Fiber Weaving

By Marie Max-Fritz Grades 3-42010

• • Fiber Finger Weaving• • Students learn how to apply skills in pattern making, color

application, and weaving. This is an interdisciplinary lesson that is inclusive of nature, world history, math, and the elements of art. The finger weaving is a hands-on and age appropriate method in learning how to apply motor skills while recognizing how to make repetitious linear patterns with color. Students learn about materials that are made from natural fibers, such as wood and cotton. They improve hand/eye coordination by practicing the weaving in their pattern making.

• History and Background• The history of pattern making goes back thousands of years. It can

mostly be found in Egyptian, Greek, and ancient castles of Middle Eastern decorative influence. In weaving, materials, such as fibers, or natural elements used to create fabrics, were used to tightly bind together by shuttling throughout each other in opposite axis points. Weaving is a method used to create patterns this process on a device named a 'loom'. By using a loom, one can inter-twine pieces of fiber by horizontally looping the 'weft' fibers through vertical 'warp' threads or yarns. By looping the fibers over and under the warps, different color fibers begin to create patterns. There are many types of looms. Some are big enough to sit inside, some are machines, and some looms are small enough to sit on a table or lap . The lap or table looms are most common in the technique of finger weaving. Finger weaving pre-woven fabrics is a method used to create colorful and abstract wall-hangings.

Pattern

Materials:9 x 12" cardboard loom, toothed on top and bottom in equally segmented divisions.

Multi-colored yarns, strings, or twines

16" x 1" strips of multi-colored and patterned fabrics

Masking tape16" x 1/2" supports in cardboard, matt board strips, or twigs

Time allotment:2 hours

Warp: yarn attached to the loom from top to bottom (in a vertical direction)

Weft: yarn or textile that is horizontally shuttled through the warp threads

Shuttle: tool that feeds the weft yarns or textiles through the warp threads

Cardboard Loom

Finger Weaving

Directions:

1.Attach the (warp) yarn by being directional. Attach to first tooth of the loom and the direct the yarn downward in front, into the opposite bottom tooth, around the back in pre-determined number of teeth, and back to the front. 2.Repeat upward and downward in front and across in back until desired width is achieved.

3.Insert one 1/2" supports at the top of weaving.

4.Select colored strips of fabric to create the pattern and color scheme.

5.Weave the strips of fabric horizontally (the weft) over and under the warp yarns in even increments. Repeat with multiple colors in a mathematical format to create a pattern.

6.Push strips upward to create a firm hold between layers.

7.To finish, allow sides to hang down or hide them in the back with tape.

8.Insert one 1/2" support to bottom and push upward to create a firm hold.

9.Tie off warp threads around supports and attach hanging threads.

10.Finish: Attached twigs or another strong fiber material such as strips of mat board to hang weaving

Create a fiber finger weaving.