Woven Paper Wall Hanging

You will need

• Card stock or heavy paperTwo sheets minimum; one becomes the loom, one is backup
• Construction paper or magazine pagesCut into strips about half an inch wide for weaving
• ScissorsSharp enough to cut clean slits; child-safe craft scissors work for strips
• RuleroptionalFor measuring even slit spacing on the loom
• Washable markerTo mark the border and slit lines on the loom before cutting
• Masking tape or washi tapeTo anchor the first strip and to form a hanging loop at the top
• Glue stickTo tuck and secure strip ends on the back of the finished weaving
• Wrapping paper scrapsoptionalOptional; adds pattern contrast to solid construction paper strips

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the loom

   On a sheet of card stock, draw a border about an inch wide on all four sides using a washable marker. Then draw parallel lines across the interior, spaced roughly half an inch apart. Cut along those interior lines only — from border to border — leaving the frame intact. This creates the vertical threads of the loom.

   Tip: Make all slits run the same direction and stop cutting exactly at the border line; the border is what holds the loom together.

2. 2

   Cut the weaving strips

   Cut construction paper, magazine pages, or wrapping paper scraps into strips roughly half an inch wide and a few inches longer than the loom is wide. Having a variety of colors and patterns available before weaving starts means your child can make design decisions as they go rather than stopping to cut each time.

   Tip: Strips slightly longer than the loom width are easier to handle; trim the overhanging ends at the very end.

3. 3

   Anchor the first strip

   Lay the first strip horizontally at the top of the loom and weave it through the slits in an over-one, under-one pattern. When it is through, center it so equal lengths hang over each side edge. Use a small piece of tape on each end to hold it temporarily so it does not slide out during the first few rows.

   Tip: The first strip sets the alternating pattern for every row that follows, so take time to get it right before moving on.

4. 4

   Weave the second and third rows

   For the second strip, start on the opposite side from the first: if the first strip went over-under, the second goes under-over. Show your child how to check: look at the card stock slot just below the first strip — if the first strip went over it, the second strip must go under it. Work through two or three rows together before stepping back.

   Tip: A mistake two rows back is visible as a double-over or double-under when you look at the finished column — easy to spot and worth fixing.

5. 5

   Continue to fill the loom

   Once the pattern is established, your child can work independently. Encourage them to think about color placement — grouping similar colors in bands, or alternating colors in a pattern. Push each new strip up firmly against the previous one so there are no gaps. The woven surface should feel snug, not loose.

   Tip: If strips start bunching rather than lying flat, the loom slits may be too close together; use a fingernail to gently spread them.

6. 6

   Secure the ends and hang

   When the loom is full, fold the overhanging ends of each strip over the border and glue them to the back with a glue stick, or simply trim them flush with the border edge. To hang, fold a two-inch strip of paper into a loop, tape both ends to the back top edge, and it is ready for the wall.

   Tip: Trimming flush looks cleaner and takes less time; folding and gluing makes the back tidy if the piece will be viewed from both sides.

Take it to the table

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