Large Group Weaving on a Garden Fence

Thank you to all who voted for my blog in the AOE Blog of the Year contest.  While I did not win, I am still happy to have been a finalist.  Congrats to all of the bloggers in the contest!

Today I am going to show you a super fun project that my students worked on this week.

Roll of blue plastic fencing with text overlay: "OUTDOOR ART on a garden fence!This summer we planted a garden.  My husband diligently set up a plastic fence to keep out the rabbits.  We watered it and were proud of ourselves.  Within a couple weeks, rabbits had bit large holes through the fence and eaten all of our sprouts and seeds.  Total bummer!   Even though we replaced the plastic fence with a wire one and replanted the seeds, it was too late. The only thing we got this summer from our garden were some mini pumpkins.  After removing the plastic fence and rolling it up, I got the idea to save it and use it for a large weaving project!

A person weaving colorful ribbons through a grid placed on the floor, creating a tapestry-like display.To prepare for this project, I cut up long strips of fabric and cut off manageable lengths of ribbon.  I had donated pieces of fabric in my stash and I bought a HUGE box of ribbon for very cheap from NAEIR (free membership for teachers, super low prices, but stock rotates daily).

A large group of people weaving colorful fabrics and ribbons through a grid on a table.I cut the fence into 4 large pieces and I still have enough leftover to do this project again.  My first graders started the group weaving and then other kids worked on it throughout the week when they had extra time.

Children engaging in large group weaving, intertwining colorful fabric strips into grids on the floor.The directions I gave were to tie the strip on the edges, weave through the slots and then tie the ends again.  After the weaving was done through each of the slots, I told them to go back in and slide over some of the fabric and fill in gaps wherever they could see through.  They could also tie on little bows or hang pieces from the fencing.

A child in a white hat works on a colorful weaving activity on the floor in an art classroom. Here are the finished weavings hanging in our school.

A colorful, abstract textile art piece with various patterned and textured fabrics woven together on a green background. A colorful woven tapestry made from various fabric strips, tied and intertwined on a black grid. A textile art piece featuring colorful, woven fabric strips displayed on a light-colored wall in a bright room. A colorful woven wall hanging with strips of various fabrics on a green background, bordered by colorful shapes. A colorful textile art piece woven with various fabric strips on a bright pink background. A fabric weaving activity displayed on a pink bulletin board with a decorative border.A colorful tapestry of intertwined fabric strips, creating an abstract, vibrant woven artwork.

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32 Comments

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  2. I love your idea! How did you hang the finished pieces? Were they lightweight enough to use tacks on your bulletin board?

  4. These are beautiful!! Would live to pick your brain sometime about putting a blog together. I am blog illiterate ☺

    • Hi! Sorry it took me a little while to get back to you. I think we just put heavy books down on the edges or maybe duct taped it down? I honestly can’t remember it was several years ago, but the kids were able to weave on it. Thanks for reading and commenting!