Lessons

WEAVING

Purses, Pouches and Pockets

ASSIGNMENT:

Create a woven purse, pouch or pocket

Steps:

• 1. Cut an extra "tooth" slit on both ends of edge with teeth. This will make the sides of the purse a tighter, neater weave. Cut a tooth/slit on bottom right edge close to right side. This is where the warp yarn will end and be secured.
  2. Warp the loom by starting on the left side of toothed edge. Leave a 3" length in beginning slit. Wrap yarn down front of loom, around the bottom and up the back of loom. Secure in first slit (same slit as beginning). Take yarn to next slit and secure. Repete down, around and back. Secure in same slit; take yarn to next slit and secure. Repete to end of toothed edge. Secure yarn at bottom right slit. One side should have an even number of warp threads and the other side should have an odd number.
  3. Have students select a maximum of three colors of yarn (including warp color) and wrap sufficient amount onto three cardboard shuttle. The teacher can precut the shuttles or the students can cut their own from a pattern. The shuttles are not used to weave with, but to hold the yarn that will be used to weave. Explain the normal use of a shuttle.
  4.Unwind two open arms length of first color yarn. Begin at bottom right and leave a 3" length loose. This "tail" and the warp "tail"already there will be tied together after a few rows have been woven
  5. Tabby weave around the loom until the length of yarn is used.
  6. To begin a new length (two arms length) over lap the last yarn weave with the new yarn and continue in same pattern. No knots in yarn please, just overlapping.
  7. When woven as close to top edge as possible, end with tail at same end as top warp tail so they can be tied together. Pull warp yarn off each tooth and pull weaving off loom.
  8. If weaving has been packed tight as it was woven, the gap at the top edge can be filled in by distributing the weft threads.upward.
  9. Turn the purse inside out and tuck/push in all loose ends. Add a twisted or braided handle as finishing touch.

Materials needed:

* cardboard looms 5"x6" with 25 teeth on only one edge
* 6" needles 
* scissors 
* yarn 
*cardboard shuttles
*zip lock bags to keep weaving in
* forks or combs to use as beaters

Vocabulary:

Loom, warp, weft, shuttle, beater, plain or tabby weave, basket weave

Grading:

            Warping
            Weft yarn design (Weaving pattern)
            Craftsmanship

Student Examples

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