1. Art presentation for sixth grade By Mrs. Hutchins
Weaving
Art presentation for sixth grade
By Mrs. Hutchins

2. Who Weaves? Native Americans
Native tribes in Central and South America
Others who find weaving interesting

3. What is weaving?
Weaving is a method of forming fabric or fabric-like items by interlacing long threads that all go in one direction with other threads that are at a ninety degree angle to the initial threads.

4. Mexican Weavers Zapotec Indians
The Zapotec weave with vibrant colors of Merino wool.
They have been weaving since between 200 and 800 A.D.
When the Spanish took over Mexico, they introduced the Zapotec to the two foot
pedaled loom.

5. Steps the Zapotec use The Zapotec use locally grown wool.
The first step for preparing the wool is to card it. Carding means cleaning the wool of all of the sticks, seeds, leaves, and any other debris that might be there.
The second step is to spin the wool into yarn. This is done on a spinning wheel. To spin enough wool for a small weaving would take 2 to 3 days.
After spinning, the wool is dyed using dye made from natural plants. It is then allowed to dry.
If you want to learn more about the dye and how it is made, go to

6. Zapotec weaving, continued
Once the wool is ready to use, the weaver warps the loom – that is, they put the wool that will run vertically onto the loom.
After the loom is warped, the weaver is ready to begin weaving. They choose their pattern and the color of wool to use and begin the weaving process.
Many of the patterns are ancient patterns that have been handed down through time, much like our quilt patterns.
The threads that run horizontally and woven through the warp are called the weft.

7. A Few Samples of Zapotec Weaving
All pictures from

8. South American Weavers
Maximo Laura
A fifth-generation weaver from Peru
Maximo weaves tapestry, or woven paintings to hang on walls.
He incorporates the weft into the artwork. For him, the weft is much more important than to just hold the weft in place.
The following slides show a few pieces of his collection. They are copied from

13. Weaving Looms There are multiple kinds of weaving looms. Floor loom
Rigid Heddle loom
Frame loom
Table loom
Tapestry loom
Backstrap loom

14. Picture Frame loom
You will be using a picture frame loom for your weaving. Picture frame looms come in a variety of sizes, but all are shaped as a rectangle.
You will place weft on your picture frame loom – about 15 to 20 (depending on the size of your loom) for you to weave through. You will want to choose your weft color carefully because you will most likely be able to see it as part of your weaving.
You will then choose your warp color or colors. Your weaving can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose it to be.
All loom pictures from

15. A Quick video to give you the idea

16. Have fun! We hope you enjoy your weaving experience.
Your finished product will be due on April 17 at the end of art period.
You may make more than one weaving if you would like to. It is your choice as to how many you want to make.
Who knows, this might be the
start of a great career!