioned teaching young elementary children to weave on homemade cardboard looms. I’d like to take a moment to share this experience with you and encourage others of you to do the same with children in your own area. I’ve long believed weaving has tremendous benefits for children. Here are just a few:

  • developing fine motor skills
  • developing eye hand coordination
  • helps increase focus and attention span
  • promotes left right coordination
  • reinforces following directions
  • offers a relaxing, tactile experience
In addition to these stand alone reasons, weaving is a wonderful medium through which one can reinforce core curriculum. Weaving can be effortlessly intertwined with math, writing and social studies.

I’ve been amazed at how young children, both boys and girls, respond so positively to weaving. Some are fascinated right from the start, while others are reluctant and lack confidence in their abilities initially. The manner in which I teach this craft is clear and concise. The steps are broken down in manageable increments. In just a few short sessions I have found all the children catch on. WOW – what a confidence boost for those who were so unsure at the beginning.

How I make my cardboard looms:
Cardboard loom ready for warping.
  1. I use framers mat board because I find it to be a bit more sturdy. You can purchase mat board, but some frame shops are willing to donate their scraps.I cut the mat board to approximately 5″ or 6″ by 12″. This is a manageable size for the children, yet allows a significant length before the weaving must be removed and the loom rewarped. It may not sound like an important feature, but in a class of 20 to 25 students it is crucial to keep them engaged in their weaving, as opposed to waiting for a loom to be rewarped. I try to always have an extra half dozen looms warped and ready to go so students don’t have down time.
  2. I measure and cut notches at the top and bottom every 1/4″.
  3. I saw 3/8″ dowels to approximately the same width(or a little wider) as the loom. The piece of dowel gets taped to the top just below the cut notches. I use painters tape in order to be able to remove it at anytime without damaging the mat board. When warped the dowel lifts the warp threads off the loom, making it easier for the children to pick up every other thread.
  4. On the left side of each loom I also tape a written reminder of 3 key weaving steps. Using alliteration I’ve broken it down to “1 – Pick, 2 – Pass, 3 – Pack” followed by “Don’t forget the pinch”. I’ll explain these steps shortly.
  5. Warping the loom refers to putting on the threads that run parallel to the length. I like to alternate 2 contrasting threads of 3/2 Pearl Cotton. By alternating contrasting colors young children are assured they have correctly picked up every other thread. It is a concrete tangible sign when they see only one color on the pick up stick. I use tongue depressors for pick up sticks.When warping, I begin on the right side. I hold the first thread halfway down the backside, come up and over the first notch, down to the first notch on the bottom. I continue around the backside and up to the top of the loom. I continue in this fashion, being sure to secure the thread in every other notch. I repeat until I have 6 threads visible on the front of the loom. Cut the thread midway up the back of the loom.Repeat this procedure with the contrasting color, beginning at the second notch in from the right. Secure the cut ends with painters tape. You will have 6 threads of one color, alternating with 6 threads of a contrasting color. I’ve found this to be an optimal width for beginning weavers. It is just wide enough for little hands to easily pass the weft yarn from one side to the other.
The looms are now ready for weaving. In my next post I’ll discuss the initials steps in getting the children weaving.
Warped cardboard loom.
Backside of warped loom.
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16 thoughts on “Teaching Weaving to Children”

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  9. Sherri Christianson says:

    Hi-
    Is there a part two to this post–I’d love to learn how the pick, pass, pack is taught to children, I teach kindergarten and have wanted to include weaving.
    Thanks

  10. Laurie says:

    Help! I want to know the end of this too! It will be a great project for senior citizens as well as children.

  11. Barbara Damerst says:

    I have used this technique, with plain corrugated cardboard, in craft classes for both children & adults. And classes for moms & kids together at parks&rec summer classes.

    I tape a dowel at both top & bottom to make it easier to pick towards the bottom of the loom also.

    This also works for adult day care centers at craft time.

    Thanks for putting the idea on line!

  12. Shelley says:

    I hope your next post is soon as we’re organizing a group around this!

  13. This is fantastic! You sound like an occupational therapist. I’m an OT and I was using an inkle loom with the kids this year… I will try this cardboard loom next year though. Thanks!

  14. Chotard Doll says:

    this is wonderful….but what happened to the end of it, what is PASS and PINCH?

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