Mini Weavings

As a little girl, I found small ways to capture the potential in the simplest objects in my world. Then one day I discovered the practice of weaving and that I could make looms and weavings on my own. This was such a happy aha moment for me and years later, inspired the massive woven entryway installation at The Farm Chicks Fair:

The looms I made as a little girl were fashioned from simple cardboard and were usually the size of a small greeting card. Yarn was my primary weaving material. When yarn ran low, I’d incorporate anything I could think of including branches and moss gathered on our land.

I couldn’t help but chuckle when I went to make these little weavings the other day and couldn’t find one speck of yarn. Somehow my supply has been lost in our move and with our current stay-at-home mandate, I won’t be getting more anytime soon. I think it’s pretty fitting that I had to make due with other materials I was able to find.

I wanted to create a tiny gallery of humble little weavings that could be made by most any age because we’re all pretty much together all at home right now and isn’t it nice to include everyone who wants to be included?

I settled on using some metallic cord as the base and these weaving materials: Fabric for one, Crepe Streamers for another, and Embroidery Thread for the last one.

For the loom itself, you can use material such as cardboard, heavy cardstock, a cutout from a cereal box, etc. Simply cut the loom into the size you’d like your weaving to be, cut little slits into the top and bottom of the loom, and thread the loom with your base material. (I used cardstock and metallic cord for each of mine).

Next, begin weaving. If using strips of fabric, you’ll want to figure out how you’ll twist it when you get to each edge. You can do this as precisely or as carefree as you’d like. If using crepe paper, you can simply weave individual strips, and if using embroidery thread, I recommend wrapping a bit of tape around the end of the thread to help you guide the thread as you weave back and forth, back and forth:

Once the weavings are complete:

Clip the base material you used (in my case, metallic cord) on the back side of each weaving and pull the loom away.
Then, tuck in any wild pieces and use scotch tape to adhere crepe streamers or fabric to the base material on the back side.
If you used crepe streamers, you’ll want to trim the side edges now into whatever suits your vision.
Attach a hanger using the same material you used as the base:

Notes:

For little ones, I recommend using cardboard for the loom and yarn as the material if you have it because the cardboard is extra stabile for beginners and yarn is sort of “grabby”, with its fibers and kind of acts like little fingers that want to hold onto each other.
These weavings can be as basic and humble or as technical and thought out as you’d like them to be. And if you want to get really serious, you could start thinking about potential Christmas gifts and weaving little coasters, tiny earrings, and so on.

I understand this is such a difficult time for many and that you may be facing major challenges right now. While I hope to bring some sort of light during this time, I’m not intending to overlook what’s occurring in our world. I wish you love and hope.

IT'S ME, SERENA!

In 2002, I was dreaming of creating a fun and happy little event to sell my vintage and handmade goods. In 2002, I held my first event in my neighbor's barn along with a handful of friends. The sale became wildly popular and began attracting visitors from across the country and recognition in national magazines. Today The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair fills the Spokane County Fairgrounds and features hundreds of creatively and carefully curated spaces packed with vintage and handmade goods. Many describe it as a bucket list event, magical, inspirational, and the best event of its kind in the USA. I describe it as the best weekend of the year!