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Hand weaving in a cutting of green leaves on almost completed nature weave made from twigs and green string.
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2 Ways of Nature Weaving with Kids

2 Ways of Nature Weaving with Kids shows 2 ways to make nature looms. Collect grasses, leaves, and flowers on a walk to weave on your loom.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Nature craft/activity
Cuisine: Craft
Keyword: 2 ways to make a nature loom, family activity, natural weaving, Nature Craft, nature craft project for family, nature loom, nature weaving activity, nature weaving ideas, nature weaving,
Servings: 1 nature weaving project
Author: Shelly
Cost: $1

Equipment

  • Scissors
  • Garden clippers

Ingredients

  • Nature items that you collect
  • 4 straight sticks OR a piece of heavy cardboard
  • String (OR yarn, OR light twine)

Instructions

  • Plan a walk with your children and take along a basket or a tote and a garden clipper of some sort to collect the nature items you will need for your project.
    You are looking for a variety of nature items that would work for weaving so they need to be long and slender. Look for things that can be easily clipped off and not hurt the bush, tree or flower.
  • There are two loom possibilities described in this post that you can make. One loom is made of sticks and the other of heavy cardboard.
    The stick loom is best for older kids that can tie the sticks together themselves unless an adult or older child is willing to help the younger child. The cardboard loom may work better for younger kids if you cut the heavy cardboard for them.
    Choose which you would like to try and go to the instructions that follow for that loom type.
  • Stick Loom
    With the stick loom you will need several straight sticks in the size you would like for your loom. I used two 12 inch and two 8-inch sticks in the loom you see in these pictures. But the loom can be larger or smaller if you would like.
    All of these sticks came from a tree branch that fell during a rain storm last week. It had several branches that could be clipped off and the branches were about ½ inch thick. See what you can find.
    Clip off any extra little branches on your sticks and then cut them to your chosen length.
  • Lay the 4 sticks in a rectangle (or square) and use the string (yarn or twine) to lash the sticks together. Use a figure 8 wrapping where two sticks cross. Keep wrapping until the corner feels firm and then tie it off well and clip the string. 
    Repeat this on all four corners of the loom.
    Now tie the string on one cross bar of the loom and wrap it around and around between the two cross bars until you have your desired number of “warp” yarns. Tie it off and clip the  end. This is where you will do your weaving.
  • Cardboard Loom
    Use a piece of heavy cardboard, like a flap from a large shipping box. 
    Draw and then cut out a shape from the cardboard. 
    I made a heart shaped loom, but you can make a rectangle, square, crown, or other shape of your choice. 
    Cut small slits in the cardboard to hold the string (yarn or twine). Make the same number of slits on the top and bottom. 
    Wrap the string around the cardboard, going through the slits on top then bottom, etc. Don’t pull it too tight or you won’t have room to weave your stems through it.
    Tape the ends of the string on the back of the loom.
  • Nature weaving
    Select one of your nature items and use it to weave across the yarns on your loom. 
    Use an over and under pattern on the first stem. Then use an under and over pattern with the second stem. Continue going back and forth with this pattern.
    Use a variety of nature items to make your weaving interesting and attractive. Which are your favorites? I love the flower stems but also the leafy green stems.
    It’s kind of hard to weave with some bulkier stems. Be sure to start your weaving with the base of the stem first. That will make it easier to weave.
    Clip the long ends of the plants that are sticking out farther than you would like after you are done.
    What do you think? Isn’t that fun?

Video

Notes

Note: If I made the stick loom again, I would lash the sticks together with more rounds of string. The loom wasn’t as firmly lashed as I would have liked, and it didn’t stay square.
More loom ideas:
I have a very large grapevine wreath in my garage that we may use as a loom when the grands come. It would sit well on the large  stick easel sitting in the side yard that we made in a previous post. That would be an easy loom for the older grands to use and would dress up the easel.
Another loom idea would be the frame from an old window or photo. 
Hey, here is another idea. Try this project in the fall and see how different your weaving will look with the nature items you find in a different season of the year!