A Trip to the Textile Arts Center

Last week, fourth graders took a trip to the Textile Arts Center to weave on floor looms. It was AWESOME! The studio was great and Visjna, co-owner and teacher, taught us some amazing things. Here is a post that 4Five artist Ray wrote about the trip. Enjoy!

The 4Fives at the Textile Art Center!!!!!! :)

April 13, 2010 by the4fives

Hey everyone guess what we did last week?

We went with Bee and Ms. Kimball to her friend Visjna’s art studio, the Textile Arts Center. When we got there, Ms. Kimball kept knocking on the door but her friend didn’t answer because her back was turned to us. Finally, Visjna opened the door then we entered and sat on the floor and she started started to talk to us about weaving. Then she said “have you kids been doing weaving at your school?”, and we said “yes.” Then she said “ok this will be easy for you guys and girls”.

Visjna teaches us how to weave.

Then she said “we will be doing weaving today”, then we said “cool!”

A loom at Visjna's studio.

Then she said “look at the yarn and choose which one you want to use.” We started looking at the yarn then she said to pick one then everybody picked one. I picked one and it was red.

Adrian and I choose our yarn.

Ms.Kimball started calling us for groups and I was in group 5 and I went to my loom.

My group at our loom.

Then all we had to do was put the string on the loom, put our feet on the pedals, put our yarn through the other strings and pull back the beater to push our yarn together. Then you keep repeating it.

Another group on a loom.

I finished and then all we had time for was to make one more. Then Ms. Kimball said “you guys know you can make one for me.”

Ms. Kimball helps Deven with weaving.

Then I thought about making one for Bee then I started weaving one for her. Then the class finished. Then I finished making my weaving project for Bee.

My present for Bee.

Now I am going to tell you the steps of weaving on a weaving machine:

Step 1- First you pick a yarn.

Step 2- Then you wait for your group be called.

Step 3- Then you go to your machine.

Step 4- Then you tie your yarn to the warp.

Step 5- Then you step on the pedals.

Step 6- Then you pass the yarn through the warp threads.

Step 7- Then you let go of the pedals.

Step 8- Then you push the beater down.

Step 9- Then you push down the other pedals that you didn’t push in Step 5.

Step 10- Then you keep repeating steps 5-9 and finish the rest of your weaving.

Step 11- Then you are all done.

I hope that you liked my blog post.

Love,

Ray

Next, we are creating our own looms in class and working on small compositions.

I will be posting more soon. WE HAVE BEEN SO BUSY!