Paper Plate Crafts are super easy and fun for kids. They are a great starting point for many easy kids projects – due to their symmetry and sturdiness.
Today, we share this gorgeous Paper Plate Weaving craft. Weaving is something we have wanted to do for a while and combining it with a paper plate is just perfect.
Paper Plate Weaving Materials:
- A paper plate
- Wool of different colours
- Scissors
- optional – plastic needle for guiding
Paper Plate Weaving How To:
I did all the paper plate weaving PREPPING for the children. If you are doing this with older kids, they should manage this themselves. I made one with LOTS of petals and one with 11.. I think the 11 is better for younger kids to manage.
Time needed: 35 minutes.
This project can take anything between 35min to an hour, depending on dexterity of the child and how much weaving you would like to add.
- Cut the Paper Plate Petals in UNEVEN numbers
Begin by marking out an UNEVEN set of “petals”. It has to be uneven in order for the weaving pattern to work and keep going round in a nice neat loop. I confess, this was the most “stressful part for me” – argh, how to get the uneven number of petals in? I turned my paper plate round and marked it with dots of where to cut. Then counted them, shuffled them up a little and tried again. But to be honest, it isn’t rocket science, if you end up with a fatter or thinner petal so be it. I does not have to be 100% accurate. I then cut into the side of the plate. Once I cut all round, I shaped the petals.
- Start threading your yarn
Take your wool and place it between your first two petals. String it across to the more or less opposite corresponding slot.
- Keep wrapping the yarn around your petals
Move it behind that petal and forward again and find the next corresponding slot. Again, it isn’t exact science, but try a couple and see which looks neatest.
- Secure the weaving yarn through the centre of the paper plate
Note: some peoplemake a hole in the centre, and thread all the wool through in “pairs”. Which is fine, but does give you a “messy” back.
For the final piece, I made a small hole at the centre, pushed the wool through and the tied it to beginning end.
- Flip the Paper Plate over
- Start the paper plate weaving
Now you are ready to weave. The beginning of a weave is always hardest, as you find your way around the pattern. Again, for younger kids , you may well want to start them off on this. Once it looks easy to do, they can carry on.
-
- Keep Weaving
The rest is “easy”… weave in an out and change colours by tying pieces of wool together until you have woven as much as you like! The kids did their in spurts. Their concentration didn’t last do do a whole plate in one go. But this is a new activity for them and they are still learning. I think an 11 petal plate is definitely best.
Once you have pastered paper plate weaving, you can experiment – maybe add colour to your plate itself? Or incorporate your plates in bigger pieces of art…
After more Paper Plate Crafts? Check out:
Elizabeth says
Very clever and pretty! My daughter loves to do stuff like this. I can’t wait to show her!
Chris Crosby says
Thank you, Red Ted Art – love your ideas and those you share!
-Chris
KerrynsLockets Pilkington says
Great idea…..
Do you think the whole of the weft could be woven, removed from the plate and used as a trivet or a place mat?
Red Ted Art says
I was thinking about that too. The problem is, as you go “further out”, the weave gets “looser”, as the spaces between the weave lines get bigger. So you probably can’t take it off?
Sue says
I do this with my8 year old students. We work all the way out to the inside edge of plate. Cut yarn on back and tie knots at edge of weaving. Does tend to curl up like a bowl so we have turned them into bird nests. Make birds out of clay or model magic. Very cute.
Sheindal says
I did a double take thinking you’d photographed one of my children wearing their Green Baby pyjamas!
Red Ted Art says
Hehehe!!
Laura Sims says
This is such an amazing activity! What is the youngest age that you think could do this?
Red Ted Art says
I would say it totally depends on the child and how many activities similar to this you are already doing… but I would have thought 4 onwards???? But my 4yrs old is ahead of her peers as we do so much.
Joelle Harris says
I love theses, going to try it myself using pizza base & some of my scrap wool!
beaver scout leader says
this is a great site for ideas for my beaver scout group xxxxx
Diane Hurst says
What a great way to introduce weaving! Thanks for putting up all the how-to photos.
Lucy says
I love this idea, need some paper plates to try it, I might try using ribbon though as it may be easier for my 3 year old 🙂
Sue says
Try chinette brand plates. They are thicker.
tia says
Can I use cotton yarn I’m allergic to wool.
Red Ted Art says
Yes of course!
DianneU22 says
In response to the person who asked about weaving clear to the edge….you can! It helps to start with two strands of yarn for the wefts. That way, when you get to the edges and the spaces are getting wider, you can divide the yarns, and begin weaving between the two again and have it become closer again. (Hope that makes sense) When you are clear to the edge, clip one yarn pc. at a time, tie it (or loop it) to the next one, clip that one off, do the same until it’s all bound. Makes a great mat, or a nice wall hanging. Fun Times!
Margie Herrold says
To figure the spacing on your petals, divide 360 (the number of degrees in a circle) by the number of petals you want to cut. Then place a protractor at the center and mark the number of degrees each petal requires. For example, your 11 petals each took 32.7 degrees in the circle. Mark your circle at about 33 degrees for each petal and you will be close enough. You can make it a lesson in geometry for older kids and less frustration for yourself.
Roxana says
Hello, i’m Roxana and I live in Romania. I wanted to thank you so much, because you inspired me with this project and i did with a few children of my class. I’ve got some pictures and if you want to see them please give me your mail.
Thank you,
Roxana
Red Ted Art says
Awww so pleased! 🙂
Trent Art says
This is amazing, certainly something that I need to try!
Geri says
A darling craft. i googled “circle divided into 11” and got some images I could print to help. So you can search using any number and get an image to print.
Red Ted Art says
Oooh great tip! Thank you!
Rose says
Thinking of coloring the plates watercolors first then weaving them. Gonna try it with my 4th grade I think
Red Ted Art says
Great idea!