I like to change the colours of accents in my home according to the seasons. The transition from the light, pastel shades of summer to the warm earthy palette of fall colours begins as soon as there is a nip in the air. I used strips of yellow, brown, red and green construction paper and wove them together to make a picture.
In elementary school, I remember doing a simple paper weaving in art class. Later in life this led me into doing some weaving using a loom. Except for being on a much finer scale, it follows the same method.
Paper Weaving # 1 (Easy)
Supplies:
- 2 sheets of construction paper in different colours
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Ruler
- Glue
Directions:
- Fold one of the sheets of construction paper in half so the two short ends meet. At the open end, draw a line with your ruler that is about an inch or 2.5 cm from the edge.
- From the right side of the paper and about 1 inch or 2.5 cm from edge, start at the fold and cut straight up to the line you have drawn. Do not go past this line.
- Continue cutting strips to this line spacing them about an inch or 2.5 cm. apart. Your can pre measure but it is not important for the lines to be perfectly straight or how many you cut. I found it easier to eyeball them but children may need some guide lines. I did some of my cutting with fancy edged scissors.
- Cut the second sheet of paper into long strips that are about an inch or 2.5 cm. wide.
- Start weaving with the first strip going over and under the slits in the paper. The next strip will go over and under the opposite slits.
- Continue in this pattern until you are done.
- Trim and glue down all the loose edges.
Paper Weaving # 2 (harder)
Supplies:
- Five sheets of 9 x12 or 22 cm x 30 cm construction paper: 1 brown, 1 orange, 1 green and 1 red and one sheet of any colour for the base.
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Glue
Directions:
- Lay the sheet that is the base flat on the working surface.
- Cut the orange and green sheets of the construction paper into short strips and the red and brown sheets into long strips. The strips should be about 1 inch or 2.5 cm. wide.
- Take the short strips and neatly line them up side by side in alternating colours on top of the base. To make it easier to work, glue down only the green strips at the top end and carefully remove the orange ones.
- Place a long brown strip across the top of the green strips. Replace the short orange strips between the green strips and glue them down over the brown strip.
- Continue to work in the weaving pattern with the long brown and red strips.
- Once it is complete, glue down the ends to keep them in place. It makes a colourful wall hanging, place mat or doily.
My colours are only a suggestion. Use any colours you like or ones that will match your décor.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
