Textile Activities
A wide variety of activities are used at the Mill to introduce groups to weaving. These include tabletop weaving, paper weaving, weaving without a loom, stoneage stick weaving, Viking finger weaving and more. Many are also suitable for use in the classroom, and can be reproduced with minimum cost.
Weaving is the combination of two threads. The lengthwise thread which is attached to the loom is called the warp. The thread woven across and often carried by a shuttle is called the weft. The loom is a piece of equipment which helps the weaver to combine these two sets of threads.
A simple introduction to weaving for children is wacky weaving (weaving with paper). One sheet of paper can be cut to provide the warp threads (leave the top half inch of the paper uncut to produce a template). Thin strips of paper can then be woven in and out as the weft. Coloured paper is an ideal way for pupils to experiment with different types of weave as the pattern can easily be seen.
This activity can be given an environmental perspective by using the back and front panels from cereal boxes. The material is more robust and can be laminated to produce a usable table mat. Simply tape the bottom of the warp threads after weaving, and before laminating, to stop the weft stips falling out.
Plain or tabby weave - the simplest form of weaving where the weft goes over one warp thread and under the next in a regular pattern.
Twill - produces a diagonal pattern and is used in fabrics like denim. Mark each warp thread in your template in the sequence 1, 2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2 etc. The pattern is produced by weaving a weft strip under all the number 1 warps, then a new strip under all the number 2 warps, ditto number 3 warps, ditto number 4 warps and then restarting at number 1 etc.
When pupils understand the basics of weaving, projects can be undertaken using simple card looms and wool. The card holds the warp threads whilst the weft is woven.
