As Chapin continues to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), Lower School Art teacher Lauren McCarty designed a fitting lesson for her Class 3 students. “There is a rich tradition of weaving in Spanish-speaking countries,” she explained to a small group one recent morning. “Its roots are in indigenous cultures.”
Sitting around adjoined tables in the fifth-floor Art Room, the students (half of one class) were soon entranced by an animated read-aloud of the bilingual picture book “Rainbow Weaver” (“Tejedora del Arcoíris”) by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Elisa Chavarri, which came to life on the classroom’s white board. With beautiful illustrations and Ms. McCarty’s captivating voice, the book offered a window into one such culture: the Mayan people of Guatemala.
“You’ll hear English, Spanish and Mayan words,” Ms. McCarty’s noted. She presented her students with the choice to draw in their sketchbooks while the read-aloud played or to simply watch silently.
The book’s heroine, a gutsy Mayan girl named Ixchel, wants to weave, but her mother does not have extra thread to spare. Undeterred, Ixchel tries out different materials until she discovers an inventive way to repurpose colorful plastic bags into a yarn-like substance. Before long, she has woven together deconstructed bags in a multitude of hues to create eye-catching squares of fabric, which she proudly sells at the village market.
“She wove a rainbow!” one student exclaimed at the end of the book. This accurate comment ignited a discussion about the tradition of weaving in Ixchel’s community as well as the character’s impressive perseverance.
“I want you to keep Ixchel’s journey in your mind when you begin your project because it may take a few tries to succeed,” said Ms. McCarty.
In a quick video that illustrated the basics of weaving, the students were introduced to the terms “warp,” the vertically positioned string that functions as the project’s skeleton, and “weft,” the horizontal cord that is threaded through the warp to form a symmetrical design.
Buzzing with anticipation, the group moved to another set of tables where mini looms made from notched cardboard and white warp thread awaited each artist. First, they selected their yarn from a bin of skeins in a variety of colors and textures. To avoid tangles, Ms. McCarty advised against cutting pieces “longer than your wingspan.”
Next, they learned how to thread an oversize needle, how to leave a tail at the end, and when to tie a knot. Finally, they were ready to practice the alternating pattern essential to a successful weave. “It’s going to feel funky at first, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel,” their teacher added.
With quiet concentration, the students guided their needles over and under the warp thread, slowly forming horizontal rows, which they evened out with their fingers. As Ms. McCarty predicted, it wasn’t smooth sailing for many. “What can you do if you make a mistake?” she asked.
“Back it up,” one stated. Another said, “Ask a friend.” To get back on track, someone else suggested reciting the pattern out loud: over under, over under.
The feeling in the room was calm and supportive. The students seemed to take pride in their Mayan-inspired projects, which they’d finish in a future class. As they created, Ms. McCarty rotated to each person to share words of encouragement and to help troubleshoot. She also reminded them to enjoy the creative process.
“Take a breath. We’re not in a hurry,” she emphasized. Before they knew it, the period was winding down and a second half-group of Class 3 lined up in the hall. “We’re weaving, and it’s super fun!” one student announced to the waiting classmates, eliciting eager smiles.
