Fiber into Fabric

There are many ways to make fabric out of fibers. Three ways to do this are to weave, knit, or crochet.

Weaving Weaving uses a tool called a loom. It is a frame that holds the yarn. Weaving is a process where two sets of yarn crisscross around one another to form fabric. The warp is the set of yarn attached to the loom. The weft is the yarn that goes over and under the warp yarns.

Weaving can be recognized by its boxy or square shaped “over/under” pattern. This pattern can be varied to create different patterns throughout the whole fabric.

Knitting Knitting uses two needles as tools. These needles are used to create a row of interlocking loops or stitches of yarn which are passed from one needle to another as they are knit.

Knitting can be recognized by its “V” or “U” shaped stitches. It also can be varied to create geometric patterns throughout the whole fabric.

Crochet Crocheting uses one needle with a hook as a tool. This hook is used to create a chain of loops, and a pattern is created depending on how these loops are connected together.

Crocheting can be recognized by fabric that seems to be made up of chains of stitches. It can look very similar to knitting but is often chunkier or thicker than knitting. Crochet can also be used to create a more free flowing fabric such as chains of flowers.

To play the game: For this game:

• Cut out the six squares below. There are two squares for weaving, two for knitting and two for crochet. • Once the squares are cut out, lay them face down on a table or the ground and mix them up. • Lay them into two rows and turn over two squares. See if they match, and if they do, put them to the side. It they don’t match turn them back over and try again. Remember what was on each square and where it was in the rows. • Once you have all the matches, compare them to the pictures of the samples above. See if you can figure out how they are made (answers are at the end of this document).

1: 2:

3: 4:

5: 6:

Answers: 1: Crochet 2: Knitting 3: Weaving 4: Weaving 5: Knitting 6: Crochet