Weaving

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the Wonderful World of Weaving!

Have you ever looked closely at your school sweater, a colourful kiondo from the market, or the beautiful mkeka (mat) on the floor at home? Have you ever wondered how they are made? It’s not magic, but it’s something just as amazing! It’s called weaving, and today, you are going to learn the secrets of this ancient and beautiful craft that is part of our Kenyan heritage.

What Exactly is Weaving?

At its heart, weaving is a very simple but clever idea. It's the art of making cloth or an object by lacing two sets of threads together at right angles (like the corner of a square). Think of it like braiding hair, but with many more strands!

These two sets of threads have special names:

• Warp: These are the threads that are held tight and stretched on a frame. They are the strong backbone of the fabric. They run up and down (vertically).
• Weft: This is the thread that does the travelling! It goes over, under, over, under the warp threads. It runs side-to-side (horizontally).

Imagine the warp is the straight Thika Superhighway, and the weft is a matatu weaving through the different lanes! Together, they create a strong, solid piece.

    WARP THREADS (Held tight, running up and down)
    || || || || || ||
    || || || || || ||
    || || || || || ||
    || || || || || ||
    || || || || || ||
    
    WEFT THREAD (Weaving across, going over and under)
    ||=|=|=|=|=|=||
    |=| |=|=| |=|=|
    ||=|=|=|=|=|=||
    |=| |=|=| |=|=|
    ||=|=|=|=|=|=||

The Weaver's Tools and Materials

To start weaving, you need a few things. Many of these materials can be found right here in Kenya!

• Fibres (The Threads): We can use natural fibres like sisal (for kiondos), raffia or palm leaves (for mats and baskets), cotton, and wool. We can also use man-made fibres like colourful acrylic yarn.
• The Loom: This is the frame that holds the warp threads tight so you can weave. You can even make a simple one from a piece of cardboard!
• A Shuttle: A tool that holds the weft thread, making it easier to pass through the warp threads.
• A Comb or Beater: Used to push the weft threads down tightly to make the fabric strong.

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, eye-level photograph of a Kenyan woman from the Kamba community weaving a kiondo. She is sitting on a low stool outdoors. Her hands are skillfully interlacing brightly coloured sisal fibres. In the background, several finished kiondos in various patterns and colours are displayed. The style should be warm, natural, and documentary-like.

The Basic Weaving Pattern: The Plain Weave

The most common and simplest weave is the Plain Weave (also called Tabby Weave). It’s the one we talked about: the weft thread goes over one warp thread, then under the next one, over, under, all the way to the end. On the way back, it does the opposite!

    A Diagram of the Plain Weave (Tabby Weave)

    Row 1: Weft goes OVER, UNDER, OVER, UNDER...
         ___     ___     ___
    --- | 1 |---| 2 |---| 3 | ---
        |___|   |___|   |___|

    Row 2: Weft goes UNDER, OVER, UNDER, OVER...
            ___     ___     ___
    --- ---| 1 |---| 2 |---| 3 | ---
           |___|   |___|   |___|
    
    This creates a strong, checkerboard-like pattern.

A Weaver's Story: In a small village in Machakos, a grandmother (cucu) sits with her granddaughter. She shows her how to roll sisal fibres on her lap to make a strong thread. "Every thread tells a story," cucu says. "The green is for our rich land, the red is for the blood of our people who fought for it, and the black is for us. When we weave them together, we weave our history into a beautiful kiondo that will carry food for our family."

Let's Do Some Weaving Math!

Planning a project means you need to know how much material you need. Let’s calculate the yarn needed for a small woven mat that is 20cm wide and 30cm long.

Assumptions:

• We will place our warp threads 2 per centimetre (this is our 'sett').
• We need an extra 15cm of length for the warp threads to tie them at the end.

### STEP 1: CALCULATE THE WARP THREADS ###

# First, find the total number of warp threads needed.
Formula: Width x Threads per cm = Total Warp Threads
Calculation: 20 cm x 2 threads/cm = 40 warp threads

# Next, find the length of EACH warp thread.
Formula: Mat Length + Extra for tying = Length per thread
Calculation: 30 cm + 15 cm = 45 cm

# Finally, find the TOTAL length of yarn needed for the warp.
Formula: Total Warp Threads x Length per thread = Total Warp Length
Calculation: 40 threads x 45 cm = 1800 cm

# To convert to metres, divide by 100.
1800 cm / 100 = 18 metres of warp yarn.

### STEP 2: ESTIMATE THE WEFT THREADS ###

# This is an estimate because the weft goes over and under,
# using a bit more yarn than the straight width.

# Let's estimate we'll pack 3 weft rows per cm.
Formula: Mat Length x Weft rows per cm = Total Weft Rows
Calculation: 30 cm x 3 rows/cm = 90 rows

# Now, multiply the number of rows by the width.
Formula: Total Weft Rows x Mat Width = Estimated Weft Length
Calculation: 90 rows x 20 cm = 1800 cm

# Convert to metres.
1800 cm / 100 = 18 metres of weft yarn.

# TOTAL YARN NEEDED: Approximately 18m (Warp) + 18m (Weft) = 36 metres.

Beyond the Plain Weave

Once you master the plain weave, you can create all sorts of amazing patterns! Two other famous weaves are:

• Twill Weave: This is the weave used to make denim for your jeans! Instead of over-one-under-one, the weft might go over two warp threads and under one. This creates a strong diagonal pattern.
• Satin Weave: This weave is used for smooth, shiny fabrics. The weft thread "floats" over many warp threads at a time (like over four, under one). This makes one side of the fabric very smooth.

Image Suggestion: A close-up, macro photo showing the texture of three different woven fabrics side-by-side. The first is a simple, rustic plain weave with thick yarn. The second is the clear diagonal line pattern of a blue denim twill weave. The third is a smooth, shiny red satin weave. The lighting should highlight the texture and pattern of each weave clearly.

Your Turn to Be a Weaver!

Weaving is a beautiful skill that connects us to our culture, our creativity, and even to mathematics! From the simple sisal baskets to the complex patterns in a Maasai shuka, weaving is all around us.

Challenge: Try making your own simple loom! Just take a strong piece of cardboard, cut small slits at the top and bottom, and wrap yarn around it to create your warp. Then, using a different coloured yarn, try the plain weave. You are now part of a tradition that is thousands of years old. Hongera!

Habari Mwanafunzi! Weaving Our World, One Thread at a Time

Have you ever looked closely at the school sweater you're wearing? Or maybe the beautiful kiondo your mother or grandmother carries from the market? What about the mat (mkeka) on the floor at home? All these amazing items are made using an ancient and magical art called weaving! Today, we are going to unravel the secrets of weaving, a skill that has been part of our Kenyan heritage for centuries. Get ready to turn simple threads into incredible creations!

What Exactly is Weaving?

At its heart, weaving is a very simple idea. It's the art of interlacing two sets of threads at right angles to each other to create a piece of fabric or an object. Think of it like a group of friends linking their arms together to make a strong chain. In weaving, threads do the same thing!

To be a master weaver, you need to know two very important terms:

• Warp: These are the threads that are held tightly on a frame. They run up and down (vertically). Think of them as the strong backbone of your fabric. They are the foundation!
• Weft: These are the threads that you weave over and under the warp threads. They run from side to side (horizontally). The weft is the "storyteller" thread because it creates the pattern, colours, and design of your fabric.

   WARP THREADS (The Backbone)
   ||||||||||||||||||
   ||||||||||||||||||
   ||||||||||||||||||
   ||||||||||||||||||
   
   WEFT THREAD (The Storyteller) goes over and under the warp...
   
   || | || | || | ||
   --O--U--O--U--O--U--  <-- Weft goes OVER (O) and UNDER (U)
   || | || | || | ||
   --U--O--U--O--U--O--  <-- On the next row, it alternates!
   || | || | || | ||

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, close-up photograph of a traditional Kenyan kiondo being woven. The image should clearly show the strong, vertical sisal strands (warp) and the colourful, patterned strands (weft) being interlaced by a weaver's hands.

The Weaver's Best Friend: The Loom

To keep the warp threads tight and organized, weavers use a tool called a loom. A loom can be a huge, complicated machine or something as simple as a piece of cardboard or a frame made from sticks. Its main job is to provide tension, making it easy to pass the weft threads through.

In Kenya, many traditional weavers use a backstrap loom, where the loom is tied around their back, and they use their body weight to create tension. How clever is that!

Weaving in Our Kenyan Culture

We don't have to look far to see amazing examples of weaving. It's part of who we are!

• Kiondo Baskets: Famous worldwide, these baskets are woven by the Kamba and Kikuyu communities, traditionally from sisal fibres. Each pattern can tell a story or represent the weaver's community.
• Makuti Roofs: Look at the coast! You'll see beautiful roofs made from dried coconut palm leaves (makuti) that are woven together to create a waterproof and cool shelter. That's architectural weaving!
• Mikeka Mats: Woven from palm leaves or reeds, these mats are used for sitting, sleeping, and drying grains. They are a common sight in many Kenyan homes.

Imagine a grandmother, or shosho, sitting under a mango tree. She is teaching her grandchild how to prepare sisal fibres for a kiondo. She explains that the strongest fibres must be chosen for the warp, to give the basket a good shape, while the more flexible, colourful fibres will be used for the weft to create the beautiful patterns. This knowledge has been passed down for generations!

Let's Do Some Weaving Math!

Yes, art has math in it! Imagine you want to weave a small wall hanging that is 15cm wide and 20cm long. How much weft yarn will you need? Let's calculate it!

Step 1: Find the length of one weft row.
This is easy! It's just the width of your weaving.
   Length per row = 15 cm

Step 2: Estimate the number of rows needed.
Let's assume your yarn is thick enough that you can weave about 2 rows to cover 1 cm of length.
   Rows per cm = 2 rows
   Total Length = 20 cm
   Total Rows = Rows per cm * Total Length
   Total Rows = 2 * 20 = 40 rows

Step 3: Calculate the total yarn needed.
Now, multiply the length of one row by the total number of rows.
   Total Yarn = Length per row * Total Rows
   Total Yarn = 15 cm * 40 rows
   Total Yarn = 600 cm

Step 4: Convert to meters (because we usually buy yarn in meters!).
There are 100 cm in 1 meter.
   Total Yarn in Meters = 600 cm / 100
   Total Yarn in Meters = 6 meters

Result: You will need at least 6 meters of weft yarn for your project! It's always good to add a little extra, just in case.

Basic Weaving Patterns (The Plain Weave)

The most common and simple pattern is the Plain Weave, also called the Tabby Weave. It's the one we drew in the diagram earlier. The rule is simple: the weft thread goes over one warp thread, then under the next, over, under, and so on. On the way back, you do the opposite.

   PLAIN WEAVE (TABBY WEAVE)
   
   Warp ->   |   |   |   |   |   |
   ---------------------------------
   Row 1 ->  -O- -U- -O- -U- -O- -U-
   ---------------------------------
   Row 2 ->  -U- -O- -U- -O- -U- -O-
   ---------------------------------
   Row 3 ->  -O- -U- -O- -U- -O- -U-
   ---------------------------------
   
   O = Weft goes OVER the warp
   U = Weft goes UNDER the warp

This simple pattern creates a strong, stable fabric. It's the foundation of many weaving projects!

Image Suggestion: A bright and colourful photo collage. The first image shows a student's hands cutting notches into a rectangular piece of cardboard. The second shows them wrapping yarn vertically around it (warping). The third shows them using a plastic needle to weave a different coloured yarn horizontally (wefting). The final image shows the small, completed woven coaster.

Your Turn to Be the Weaver! Make a Cardboard Loom

Now it's time for you to try! You can make your own loom using simple materials.

• What you need: A stiff piece of cardboard (about 20cm x 15cm), a ruler, a pencil, scissors, and yarn/string of different colours.
• Step 1: Mark your loom. Use the ruler and pencil to draw lines 1cm apart along the top and bottom shorter edges of the cardboard.
• Step 2: Cut the notches. Carefully cut small slits (about 1cm deep) on each mark you made. This is where your warp threads will sit.
• Step 3: Warp your loom. Take your first colour of yarn. Tuck the end into the first slit on the top left. Bring the yarn down to the first slit on the bottom left, loop it, and bring it up to the second slit at the top. Continue this up-and-down motion until all slits are filled. This creates your warp.
• Step 4: Start weaving! Take a different colour yarn for your weft. Tie it to the first warp string on the side. Now, weave it over and under each warp string until you reach the other side. When you turn back, go under the threads you went over, and over the threads you went under.
• Step 5: Keep going! Continue weaving, pushing the rows of weft together gently to make a tight fabric. You can change colours to make stripes!

Weaving is more than just making fabric; it's about patience, creativity, and continuing a tradition that connects us to our ancestors. Every woven piece tells a story of culture, skill, and art. Now go on, be a creator! Weave your own story, one thread at a time.

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the World of Weaving!

Have you ever looked closely at your school sweater, the beautiful Kiondo your mother carries from the market, or the sturdy mkeka (mat) on the floor? Have you wondered how they are made? They are all created through a magical and ancient art form called Weaving! Today, we are going to unravel the secrets of this craft, a skill that has been part of our Kenyan heritage for generations. Get ready to turn simple threads into amazing creations!

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, close-up shot of a colourful Kiondo basket, showing the intricate woven patterns of sisal. The background is slightly blurred, hinting at a bustling Kenyan market scene. The style is warm and inviting.

What Exactly is Weaving? The Basic Building Blocks

At its heart, weaving is the simple process of interlacing two sets of threads at right angles to form a fabric or an object. Think of it like braiding hair, but with many more strands! To be a master weaver, you need to know the language of the loom. Let's learn the key terms:

• Warp: These are the strong threads that are held stationary on a frame. They run lengthwise (up and down) and form the backbone of your fabric. Think of them as the strong pillars of a house.
• Weft: This is the thread that you actively weave. It travels over and under the warp threads from side to side. The weft is the storyteller, creating the pattern and colour.
• Loom: The frame or machine that holds the warp threads under tension, making it easier to weave. Looms can be as simple as a piece of cardboard or as complex as a large machine!
• Shed: This is the temporary space or opening created when some warp threads are lifted. The weft passes through this opening.

Here is a simple diagram to help you see how they work together:

    |   |   |   |   |  <-- Warp Threads (Held tight)
    |   |   |   |   |
<---ooooooooooooooooo--->  <-- Weft Thread (Goes over and under)
    |   |   |   |   |
<---ooooooooooooooooo--->
    |   |   |   |   |

Weaving in Kenya: A Tapestry of Our Culture

Weaving is not just a craft; it's a part of who we are! All across Kenya, different communities use local materials to weave items that are both beautiful and useful.

• Kiondo Baskets: Famously woven by the Kamba and Kikuyu communities, these baskets are made from sisal fibres. The patterns often tell a story, and the craft is passed down from mother to daughter.
• Makuti Roofing: Along the coast, you will see roofs made from makuti, which are woven coconut palm leaves. They are excellent for keeping homes cool!
• Woven Mats (Mikeka): Made from palm leaves or reeds, these mats are used everywhere for sitting, sleeping, and drying grains.

Imagine a grandmother in a village near Machakos, her hands moving skilfully as she twists sisal fibres. She teaches her granddaughter, showing her how to interlace the colourful strands to make a small kiondo. She tells her, "Each thread is a story, and when we weave them together, we are weaving the story of our family." This is how our traditions stay alive!

The Basic Weave Structures

Just like there are different dance styles, there are different ways to weave! The pattern you create depends on how the weft thread goes over and under the warp threads. Here are the three main types:

1. Plain Weave (or Tabby Weave)

This is the simplest and most common weave. The weft passes over one warp thread, then under the next, over the next, and so on. It creates a strong, stable fabric.

  WEFT ---->  Over, Under, Over, Under
              U   O   U   O   <-- Row 2 (Weft)
              O   U   O   U   <-- Row 1 (Weft)
              |   |   |   |
              W   W   W   W   <-- Warp Threads
              A   A   A   A
              R   R   R   R
              P   P   P   P

2. Twill Weave

This weave creates a beautiful diagonal pattern. You can see it on your denim jeans! The weft thread "floats" over two or more warp threads before going under one. Each row, the pattern shifts one step to the side.

  WEFT ----> Over 2, Under 1, Over 2... (Pattern shifts each row)
              U O O U O O
              O U O O U O
              O O U O O U
              | | | | | |
              W W W W W W

Weaving and Math: Let's Calculate!

Did you know weaving involves math? Yes! Before you start a project, you need to calculate how much yarn you'll need. Let's plan a small woven mat.

Our Project: A mat that is 20cm wide and 30cm long.

### STEP 1: CALCULATE THE WARP YARN ###

1.  Find the number of warp threads needed.
    - Let's say our yarn is thick, so we need 3 warp threads per centimetre (threads/cm).
    - Formula: Width x Threads per cm = Total Warp Threads
    - Calculation: 20cm * 3 threads/cm = 60 warp threads

2.  Find the length of EACH warp thread.
    - You need extra length for tying knots at the end. Let's add 15cm.
    - Formula: Project Length + Extra Length = Single Warp Thread Length
    - Calculation: 30cm + 15cm = 45cm

3.  Find the TOTAL warp yarn needed.
    - Formula: Total Warp Threads * Single Warp Thread Length
    - Calculation: 60 threads * 45cm = 2700cm
    - To convert to meters: 2700cm / 100 = 27 meters of warp yarn!

### STEP 2: ESTIMATE THE WEFT YARN ###

- This is an estimate because it depends on how tightly you weave.
- Let's assume you'll have 4 rows of weft for every centimetre of length.
- Formula: (Project Length * Rows per cm) * Project Width
- Calculation: (30cm * 4 rows/cm) * 20cm
             = 120 rows * 20cm
             = 2400cm
- To convert to meters: 2400cm / 100 = 24 meters of weft yarn!

Your First Project: The Cardboard Loom!

Ready to try it yourself? You don't need a fancy loom. You can make one from a piece of cardboard you'd normally throw away! It’s easy, fun, and a great way to start.

1. Prepare Your Loom: Take a firm piece of cardboard (about the size of a book). Use a ruler to mark small, evenly spaced lines every 1cm along the top and bottom edges. Make small cuts (about 1cm deep) on each mark.
2. Warp Your Loom: Take your warp thread. Tuck the end into the first slit on the top left. Bring it straight down to the first slit on the bottom left. Wrap it around the back and up to the second slit at the top. Continue this until all the slits are filled. Tie the end securely.
3. Start Weaving: Take your weft thread. You can wrap it around a small piece of card to make a simple 'shuttle'. Start at one side and weave it over, under, over, under across the warp threads. On the way back, do the opposite: under, over, under, over.
4. Continue: Keep going! You can change colours to make patterns. Don't pull the weft too tight at the sides, or your weaving will start to curve inwards.

Image Suggestion: A top-down view of a student's hands actively weaving a colourful yarn on a simple cardboard loom. The weaving is half-finished, showing bright stripes of blue, yellow, and red. The style should be encouraging and focus on the hands-on activity.

Congratulations, Mwanafunzi! You now understand the art of weaving. It is a craft of patience, creativity, and connection to our culture. From the simplest mat to the most complex fabric, it all starts with that first "over and under." Now, go find some cardboard and yarn, and start weaving your own story!