artsmudge

By the end of the year most elementary art students are yearning for something, anything, different. This is a fine time to introduce fiber art, or the art of Soda Straw Weaving.  Mr. Lee Alexander of Bear Creek Elementary set up shop for a mini art teacher lesson where we got the lowdown on how to make a yarn bracelet.

To start you’ll need straws, scissors, tape, yarn, lots of yarn, and sandwich bags for storage.

 For the first step cut 3 strands of yarn and tie together at the top. Next, feed each piece into a straw using a blunt skewer.

 Once those are through, tape the top of the straws with a small piece of masking tape.

 Now you’re ready to tie a 2^nd piece of string, about 30 feet, to the left straw.

 The yarn itself can stay in a loose pile on the ground. Students then weave over and under through the straws and back around again.

(TIP: To get younger students used to this concept, Mr. Alexander suggests setting up cones in the classroom for students to practice weaving through them. He finds this exercise reduces confusion during weaving.)

 Keep the weave tight by pushing each layer up toward the tape.

When the weave is done peel off the tape and begin pushing the weave up while pulling the straws out.

Tie the loose ends together in a knot.

          I made a toggle for my bracelet by tying a bead on one end and tying 2 knots on the other end to make a circle for the bead to slip through.

Don’t forget to cut off the tentacles.

Here are some teacher examples with and without beads. Be sure the beads are big enough to feed through the yarn.

Thanks to Mr. Lee Alexander for letting us invade your space :0 And also to our great art team: Shaney Bradford, Bert Mayse, Evangeline Curbo, Dionne LeJeaune and last but not least Leigh Ann Vadala. We will miss you!!