My friend, Beth, hosted a little craft night a few weeks back. We were weaving ribbon barrette's, similar to these I found on Etsy. Do you remember wearing these? I had a pink and white pair that I loved.
And did you have a plush doll's head, with long braids, to hold all of your barrettes? Does anyone make these anymore? I found something similar on Etsy, but the face is not soft like mine was. All of my friends had one of these hanging in their rooms in third and fourth grade.
Anyway, Beth's mother-in-law, Linda, is super crafty and does all kinds of cool stuff with Beth's kids. Linda had taken some of the narrow satin ribbon we were using and helped Beth's daughter, Hannah, weave a rainbow on plastic canvas. Hannah is six, like Roxanne, so I thought maybe we'd give it a try, too.
After I showed Roxanne one I had made, she immediately wanted to try and had a lot of fun making this. She made one for Stella, too, and in the process got a lot of practice threading a needle and remembering that when you sew you come up and then go back down on the same side.
To weave a rainbow, you'll need:
- plastic canvas rounds (mine are 4.5" in diameter)
- a dull needle with a big eye
- scissors
- narrow satin ribbon in rainbow colors (pastels colors would be pretty, too)
1. Cut your canvas exactly in half.
2. Count six rows inward from the outer edge. Cut away remaining rows. Now you have a rainbow shape.
3. Thread needle with an arms length of red ribbon. Insert needle up through first hole in outermost row. Leave a long tail of ribbon.
4. Weave red ribbon down and up, through outermost row of canvas.
5. Repeat for remaining colors. Add a loop at the back for hanging if you'd like.
I think this would also make a great kit to give as a gift for a first or second grade girl. Thank you, Linda, for the awesome idea!
What a nice surprise. I know I found that on-line somewhere and would love to give credit. But the idea of a gift kit is so fine! Thank you!
My mom made these as barrettes when I was a little girl. She put beads on teh end of the ribbons so they made noise when I walked. I may even have one left, I loved them so much!
It would be cool to combine the rainbow with some little felt clouds and a little sun and hang them together as a mobile. I love how the ribbons hang out of the rainbow. Thanks for sharing.
I thought this would make a great Sunday School craft when the story of Noah & the ark is the lesson! Thanks for sharing!
How cute is that?! And a great way to introduce kids to the fun of both weaving and sewing. Those PC rounds have endless uses!
Thank you, Diane! Plastic canvas rocks!