Arts and Crafts: Plastic Loom

When I was little I had one of those plastic weaving looms.  I loved that thing.  I remember it came with conveniently bright neon loops to make things with called Hot Loops, perfectly adapted for the 80s when I got it.  I made more things than I could count with that silly little loom!

My daughter has had one for a while now, but she never wanted to use it.  I told her how it worked and she always said, "That's a lot of work.  Let's do it after I play some more."  She was just never interested.  I have to admit, several times I thought about giving it away.  I was getting pretty sick of toting it around with me everywhere.  It was one more piece of clutter that would never get used.  However, I hung on to it, figuring if my daughter was never interested, perhaps one of the boys would some day think it's fun.

While I was digging through one of our boxes trying to unpack and organize, I found the box for the loom.  Irritated that I didn't have any loops for it, I tossed it aside.  Later I found a bag of the loops and went digging around for the loom.  I was about to give up when I saw the box with the loom sitting tossed off in the corner.  I pulled it out and called my daughter.  We'd give it another try.  What's the worst that could happen?  The loom gets tossed in a box again and forgotten for a while?

My daughter put the first row of loops on without a problem.  It went together quickly and she was quite happy with the way it had looked.  She was working in a pattern because she thought it would be fun.  She chose the colors she liked best with the full intention of making the whole thing in some elaborate pattern.  I had never been able to get her to so much as sit down before, so I was thrilled that we could sit down and work on a craft for once!

After she got the first direction of loops on came the challenging part.  The loops we had were really tight, so she had a hard time weaving them through then getting them on.  As she got further along, the loops she put on first started to pop off and she got quite frustrated.  I eventually had to finish it up for her because it was driving her too crazy.  However, next time we're going to work from both ends towards the middle and I think that will be much easier.  I had to weave the border on it because they were just too incredibly tight for her to work with.  I was having a hard time with them!

Somehow I remember when I was younger this whole thing was a lot easier.  Perhaps it's just the batch of loops we got that were really tight.  It's entirely possible that another batch would yield loops that stretched more and were easier to work with.  I just couldn't remember having quite so many challenges with making pot holders when I was a kid!

However, the box had some great ideas!  It shows the edges stitched together to make blankets and purses.  The ideas they suggested were really fantastic!  Of course, right now we need pot holders the most, and I don't think my daughter would have the patience to weave a purse right now.  Actually, she thought making a pot holder would be great.  She gave it to my partner because she didn't get him anything for Christmas and he had been complaining that we didn't have a pot holder earlier when he tried to pull a cookie sheet from the oven.  He ended up using a kitchen towel instead.  My daughter was so proud of herself and her creation.  She's asked me to get some more loops for her so she can make more pot holders!  "We need some more for the kitchen," she says, "and for the play kitchen too.  Maybe I can use them for blankets and rugs for my dolls too!"

It's taken her a while, but I'm so glad my daughter has finally decided that using her little loom is actually fun!  When they boys get older I may need to pick up another loom or two so that we've got enough for everyone to have their own.  I know I used mine until I was in high school when it soon was replaced with art and jewelry making.  I don't want there to be any fights over who gets to use the loom next!

This whole experience is one more that I find incredibly valuable.  Children need to experience the act of making something for themselves.  It's especially beneficial when something they make is something they can use in their own home.  It teaches children to view things differently in our take-and-toss culture.  It's a lot harder to give up on something you bought at a store than something you made yourself.  Where a store bought potholder might get tossed when it starts to look like it's seen better days, a handmade one will generally keep on being used as long as it still remains useful.  Better care is also often taken of handmade goods, since they hold some special value.  It also teaches children that if they want or need something, maybe they can save a bit of money and get some entertainment out of the deal by making it!