This session shows you how to create a basic weaving using a rock as your loom. You can choose to leave the weaving on the rock as a wrap or you can remove it and it will leave you with your beautiful woven piece.
This activity is possible to do with all members of your family whatever their age, younger ones will enjoy this basic technique too. If you take your needle and yarn with you, you could find a rock or big branch out on your walks to use as your loom and set about making it whilst sitting outdoors for a break. This activity can help develop: fine motor skills; counting skills - for warp wraps & rows for each colour; concentration span; and develop a love of making things by hand. You can make these for yourselves, your friends or other family members and the final outcome can by used in many ways. One lovely thing is to leave the weave on the wrap and leave them as anonymous gifts for people to discover.
Items Required:
Rock, big stone or pebble, Some oddments of yarns - if you intend leaving them out to be found in nature please use natural yarns so that over time they can biodegrade, acrylic or synthetic yarn won’t so, cotton yarn, natural string, twine or 100% wool yarn, or of course you can weave with grasses and plants too. Sticky tape,
Scissors
Needle for with yarn - embroidery or darning needle - blunt ended if using with young children
Optional: A double ended knitting needle or similar eg chop-stick (again take care with sharp ends around young children).
Whilst using this resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing by:
1) Get Active - Get out on a walk with your family to find your perfect rock to use for the loom and why not take your yarn and needles with you and create your wrap and weave outdoors somewhere.
2) Keep Learning - use this session to learn (or relearn) a crafting technique to create a simple object of beauty with your family. Once you know and understand the basic format of how to weave, why not become creative with it and attempt something larger with your family. May this be just the beginning!
3) Be Mindful- When we use objects that are originally from nature (eg the rock as your loom), consider the idea of leaving it there too. Not all things need to be made to be kept. Also remember that if your intention is to leave the rock wrap out in nature for another person to discover, ONLY use natural materials to weave with so as not to litter or spoil our wonderful countryside. Consider how you might feel if you discovered your weave whilst out on a walk? Learning a craft as a process is known to settle our minds, because it requires a type of focus that can help shut other things out while we are doing it, giving the mind a beautiful 'break' from it's usual chatter.
4) Practice Kindness- Depending on your family, know that you may need to prepare materials beforehand and give patient help threading needles if you have younger children, respond with kindness to their needs.
5) Think Community - Is this object being made for you or for a stranger to find? Forewarn if the intention is to leave the objects made so that it is not a shock to anyone with you when the time comes. Make someone happy and leave your creation(s) to be found, or leave on family members doorsteps, or those of neighbours, simply share the love. Post your beautiful outcomes and share any tips in the comments below.
Thank you! So inspiring! I will pair this with my Sept lesson with the book Everybody Needs a Rock By Byrd Baylor. My students usually search for a small rock to keep in their desk but now we can search for a weaving rock too!