weaving – Mom Read It

Woven of the World, by Katey Howes/Illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova, (Feb. 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781452178066

Ages 5-8

A young girl learns to weave and ponders the tradition of the art, lulled by the clack and swish of the loom. Howes creates a loving celebration of an ancient art, told in rhyme and illustrated in breathtaking gouache artwork. The song of the loom speaks of tradition, generations, and how weaving unites people across the world: “We are all tapestries, / woven of the world. / We are lifelines interlacing, / yarn of many sources swirled”. Mirtalipova’s stunning illustration moves back and forth between the girl and the elder and moments in time; from steaming pots with Asian artwork, a silkworm lifecycle sketched in white against a black background to a vibrant bridal outfit, a family separated, two generations coming together. Endpapers feature the tools of the hobby; back matter includes an illustrated glossary of weaving terms, a more detailed glimpse into the history of weaving, and author’s and illustrator’s notes. An excellent first purchase that will make a delightful readaloud.

Woven of the World has a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Introduce weaving to middle graders! You can make looms with cardboard from cereal boxes or cardboard boxes on the cheap. Visit Happy Hooligans to see how. Colors of Lily on TeachersPayTeachers has a free handout on cardboard loom weaving that you can hand out; Parisa Rezapour has a PowerPoint on the history of weaving available for free, and Art from Chaos has a weaving lesson plan and simple exercise for younger learners.

Knit, Hook and Spin, by Laurie Carlson, (June 2016, Chicago Review Press), $14.99, ISBN: 9781613734001

Recommended for ages 8+

If the kids in your life – or you – want to be crafty but aren’t sure where to start, this is a great book to have handy. Knit, Hook, and Spin is an easy-to-follow primer that includes over 70 projects for beginners. Clear instructions and illustrations teach you how to knit, crochet, spin yarn, tie dye, weave, and even make your own plarn (yarn from plastic bags). Big on making and recycling, there are instructions and invitations to repurpose clothes; unravel an old sweater to get some yarn for a new project, or tie dye a t-shirt to give it a new look. Weave a rug out of brightly colored plastic bags that you brought your groceries home in last week.

Fiber facts and tidbits about fiber art and crafting history are included throughout, giving kids an understanding of the long-standing history of handmade clothes and everyday accessories that they’ve now become part of. The emphasis is on practice and developing a love of the craft, rather than unnecessary, expensive gadgets: Carlson teaches readers to make weaving looms from sticks or paper plates; knitting needles from chopticks, if that’s what you have around. She notes when adult supervision is suggested, and I hope this gets parents and kids crafting together. There’s no downside to together time or crafting time.

This is a great book for kids and adults, who want to learn to craft but aren’t sure where to go. When I first learned to knit and crochet, I went straight to the children’s section of my library, because I wanted simple, step by step instructions. The wealth of different crafts here makes this a valuable addition to collections where there’s an interest in crafting.

Laurie Carlson’s blog is rather new at the moment, but does include a nice post on the benefits of kids crafting.

Tag: weaving

Weaving generations together: Woven of the World

Knit, Hook, and Spin teaches kids the fun of making