Weaving Wednesday

see later who made this and how

Throughout August we shall be spending all but one of the Wednesday afternoons at an event hosted by our Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, demonstrating crafts and giving children an opportunity to take part. This is my first year of helping out at this event, with Imogen in tow.


These are so busy and popular giving children (and their parents or carers) the opportunity to have a go at finger knitting, braid making, peg loom weaving, kumihino braiding, wet felting, backstrap loom weaving, spinning and whatever else we can find to do.

We had an amazing time. We travelled by train and were given a lift for the last part of the journey by the wonderful lady who has been organising this event for a long time. I helped her set up the room with areas designated for different crafts, Imogen loved helping out too and was telling me that she was looking forward to showing the other children what to do.

Whilst setting out all the wool and equipment, she picked up one of the friendship braiding kits and just started it on her own - he has done several before so doesn't need any instruction on them. We found a small handmade spindle too and I showed her how to use it to spin the wool so she was happy playing with this too.

friendship braid making

I took many pictures for the guild, the newsletter and the venue's education department, and many personal ones of Imogen which I can share here. If necessary I have blurred the faces of others in the pictures.

Imogen using the backstrap loom
(I'm going to make one of these, so watch this space)

Look at the lovely colours and weaving growing

Onto the felting, making a felt bracelet

Felting - laying out and wettingrolling

resulting strip for bracelet and toggle

Braiding on a Marudai

Imogen on the marudaiMama on the Marudai

Look at the braid we made

Braiding discs for coasters, etc

Some finger knitting, many of the adults loved doing this too!

finger knitting

We are looking forward to the next one already. It was a tiring afternoon but just so much fun.