About
Try out this Studio Activity with us in the BMO Learning Centre!
Participants will start out with a wooden dowel as your loom and work from there! Inspired by the Prairie Interlace exhibition, we will be creating abstract wall hangings using mixed fiber mediums and techniques. Come try out techniques such as tassel making, braiding, crochet, and macramé.
Supplies that will be provided:
- Yarn, cotton string, ribbon, and strips of cloth
- Scissors
- Crochet hooks
- Simple loom (a stand to hold dowels)
- Dowel
- Wire pieces
Instructions
This guided activity will consist of the following:
- Set a dowel on your stand. This dowel will be both a part of the final artwork, and act as your loom. It will help you keep threads tight, see your work in progress, and hold your project as you work.
- Pick out some fibre materials that you think will look good together. Think about complimenting and contrasting colours, textures, and weights.
- Read the instructions on tassel making, crochet, and macramé. The gallery facilitators can help you try out each of these techniques.
- Use the fibre materials you picked out and the techniques you learned to create a wall hanging on your dowel. You can combine techniques in any way you like, or come up with your own technique for interlacing fabric.
- Twist the of a wire onto both ends of your dowel. This wire will help you hang your artwork, and will stop the fibres from falling off.
Important Words
Loom: a tool or machine used for weaving. A loom helps hold threads tight.
Dowel: a straight wooden stick
Tassels: a group of materials tied together at one end, used for decoration.
Crochet: looping fabric with a single hook to tie knots into a pattern.
Macramé: knotting and braiding cord or string to make artistic decorations. There are many different types of knots in macramé.
Braiding: folding sections over top of each other to make a structure.