Native American Crafts - TeachersFirst

Early American Weaving

Experience the Native American and Colonial American art of weaving with this activity that uses a modern twist on a traditional craft. Follow these simple instruction and create a woven belt or sash(*).

Materials:

5 small beverage straws
4-ply yarn - solid color
4-ply yarn - variegated
thin wire
masking tape

Setting Up Your Loom:

Cut solid yarn into lengths three times the desired length of the finished product. You will need five of these - one for threading each straw.
Cut approximately 10 yards of variegated yarn and roll into a ball.
Bend thin wire to form a "needle."
For each of the beverage straws: Thread the wire "needle" with a length of solid yarn, pull the wire through the straw, and tape one end tightly to the straw.
After all straws have been threaded and taped, begin weaving.

Weaving Your Belt:

Hold all five straws, with the taped ends up, in one hand.
Using the end of the ball of variegated yarn, begin weaving with an "under/over" pattern from the bottom of the straws (where you are holding them) to the top (taped edge) . When you have woven to the top of the straws, carefully push the weaving down a few inches. DO NOT push all of the weaving off the straws.
Continue until you have reached a desired length and tie off ends.

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