Remember potholder looms? I made many such potholders when I was young. It is a natural entry point for a budding weaver. My eight-year-old grandson has mastered potholders. He is ready for a bigger challenge. I ask, “Would you like to try weaving on a floor loom?” Wide-eyed, he says, “Yes!”
Sit here. Practice moving your feet on the treadles: Right foot 1-2-3-4; 1-2-3-4; left foot 5-6-7-8; 5-6-7-8. (Can you do it without looking at your feet?) Hold the shuttle in your right hand, and send it across the top of the warp over to your left hand. Practice gliding the shuttle back and forth on top of the warp several times to get the hang of it. Okay, I think you’re ready! Let’s do it!
Within a few minutes he is weaving unassisted. Ahh, the joy of seeing someone take pleasure in making cloth—especially, when that someone is your grandchild!
And now, the potholder loom grabs the attention of another grandchild. “Let me do it myself,” she says, like a typical five-year-old. The cycle repeats itself, and Lola (that’s me) smiles.
May you spread your joys to the next generation.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
Ahhh! This is wonderful! Next, your grandson will want to wind a warp and dress the loom.
I love their nickname for you!
Hi Beth, that could happen. This grandson flourishes on creativity.
I took the name Lola when my first grandchild was born in the Philippines. Lola is the Filipino’s common title for grandmother. I really like the name!
Karen
It’s a lovely name – my grandson calls his grandparents Lola and Lolo. They are Filipino.
Hi Karen, It’s especially sweet when the young ones are learning to talk. I’ll never forget the first time I heard, “I wuv you, wo-wa!”
Karen
The joy of sharing our hobbies! Granddaughter’s colors match Lola’s sweater! Another thing to share – colors!
Hi Rachel, I was hoping someone would notice how similar the colors are for the potholder and my sweater. I wondered if she was subconsciously copying my sweater as she was choosing colors.
Thanks for noticing,
Karen
No grandchildren in my life, yours are adorable! The inner child in me wants a pot holder loom, just for those moments where I don’t want anything complicated to work on but need to keep my myself busy with color and design. I put one on my Christmas Santa list. Sometimes we need to be children again :).
Hi Renee, I have as much fun with the potholder loom as the children do! (Other adults in our home do, too.) By all means, this should be on your Santa list, as well as a good assortment of colored loops.
Karen
You are so lucky, I can’t even get mine to sit still long enough to knit.
Hi Linda, I am fortunate with my grandchildren. All of them are used to making things at home. Still, these two grandchildren are the only ones so far that have shown an interest in weaving.
Karen
Beautiful post has me smiling
Hi Kathyinozarks, If you’re smiling, I’m smiling!
Karen
Late to the posting. My grandchildren were visiting for the week.
4, 3 and 20 months. So far… the two older children are exploring dressing the potholder loom in color sequences. Yes… color patterns was a lecture by the 4 year old. I have a basket of loops from hobby lobby.
She also understands under over and over under. The fine motor coordination to accomplish this is a work in progress.
Even better is my daughter eyeballing the rag rug in progress on the big floor loom. It was added to my craft collection after she married and life kept her from checking it out. Now, with each visit I will talk her through the nuances as I discover them.
A decade ago she measured warp for me on the warping board. That year I put a dent in my scraps by weaving kitchen rugs for Christmas gifts.
A rose path sequence in a jack loom that threads up with 6 treadles is different from a table loom with hand tabs to raise and lower the 4 harnesses.
Thank you for sharing this particular topic.
Hi Nannette, Family weaving interests – always a good thing!
Karen