Craft Basket

Hand Yarn Weaving

A simple cardboard loom introduces the calming rhythm of weaving with soft pastel wool.

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Ages 4+10 min prep

I made the first cardboard loom out of a cereal box in about four minutes, mostly to see if my 6 year old would sit still for it. He wove for an hour.

Over and under is such a simple rhythm, and there is no way to ruin it. Skipped a thread? It becomes part of the pattern. He kept choosing new colors from the basket and narrating what each stripe was about.

The finished weaving is hanging above his bed with a stick through the top, and he tells every guest that he made it himself.

A cardboard loom strung with white warp thread and a basket of yarn

The finished weaving, trimmed and ready to hang

Close up of the weaving in progress, chunky yarn over white warp threads

What you'll need

Small cardboard loom (or a piece of stiff cardboard with notches)
Cotton yarn for the warp
Soft wool yarn in pastel shades
A blunt tapestry needle or wooden weaving stick
Scissors

How to make it

1
String the warp yarn vertically across the loom, tying at the top and bottom.
2
Thread a length of pastel yarn onto the needle.
3
Show your child how to weave over and under each warp thread.
4
Push each row gently down to keep the weave snug.
5
Change colors as often as you like, then tie off and slide from the loom.

Tip

This is a wonderful quiet-time activity — great for rainy mornings.