4-H Knitting & Weaving Workshop

Watching a new technique!

We held a fiber arts workshop for our county 4-H'ers. It was great to be able to bring someone else in to teach so I could learn more also.

It was interesting for me since the way I was taught to knit is different then the method being taught. In order to help the youth I had to really focus on how the instructions were presented. Little tools to help them out, like making a puddle to cast on or grabbing a carrot. The idea of going through the front door, picking up your coat and going back out the door in order to make a knit stitch. Made perfect sense to some of the kids once you told them this.

After a few hours of practicing and working on our technique, many of us ended up with small washcloths made from cotton yarn. No two looked the same (mine ended up being more diamond instead of square due to an added row in the middle) but that is the great thing about knitting, every project is unique, even if you use the same pattern!

Weaving using pins, cardboard, a needle, and yarn!

In the afternoon we switched from knitting to weaving. This is something I have not done a lot of (unless you count basket weaving.) Using items many would have around their house we made little looms and made small items like bookmarks or bracelets. Seemed like it would be easy but trying to keep your tension the same and have the sides be even instead of being wider or smaller. Something to continue to work on and practice.

Closed Heart Basket Instructions

Here is a link to basic instructions using smaller reed.

Materials/Supplies

• 3 feet 3/16" Flat Reed
• 160 inches 5/8" Flat Reed
• 1-36 inch piece of Ribbon, 2 - 24 inch pieces of Ribbon
• Small Clamps or Clothes Pins (wooden clamps or pins tend to work better, the glue dries faster and more evenly)
• Tacky Glue
• Basketry Shears or Strong Scissors
• Tub or Bucket
• Water
• Wash Clothes or Rags

1. Cut 10 pieces of 5/8 inch flat reed exactly 16 inches long. Soak in tub or bucket for about 10 minutes (just enough to make a little pliable but not to long or reed becomes brittle again.)

2. Dry off ends of reed. Put a small drop of glue at the end of one piece of reed, and overlap with the end of a second piece, at a right angle. Be sure to align outside edges. Clamp with a clip until glue is dry. 

 

3. Take another piece, placing it on the opposite side as the first piece. You can use a piece of reed as a spacer if you want exact spacing or eyeball it. 

4. Place the fourth piece under the last piece you added and over the second one, keeping the space consistent, using a small drop of glue on the end each time, and clip. At this point you have made a hole that’s perfectly square at the point of your heart. As you continue adding pieces, be sure to keep your reed parallel and your holes square.

5. Continue alternating the weave adding to the opposite side each time, keeping the space consistent, using a small drop of glue on the end each time, and clip. Repeat these steps until you have used all ten pieces of reed, five on each side, being careful to weave each one in an over and under pattern. One side of the heart is now complete.

  







7. Turn the  piece over so the heart is pointing toward you. You’ll weave the second side by working in pairs from the center outward. Start with the two pieces opposite the point of the heart. Glue at a right angle, aligning edges.

 

8. I use an additional clip to hold the heart shut to dry (the red clip in the picture, clipped to two of the cloths pins.) Let dry overnight (if you need to expedite the drying you can put it in the oven on warm, just make sure to watch it.) If you like you can wait until the glue is mostly dry and then lash the sides. I find the heart ends up being flatter when this method is used (the reed isn't dry all the way and thus doesn't keep it's curved form). It depends on what the purpose of your basket is.

9.  Remove clips. Soak the 3/16" Flat Reed long enough for it to become pliable. Starting from the tip of the heart start lashing the sides together, working up one side and down then up the other side and down. Tuck in the ends.  If you feel the opening is to small or you don't like the shape of the heart you can stuff towels into the opening so the reed is pushed out a little. Many times I will soak the top portion of the heart (that does not have any glue) in order to get the shape I want for the body of the heart.   10. Add the larger ribbon for a handle or hanger. Add a bow on each corner of the heart using the smaller pieces.