The Mothercraft: Wee Woven Wall Hanging

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With summer just around the corner, it’s officially time to start thinking about keeping those kids crafty! Weaving is all the rage right now, and also great for honing those fine motor skills. Your little, fiber artist can mash-up pretty with practical by making this sweet, wall hanging. Have fun! –Vickie
Wee Woven Wall Hanging

Materials
1 ball, Lily Sugar n’ Cream cotton in color: White
Scraps of Bernat Sheep(ish) by Vickie Howell in colors: Chartreuse(ish) and Coral(ish))
6”-8” piece of ribbon
Paper Straw
Yarn needle
Masking or washi tape
12 pony beads
Scissors
Wide-toothed hair comb (optional)

Directions 
Setting up:

Feed a 20” or so piece of cotton yarn through straw, leaving tails at both ends exposed. Knot tail ends to create the hanger for your woven piece.
Cut fourteen, 24” pieces of cotton yarn.
Fold strand in half to create loop; fold loop over straw, and pull the ends of yarn through the loop. Pull until snug, but not tight. Repeat for remaining 13 strands.

Tape knotted loop flat surface (painter’s canvases or stiff cardboard work great); tape down all hanging strands of yarn so that they’re taught (you may need two rows of tape to keep strands in place.)

Now you’re ready to weave!

Weaving:

Using long strand of cotton yarn and needle — and beginning just above taped down edge — weave over and under each respective strand to end; repeat coming back the opposite way, taking care not to pull yarn too tight.

Using comb (or a pointy object like knitting needle), push down newly woven strands so they lay evenly and closer together.

Repeat last two steps; once more. Four rows complete. Take yarn off of needle.  From here on, comb down strands every couple of rows.

Thread contrasting scrap yarn onto needle and join; weave back and forth for for 3 rows. Cut yarn, leaving tail.

Carry cotton yarn up side of work, taking care not to pucker fabric; weave 4 rows.

Using fingers, weave ribbon piece for one row. Trim ribbon.

Carry cotton yarn up side of work, taking care not to pucker fabric; weave 4 rows. Take yarn off of needle.

Thread 2nd contrasting scrap yarn onto needle and join; weave back and forth for for 3 rows. Cut yarn, leaving tail.

Carry cotton yarn up side of work, taking care not to pucker fabric; weave 2 rows (or as many needed to fill last bit if space before straw.

Cut yarn, leaving tail. Weave in tail ends.

Adding Beads:

Alternating heights each time, slide pony bead onto two strands of hanging yarn; knot in place. Repeat across until all tails are knotted. Trim ends so relatively even.

Hang your pretty, little piece over a desk, in your bedroom or anyplace that needs a crafty bright spot!