Bobbin Weaving
It was 1839 when the first thread of silk was wound onto bobbins in Paterson, NJ. Paterson became known as Silk City for being the leading manufacturer of silk textiles in the United States, hitting the height of production in the 1880s. Paterson produced almost fifty percent of the nation’s silk. Since silk comes from silkworms, and we don’t have the climate for silkworms to thrive, Paterson silk mills would get silk from countries including China and Japan. Paterson factory workers would dye the silk, wind it onto bobbins, and weave it into fabric.
Activity
Weave yarn onto a cardboard bobbin inspired by the silk textile industry in Paterson
Duration: 30-60 min | Difficulty: Medium | Cost: Low
Supplies
- Bobbin outline
- Black marker
- Cardboard
- Warp thread
- Ruler
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
Instructions
Step 1- Click here to download and print the bobbin outline
Step 2- Using a scissor, cut the bobbin out
Step 3- Use a black marker to trace the bobbin onto a sheet of cardboard
Step 4- Referencing the paper bobbin, draw the additional lines and circles onto the cardboard bobbin
Step 5- Cut the cardboard bobbin along the exterior lines
Step 6- With the bobbin vertical, make 9 cuts ¼ inch deep and ½ inch apart to form notches
Step 7- Cut a 28 inch long piece of warp thread
Step 8- Stick one end of the warp thread into the 1st cut leaving a tail, then pull the thread across looping it around the 1st notch on the opposite side
Step 9- Pull it back towards the other side and repeat the loop and pull motion through all the notches
Step 10- Flip the bobbin over and loop the warp thread around the thread of the previous notch, then tie a knot to secure each end of your warp thread
Step 11- With the bobbin horizontal, measure 28 rows of yarn from the first notch to the last, then cut
Step 12- Take the tapestry needle and weave the yarn through
Step 13- With the bobbin horizontal, use the needle and go over then under the warp thread in one direction and repeat
Step 14- After each row, pull the remaining yarn through, push down, then weave going back in the opposite direction
Step 15- When you reach the top, tuck the remaining yarn under your weaving and it’s complete!