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The History of Weaving Loom Toys

Weaving looms are toys that have entertained children throughout the centuries. Although production of cloth was not child's play, but was a necessity for every family prior to the industrial revolution, small weaving looms were made for children. On these small weaving looms children learned the art and craft of weaving fabric, a skill needed for the self-sufficient lives of families. Although looms are designed in different ways, they all teach children the technique of weaving fibers up and over warp threads.

Peg Board Loom
- From ancient times, every culture has practiced a form of weaving to make fabrics and other household items. Children learned the valuable skill of weaving by playing with small toy looms. These toy looms consisted of parallel rows of pegs placed on either end of a board small enough to fit comfortably on a child's lap. Warp fibers were stretched between pegs, creating a frame for the weaving. A shuttle was used to carry the weaving fiber up and over the warp threads. A separator makes weaving easier by separating warp fibers so that every other thread is higher than the bottom row of fibers.
Potholder Looms
- Children of the last century have enjoyed making potholders out of stretchy loops on looms that have pegs on all four sides. The stretchy loops are used to create the warp threads by stretching loops from one peg to its matching parallel peg on the other side of the loom. When this row is complete, a large plastic crochet hook is used to stretch loops over the perpendicular pegs and weave them through the warp loops. The potholder loom is suitable for kindergarten and elementary-school age children.
Notched Board Looms
- Children's loom toys are also made by connecting four small boards into a frame and evenly notching two parallel boards. Warp threads are wrapped around the loom, taking care to wrap threads from one side of the loom into the matching notch on the other side. A shuttle is used to pull the weaving fibers through the warp threads.
African Children's Loom
- An African children's weaving loom is made by fastening three pegs, such as dowel rods, into a stabilizing material. The dowel rods may be pegged into a board or pushed into the ground. Two rods are positioned on one side, approximately 8 inches apart. The third rod is positioned approximately 12 inches from the pair of rods and is spaced halfway between them. A small rod is fastened to the pair of rods, creating a football goal posts effect. This is your crossbar. Crochet thread or yarn is used to create a warp. Warp threads are passed over the crossbar, around the single rod and back to the crossbar, and so on until approximately 20 warp threads are stretched between the rods. Small weavings are created on the African children's weaving loom.

Childrens Toys