Lauren Kiedaisch - Art

Grade Level: 8

Project: Weaving

Objective: To introduce students to weaving techniques, and create a collaborative quilt

display.

I Can:
- Discuss different types of textile arts, including Kente cloths of South Ghana.
- Use a symbolic palette of colors in my weaving, and explain why I chose these colors.
- Use tabby and dovetail weaving techniques to create a tapestry.

Materials:
- Warp thread, looms, tapestry needles, yarn, scissors

Academic Language:
- Warp: The internal skeleton of a weaving
- Weft: The woven material (goes left to right)
- Knitting vs. weaving: knitting is a series of knots, while a weaving has an internal
skeleton.
- Tabby weaving: regular over-under weaving that spans the entire warp.
- Dovetail Weaving: two or more colors that interlock where they meet in the weaving.
- Kente Cloth: a traditional fabric made in South Ghana in which woven rectangles (which
were traditionally woven by men) were sewn together to create a large cloth (traditionally
sewn by women)

Procedures (Appx. 4-5 class days):

Day 1-2: The students will discuss how weaving creates fabric, and the difference between
knitting and weaving. The students will then take a loom, which has been pre-warped, and write
their names on the tape in sharpie marker. The teacher will demonstrate the proper way to get
yarn for their projects. Yarn is to be used one string at a time, and must be wrapped back up
nicely to prevent tangling. If the students cannot find the end of the yarn, the teacher must help
find it, do not cut the yarn to untangle it. Throughout the weaving process, needles will be
checked in and out, to assure that none leave the classroom. It will also be stressed that
scissors are returned to where they belong. No scissors should be left in the yarn, and scissors
should never be near a loom. The teacher will demonstrate the tabby weaving process. The
class will walk through how to thread a needle, through the eye of the needle, not tied. Students
will start weaving in the center of the project, to avoid loose ends that would have to be woven
in. The class will work through at least one row of weaving together to make sure the process is
understood. The teacher will also go over changing colors. The yarn the students cut for
themselves is to be used until it completely runs out, they are not to cut their piece of yarn
shorter. The next piece of yarn will be added two or three unders before the last piece ended.
This will keep the end of the yarn in place.

Day 2-5: The teacher will demonstrate the dovetail weaving process, which creates interlocking
vertical stripes of color. The students are expected to have at least two sections of tabby
weaving and two sections of dovetail weaving. This will not fill the loom, but they may choose
which they are more comfortable or like better to finish the design.

Symbolic Meaning of Colors in the Kente Cloth:

blackmaturation, intensified spiritual energy
bluepeacefulness, harmony and love
greenvegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal
goldroyalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity
greyhealing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash
maroonthe color of mother earth; associated with healing
pinkassoc. with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect
of red
purpleassoc. with feminine aspects of life; usually worn by
women
redpolitical and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and
death.
silverserenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon
whitepurification, sanctification rites and festive occasions
yellowpreciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, beauty