Weaving

You will need:

Thin card such as a cereal or pizza box
Old magazines or junk mail
Coloured plastic bags, if you have them
Scissors
Glue
Ruler
Pencil or pen

Method

Weaving card or picture

1. Collect an assortment of magazines, junk mail, food wrappings, thin card packaging boxes, coloured plastic bags, etc to use for the weaving strips. Find a thin card box that can be used as the weaving frame, (pizza or cereal boxes are ideal).

2. Cut out one side of the box, fold it in half and draw a line along the length of the open edge. Draw lines going from the centre fold to the open edge, stopping at the first line drawn. Younger children should space their lines about 2cms apart, whereas older, more experienced weavers may wish to make the lines approximately 1cm apart to create a tighter, more detailed weaving. Starting at the fold, cut along the lines, ensuring that you stop before you reach the end, at the first line drawn . Open out the card and you will have a weaving frame.

3. Use the assortment of papers, wrappers, card and plastic bags to cut weaving strips that are long enough to weave across the weaving frame, allowing for some excess either side. Strips can be cut approximately 2cms wide for younger children and 1cm for older children.

4. Take the first weaving strip and weave over, under, over, under, and so on, until it reaches the other side. The next row must be the opposite of what you did on the previous row, starting with under, over, under, over and so on. It's important to always do the opposite 'over under' pattern as you did in the previous row, otherwise your weaving will not create the checkerboard effect and be secure.

5. The edges of the completed weaving can be trimmed if required and left as it is, or a cut out frame design can be placed on top to form a woven Easter egg or flower shape, for example. Use thin card or paper approximately the same size as the weaving. Draw the shape and cut from the middle outwards by gently folding the card and making the first cut in the centre of the shape, you may need an adult to get you started.

6. Glue the frame in place and decorate with felt tip pens.

Method

Woven Basket

1. Ask an adult to remove the staples from a magazine and cut strips which are the full length of a double page and 7cms wide. This can be done by folding the double page in half, then half again to divide it into 4 long strips. You will need about 12 strips.

2. Fold each strip in half lengthways and glue together.

3. Arrange 4 strips across the table, either attaching them at one end to a clipboard if you have one, or taping them to a board or table if possible. This will enable you to weave without them moving.

4. Weave 4 strips across the centre of the long strips, remembering to alternate the 'over under' pattern with each new row.

5. Glue a few of the outside squares on the edge of the base of the basket before folding up the remaining loose strips to form the sides of the basket.

6. Take a new strip to weave round the side of the basket, add a few dabs of glue to hold in place. The strips will not be long enough so you will need to glue on half of a second strip to weave round all 4 sides. Add a second row, remembering to alternate the 'over, under' pattern.

7. Fold the remaining edges over, trim if required and glue in place for added strength.

8. Attach a long strip to the inside walls of the basket to form the handle.

9. Fill your basket with shredded paper and eggs!