Woven Cardboard Coaster

You will need

• Cardboard squareAbout 5 x 5 inches (13 x 13 cm); a cereal box side panel works well

  Use a clean box that held food or household goods, not chemicals; wipe it down before use and recycle the scraps when done.

• ScissorsAdult cuts the notches; child cuts the paper strips

  The adult cuts notches into the cardboard, which requires some force; keep fingers clear of the blade.

• Paper strips for weavingCut about half an inch (1.5 cm) wide and at least 6 inches (15 cm) long; magazine pages, scrap paper, or wrapping paper all work
• TapeoptionalSmall piece to secure the loose ends on the back; optional if the weave is tight
• Scrap fabric stripsoptionalOptional; cut from an old t-shirt instead of paper for a softer coaster
• Washable markersoptionalOptional; child can color the paper strips before weaving for a more deliberate pattern

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the loom beforehand

   Cut a square of cardboard about 5 x 5 inches. Cut an even number of notches along the top and bottom edges, spacing them roughly half an inch apart. The notches should be about a quarter-inch deep. Do this before calling the child over.

   Tip: An odd number of notches will not produce an even over-under weave; count them before handing it over.

2. 2

   String the warp threads

   Show the child how to loop a paper strip through the first top notch, pull it down, and hook it into the corresponding bottom notch, then move to the next pair. These vertical strips are the warp. When all notches are filled the loom will look like a small harp.

   Tip: Pulling each warp strip snug, but not so tight it bends the cardboard, makes weaving easier.

3. 3

   Begin the first weft row

   Hand the child a strip of a different color or pattern. Show them to weave it horizontally: over the first warp strip, under the second, over the third, and so on, pulling it through until the end hangs out on each side. The child then tucks or folds the end over the cardboard edge.

   Tip: The first row is the hardest; once the child has the over-under rhythm, the rest comes naturally.

4. 4

   Continue weaving, reversing each row

   For each new row, the child starts on the opposite side from where they finished and reverses the pattern — under where they went over last time. Push each completed row gently up toward the previous one so the weave stays tight. Say: 'snug but not scrunched.'

   Tip: If they lose their place, flipping the loom over briefly sometimes makes the pattern easier to read.

5. 5

   Secure and remove the coaster

   When the loom is full, help the child tuck the loose ends of the outer warp strips under the last weft row on each side. Slide the whole woven piece carefully off the cardboard. A small piece of tape on the back holds any loose ends flat. The coaster is ready to use.

   Tip: The coaster will be slightly curved if the loom bent during weaving; pressing it under a heavy book for ten minutes flattens it.

Take it to the table

Materials checklist, the steps and the variations on one Letter page.