The wonderful world of weaving. .

Weaving is an art form included in many school curriculums that both students and teachers enjoy. However, weaving becomes even more interesting when students see it from its origins. With the help of funding from three grants, students at Sutton Elementary in Muncie, Indiana were introduced to a sheep farmer to experience the weaving process from start to finish.

Preparation

Before our visitors came, we taught lessons on color to help students when selecting their weaving color schemes. Lessons in simple paper weavings introduced students to the over, under; over, under process. Our introduction to weaving included historical information and examples contrasted through the Tlingit and Navajo cultures. Students were exposed to a variety of different looms from around the world to see that weaving has been an important part of life for many centuries.

Shearing the Sheep

The excitement began to build with the approach of our visiting artist, Pam Nicholas. She arrived complete with farmer Jeff Jester and three different breeds of sheep. The sheep had to be herded, unwillingly, through the building to enter the school's courtyard. A makeshift pen was created to house the waiting sheep. Because of the size of our student body, only some of the students were able to witness firsthand the shearing of the sheep, but the event was videotaped for all classes.

As the sheep were sheared, students watched and asked questions that were answered by both Pam and Jeff. Students examined the different wools and learned about the process of shearing. Pam and Jeff told them that sheep are sheared once a year, how the wool is washed to remove the natural lanolin, and how the wool is prepared for weaving.

Introducing the Loom

On the first day, Pam also met with classes to introduce students to tabletop looms. Students worked in groups of four at a variety of different looms to learn each function of the loom: raising the heddles, passing the shuttle, making the weaver's V, and beating the weft. Every class in the school eventually wove on these looms to create large mats and long scarves that were later displayed.

Introducing the Spinning Wheel 

The next week we had a visit from two alpaca and their owner Shannon McConnell. During this week, Pam returned to teach students about spinning animal fibers. Students who had not been able to witness the shearing of the sheep met with Shannon to see how alpaca fibers are used to create different products. They learned how to card wool and operate a spinning wheel. Students examined a variety of different animal fibers such as llama, camel, rabbit, and even human hair, to see how other animals are used to create different types of yarns.

The Dyeing Process

On Pam's last visit, she introduced the dyeing process. A hot plate and a tripod with a kettle were set up to demonstrate how different materials could be used to dye our wool. Walnut hulls, flowers, and coffee grounds were among some of the materials used. Interestingly, the students' favorite dye was Kool-Aid.

Finished Weavings

The process of weaving continued over the next few months as students used a variety of materials to create their final weavings. In first grade, students wove on colored paper plates with different yarns and beads. They framed their finished weavings with two rows of rya knots to disguise their paper plate looms. In second grade, some students worked on hot pad looms with cotton loops. Others made Mexican Ojo de Dios with different textures and colors of yarn. The third graders had two whimsical weaves to complete: a chenille stem/tissue-paper weaving in a corrugated cardboard frame, and a felt strip weaving embellished with sequins, buttons, and felt shapes. Students in fourth grade wove mats on cardboard looms using cotton, polyester, chenille, metallic, and bicolor yarns. Like the fourth graders, the fifth graders followed the same criteria to weave on cardboard looms with the option of creating a woven bag.

Integrating other Subjects

In teaching weaving, the art teacher has the wonderful ability to integrate with other subjects. We viewed examples of children's literature, such as Charlie Needs a Cloak, and The Goat and the Rug. Mathematical concepts are naturally integrated with the use of patterning, symmetry, asymmetry, vertical and parallel warp threads, and the perpendicular, horizontal weft threads. The science of creating yarn becomes even more interesting with the use of a microscope to compare and contrast the different animal fibers.

While integrating with other curricula is important, the teaching of art was my first and foremost priority. The grants paid for a wide array of colored yarns, and students were able to implement true color schemes such as warm, primary, intermediate, and monochromatic in their choices for weavings.

The students were in awe of every aspect of the project. They found the work relaxing, rewarding, and once they learned the basics they didn't think it was difficult. From shearing, to spinning, to dyeing, to weaving, students saw the process from start to finish in the most authentic way possible.

Carol Burt is an art teacher at Sutton Elementary School, Muncie Community School Corporation. Muncie, Indiana. [e-mail].