Start the project with a walk to look for the perfect branch and return home to weave onto the branch. The process is also good to develop fine motor coordination. With the right color combination and yarn textures, this weaving project can become an autumn or Halloween decoration.
Create a Branch Weaving
Children will need to look for a forked, or y-shaped, branch that isn’t too brittle. A branch the length of the child’s forearm is a workable size. The forked part of the branch should be approximately half the size of the entire branch. A longer branch with two forked twigs can also be used to create a double weaving.
If possible, look for a branch that has fallen from a tree. The wood should have some moisture in it so the twigs can be bent a bit without snapping. When only dried branches are available, cut an appropriate branch from a tree.
This craft requires a small amount of yarn. Building a yarn stash creates a collection of yarn scraps for a variety of projects. Take a long piece of yarn to create the warp. Tie the yarn around one of the forked branches down where the branches join. Draw the yarn to the opposite branch and wrap the yarn one and a half times around the branch. Go back to the first branch and wrap the yarn in the same way.
Continue going back and forth, leaving approximately a finger’s width between yarn wraps on each branch. The yarn of the warp will zigzag between the forked branches. Work up toward the wide part of the y-shape. Knot the yarn to one branch, a couple of inches from the top, and cut off the excess yarn.
Cut strips of yarn in different colors and textures and weave these weft pieces into the warp in an over-and-under fashion. The yarn can either be knotted onto the warp yarn or left with the ends loose. The hanging ends become part of the finished piece’s look. Work either from the top or the bottom, weaving the yarn around to another column until that piece of yarn is gone.
Weave the columns of yarn close together or leave space between each of these weft strings. Add a variety of yarns into the weaving, changing the texture with each strand added.
Nature Weaving
Prepare a yarn warp between the forked branches. Weave grass stems and seed heads, leaves, flowers, etc. into the warp. Because stems and leaves aren’t as flexible as yarn, weave each piece from top to bottom (or bottom to top) without trying to manipulate the plant into a second row. Get a different effect by starting a few of the seed heads or flowers midway down the warp.
It is unnecessary to place these weft pieces close together creating a dense weaving. Trim the pieces that hang beyond the warp threads. The finished piece will have an airy appearance that will changes as the plants change from green to brown and dry.
Halloween Tree or Spider Web Decoration
Turn the branch into a web covered, spider-infested decoration. Create the warp, wrapping baby, or fine weight, yarn in white around the branches. Cut pieces of white yarn to weave through the warp. Glue or tie lightweight plastic spiders onto the ends of the yarn or tuck them within the weaving. This would look good with a double forked branch.
With basic weaving skills, children can weave yarn or natural materials onto a simple branch loom that becomes part of the finished piece.
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