Budding Weavers

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!”

Grandson makes potholders with "Designer Colors."
My grandson gravitates toward the bag of loops called “Designer Colors.”
Never too many grandkid-made potholders!
Never too many grandkid-made potholders!
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!

Eight-year-old weaver on the Glimakra Julia loom. 2-block twill.
Budding weaver at the 8-shaft Julia countermarch loom. Weaving linen in a 2-block twill.
Message from grandson to his grandmother.
Ah, grandson, I certainly will teach you more. I love you, too , Lola

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.

Potholder loom and a 5-year-old.
This child favors the loops of “Bright Colors.”
Making a potholder. Budding weaver.
“All by myself.”

May you spread your joys to the next generation.

Happy Weaving,
Karen

14 thoughts on “Budding Weavers

  1. Ahhh! This is wonderful! Next, your grandson will want to wind a warp and dress the loom.

    I love their nickname for you!

    1. 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

        1. 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

  2. The joy of sharing our hobbies! Granddaughter’s colors match Lola’s sweater! Another thing to share – colors!

    1. 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

  3. 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 :).

    1. 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

    1. 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

  4. 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.

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