In The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola, a little girl named Lucida lives in a small village in Mexico. Her family is asked to weave a new blanket for the Baby Jesus figure that is carried in the Christmas procession. Her mother sets to work, but when she becomes gravely ill, Lucida tries to finish the blanket for her.

This week, the wee ones were busy making mini blankets that will be used with our Advent Week 4 project. However, these woven blankets would also be great in a gnome or doll house as blankets or rugs if you add tassles! The children used heavy yarns. I made mine with very thin weaving thread. I think both turned out great!

NOTE: Looms can be made out of heavy cardboard. It just so happens we had scraps of hardboard left over from another project which Tim cut up for us. Below I give directions on how to make a loom from hardboard. In the photos, however, Tim is cutting out several at one time, and the scraps were bigger than described in the directions, but in the end he cut them down to the sizes indicated below.

To make the looms out of heavy cardboard:
Cut the cardboard 5 1/2″ x 4″. On either short end, make marks every 1/4″. On each mark cut down 1/4″ creating slats.

To make looms out of hard board:
Cut hardboard 6 1/2″ x 4″.

On either short end, draw a line across the board 1/2″ from the edge. On each end, along the line, make marks every 1/4″.

Using a 1/8″ drill bit, drill a hole on each mark on the line.

Using a table saw, on one short end cut through the holes so you leave 2/3 of the hole on the loom. Do the same to the other side.


To weave:
Add the warp by wrapping the front of your loom by going up and down around the slats or holes. When the hole thing has been wrapped, on the backside tie off the two ends securely.


Using different colored yarns or strings, weave over/under, until the whole loom is filled.




HINT: If you start colors in the middle of the loom, and overlap new colors, all loose ends will be in the center back. By overlapping new thread 3 or 4 warps, they will be secure and will not require tying off.

When the whole loom is full, simply pop the warp threads off the loom. Clip loose ends left.