Weaving with plastic using a cardboard loom!

I have a thing for any kind of crafts that can become a wall hanging and this little project makes a great one.

This is such an incredibly easy project because all you need is a bit of cardboard and some yarn (or plastic bags) and a stick (if you want to make a wall hanging).

Most recently while learning about Guatemala thanks to our monthly Atlas Kiwi Crate we did a cardboard weave using old plastic bags after being inspired by an amazing book which came with it called the Rainbow Weaver by Linda Marshall and Elisa Chavarri. It's the sweetest story about a little girl who wants to weave like her mother but there isn't enough materials for her to use so she ends up trying various things until she comes up with the plan to use the plastic bags that are littered all over her village. Such an inspiring story!

Materials
Cardboard of any size you wish.

Yarn to thread the loom.

Yarn for threading or cut up plastic bags into streams.

a stick (if making a wall hanging)

Instructions:

1.First find your piece of cardboard and cut about 1CM slits down each side of your cardboard leaving about 1CM between each slit. Then take your yarn and begin to create your loom. tape one end of the string to the back of the cardboard and take your string from the front to the other end of the cardboard and loop it around one of the tabs. continue to do this until you have reached your desired width. just make sure you have an even number of strings so that it's easy to tie off at the end.

2. Next its time to begin your weave! Be creative and mix up colours and designs. Leave 4-5CM at each end so it's easy to tie up at the end.

If you want to try weaving with plastic bags you need to cut them into strips first and then you can just begin to weave with them!

3. Once you are finished you can either leave your ends loose which I normally do but if you want a neater weave then just begin to weave the strings in. 

4. Now it's time to cut the strings. Once cut just tie each pair into a knot. and repeat with both sides and then you are finished! 

5. If you are making a wall hanging then just tie the strings around your stick and you're finished!