Penguin Weaving

I have 2 penguin weaving projects for you.


This easy paper weaving.

and this yarn woven penguin using a loom.















Paper Woven Penguin:

MATERIALS REQUIRED

- 1 piece of white cardstock (8.5x11), 1 piece of blue cardstock, I piece of black cardstock, and 1 sheet of drawing paper (8.5x11)
- scraps of white paper and orange paper
- white and silver paint
- glitter glue
- crimper, optional
- pencil, white pencil crayon, scissors
- glue
- snowflake punch, optional

PROCEDURE:

First off I want to take my 1 piece of drawing paper and cut it in half the short way.

I want some interesting papers to weave into my penguin so I alter my 2 pieces of drawing paper.

I might paint one with glitter

or spray on some splatter

or stencil on a design with paint

or crimp in some texture with a paper crimper, this one does circles and add a little paint to accent the design.

It really doesn't matter what you do just make the 2 papers look different.
The kids will share papers so there will be lots of variety. 

Some other ideas:
- draw circles with gray crayon
- finger paint with grey and white paint
- sponge on some grey and white paint
- draw lines on with grey and white oil pastel

Fold your piece of white cardstock in half the short way.

Starting at the fold cut several slats in the paper. Stop about 2 inches from the top or open ends.

At school I either get students to draw these lines first with their ruler or I run the paper thru the photocopier putting the lines on for them.

When your painted papers are dry cut in strips the long way.

Start weaving. It should look like a checkerboard.

When my weaving is all done I took my blue piece of cardstock and folded it in half the long way.

I drew a sketch of my penguin, trying to determine how big to make my belly.  This sketch will not show in the final piece as we will use the other side.
Refold your paper and cut out the belly while folded, that way you get a symmetrical opening.

Before I glue my blue paper in place I need to trace my belly onto the black paper.  I missed this step so I used the piece that was cut away but I think it would be easier for your students to just place the blue page on top of the black and trace in the belly.

Glue blue paper into place.

Trim any excess white strips.

I have the penguin belly traced on my black paper so now I draw in the head and the wings.

I fold the black paper the long way and cut out the wings and head.  I don't want the belly so I mark it to remember to cut it off.

I wind up with something like this.  Because I cut on the fold both sides are identical.

Glue into place.  Any pencil lines are on the back of my black paper so I don't see them in the final piece.

Using the black paper that is leftover and some scraps of white and orange I cut and glue on the details of my penguin.

I add a few punched snowflakes.

Now you could draw some on with white crayon or pastel.

That's it for my paper woven penguin.












Yarn Woven Penguin:

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- loom, I have 2 class sets of looms my father in law made for me but you can also just use a piece of corrugated cardboard with slits cut at the top and bottom

- string, you can also just use the white yarn for setting up your loom

- white and black yarn

- plastic fork

- black, white, and yellow or orange felt

- glue

PROCEDURE:

Tie on your string and start stringing your loom.

I used 17 strings but you can choose what works for you as long as it is an odd number.

Take a good length (about 48") of black yarn and tie on to the first string of your loom.

Start weaving, I use a plastic needle to help me weave but you can also just tape the end with masking tape.

Make sure each row is opposite to what you did the row before (under, over)

Weave 25 rows.  Incidentally I use that plastic fork to push my weaving rows together.

Using that same black string I now start weaving on only 3 strings on the closest end.

I think I did about 50 rows double the number I did for the head of the penguin.

Tie off.

Now tie on the other side and do 50 rows on the first 3 strings on that side.

Tie off when done.

Switch to white yarn and tie on string for belly.



Weave 50 rows.

After the 50 rows I continue weaving for another 10 but I include all strings on the loom.




Tie off when done.

Remove strings from loom.  I then tie 2 by 2 of those loom strings into a good knot right close to my penguin weaving, trim excess.

I like to hide my loom strings so I flatten them to the back of my weaving a glue a piece of felt on top of them to secure.

Turn to the front and using felt add details.

You can also add a hanging string.

That's it you now have a yarn woven penguin.




Gail