Make a small weaving to use or give as an ornament or make a large circle for a wall decoration (or even a mat for a small pet). The size of the circle dictates the size of the finished weaving – so decide beforehand if this will become a coaster for mom’s coffee mug or a trivet to set a hot plate on at the dinner table. The loom becomes part of the final product.
Materials for Weaving
The following items will be required when doing circular weaving:
- A round plastic lid or a circle cut from stiff cardboard
- Scissors
- Scraps of yarn (can be different textures)
- Tapestry needle
Make a Circular Loom
Cut an odd number of evenly-spaced notches around the edge of the lid or cardboard circle. Make the notches approximately a half-inch deep. If using a plastic lid, cut through the lip around the lid or trim off that raised edge.
Creating a Warp and Weft
- Attach the yarn through one of the notches. Leave a tail twice as long as the circle is wide.
- To create the warp, wrap the yarn across the center of the circle to an opposite notch. Pull the yarn snug without making it so tight that the circle bends (or warps – see how the warp gets its name?). Wrap the yarn around the back and forward to the notch next to the starting point.
- Continue winding the warp around the circle, crossing the center point, and aiming toward the opposite notch.
- When done wrapping the warp, cut the yarn and tie it to the midpoint, where all the yarn crosses.
- Turn the loom over and tie the tail created in the first step to the midpoint on that side of the loom.
- Thread the needle with a new strand of yarn. This will be the weft.
- Tie the other end of this string to one of the warp threads. Slide the knot to the center of the loom. Tuck the short end under the warp strings so it will be hidden by the weaving.
- Weave around and around the warp strings going over one warp thread and under the next. Keep the rounds of yarn close together. Avoid pulling the yarn in an attempt to tighten the weft – this will twist the warp threads out of place. Continue this alternating pattern until the weaving comes near the edge of the disk.
- Knot the end of the yarn to a warp string. Tuck the loose end between the weaving and the plastic or cardboard disk.
- If desired, weave the other side of the disk as well. Or, with the needle, add some short pieces of yarn through the center and knot it into place as fringe.
Kids can also weave on a loom to make a square or rectangular piece of fabric or use twigs as an odd shaped loom for a more challenging project. When working one of these projects or the circular weaving, mix an assortment of yarns with different textures. Change colors to create stripes or use a multi-colored yarn for lots of color without the extra work of cutting and tying new yarn to the old.
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