When 4 year olds weave

It’s amazing when a 4 year old weaves. A little bit hectic and intensely industrious. Thanks to the Saori Piccolo and its mini size conversion, a 4 year old can operate this little floor loom very easily. The pedals are an easy reach, the spindleless shuttle is easily and safely threaded up and the weaving progresses despite entering at the same edge over several rows to create a little design feature…or rather a very out there design addition. How else can a little 4 year old weave up on a floor loom and learn to weave so young. I’m quite taken aback. Casey here is creating cloth for a skirt. The half metre woven will be added to next time she comes, eventually weaving enough fabric – such is the beauty of Saori inspired cloth!

Casey now thinks that everyone weaves with a floor loom so should I also set her up with a cardboard slit loom to learn the ‘basics’ of weaving? You know, the under and over, then over and under. Or can I bypass of of that and just get her loving cloth at the moment? If she really wants to get into the structure of weaving…she will…later. Or is it the wrong way round? What do you think?

 

5 thoughts on “When 4 year olds weave

  • April 28, 2014 at 6:35 pm
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    Love it Kaz! I have had the same fun with a 6 year old who learnt to blend yarns and wind her own bobbins at first attempt. She wants to weave regularly now but insists her work should be on display in the studio. Her weaving rhythm is “baa, bada, boom” instead of “hands, feet, beat” and she flys along at a great pace. Their fearlessness and freedom is fantastic!

  • April 28, 2014 at 9:34 pm
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    I love the vicarious joys of enabling unfettered, creative making. Barbaric beauty is what Anni Albers calls it. My vote is for letting her go and if her interest holds – gently guiding toward understanding. What a great tool for wee ones!

  • April 28, 2014 at 10:00 pm
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    Hi Kaz.I love this. I think let Casey weave wonderful free cloth and enjoy the process, she can learn the mechanics later if she wants to. The making is the joy and fun so GO Casey! x

  • April 29, 2014 at 7:56 am
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    I’d never heard “barbaric beauty” before – thank you. And yes, 4 year olds have much to teach us about barbaric beauty.

  • May 10, 2014 at 5:49 am
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    Let her go with the Piccolo, its so Immediate. They get such a sense of achievement without the tedium of basic under and over on a cardboard loom. I tried it with my 5YO granddaughter, she much prefers my WX60 SAORI Loom.
    I wish I could afford to buy a Piccolo too. It would be invaluable for all the children.

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