Weaving is fun and easy for both kids and adults

It’s really easy to weave. It’s fun too, especially when you realise the more you weave, the more creative you get and all sorts of weaving ideas start popping into your head.

What is weaving?

Weaving is when you start with creating or preparing your loom – which could be something as simple and inexpensive as a box with tiny slits cut on two sides of it, and thread strong wool, thick thread or even try string across the box to form the warp.

The warp is the area of threads strung across the loom, so that you have a whole lot of threads filling up the entire top area of the open box, running across the open space, from side to side, about 1 or 2 cm apart. Sort of a list of threads, all beneath each other.

The warp should be firm, so secure each side of each string at the sides of the box – or, use one long thread and go back and forth across the open space, just catching the thread at the slits on either side of the box. (The slits are 1 to 2 cm apart along two opposite sides of the box.)

Now you’re ready to weave:

Use string, wool, sisal, strips of material, whatever your creative mind can think of, and weave the thread of whatever you’ve chosen in over and under the warp threads, back and forth, until you’re done.

Tie off the ends, and you have a square or a rectangle of creativity!

Depending on what materials you are using, you can turn your masterpieces into bags, mats, placemats, and more.

Think big, think small: bedspreads for big beds; bedspreads for dolls beds,
mats or carpets for dolls, mats for your bathroom, for in front of your front door, oh, and of course to sell to others.

Get creative and enjoy this weaving work at home job idea and make it work for you. Weave your way into a fun and rewarding little own business.

Here are a few sites where you can get some more information on weaving, and where you can see some pictures showing you what to do, in more detail:

How to make a cardboard loom

Learn to weave using a carboard loom

How to weave on a cardboard loom excellent step by step photos, and be sure to read the comments below the article too, for further tips.

See how to make coasters and little bags with simple weaving techniques

A super little website packed with weaving info and photos of products made Be sure to check out all the gallery categories to get ideas on what you too can try.

Videos:

Weaving on a carboard loom Turn on your speakers, this is quite entertaining.

How to make a beaded bracelet on a cardboard box loom

So, get to it! Think of different materials and threads you might use:

Cut up plastic packets into a long strip (make a plastic hat for gardening when it’s drizzling.)

Cut up an old towel and make a bag or mat for the bathroom.

Use old stockings (nylons) for your material or “thread” that you’re going to weave through the warp on the loom.

Don’t use any thread at all, but make a nice big chunky mat out of using a long “thread” of old rags (clean rags!) you’ve tied together.

Or use only thick thread like sisal and make a beachcomber bag for when you go trundling around on the beach collecting shells and small pebbles.

Cut strips from an old raincoat to make a waterproof bag.

Weave strips of strong colourful paper or card instead of material and thread, to make cute and attractive gift bags.

Sell your products at flea markets, from a blog or website, to your friends, supply some to a larger outlet, just get creative and do!

Oh, and don’t forget to have fun!

Happy weaving!

© copyright Teresa Schultz 2010