Tennis Racquet Weaving
Op shop racquets become bright little looms (with pixels you can touch).
The Set Up
Op shop racquets are our secret weapon! Tennis or badminton or squash, any oval on strings can instantly transform into a loom.
Set a few on the table and hang some on hooks at kid height so standing or sitting both feel welcome. Pop some bowls of thick wool and ribbons and fabric strips within easy reach, plus a jar of large plastic embroidery needles that feel safe in small hands.
I love to offer gridded paper and pencils for anyone who likes to test and draw an idea before it hits the strings.
Kids often think in pixels because of games and things they're used to on screens, so names and simple characters and bold shapes land beautifully on a racquet!
The Making
Choose a starting knot and begin! Over and under brings pattern quickly and teaches tension without any fuss. Depending on what their design is, kids can practise creating little x's / cross-stitches on the loom, or simply wrap around and across the little 'squares' between the strings.
At Smudge we always talk about experimentation and play more than perfection! It doesn't matter if their weaving is in tight rows and feels calm and sure. Or has more open spacing and feels breezy and bright. Neither is better! They simply look differently across the racquet.
When Olive and I tried this at home we learned that shorter lengths reduce tangles and keep decisions moving, so we cut as we go rather than pre measuring everything.
A little tip; if the knot slips, double it and tuck the tail under a neighbouring string and press it flat with your thumb so the back stays friendly.
Variations
Add beads to the wool as you weave to give more texture to the piece.
Materials
Old tennis or badminton racquets
Thick wool, ribbons, fabric strips
Large plastic embroidery needles
Gridded paper circles and pencils
Scissors and a few hooks for hanging
Optional: Beads in a small bowl
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Tennis Racquet Weaving
Op shop racquets become bright little looms (with pixels you can touch).
Bookmark
Sculpture
The Set Up
Op shop racquets are our secret weapon! Tennis or badminton or squash, any oval on strings can instantly transform into a loom.
Set a few on the table and hang some on hooks at kid height so standing or sitting both feel welcome. Pop some bowls of thick wool and ribbons and fabric strips within easy reach, plus a jar of large plastic embroidery needles that feel safe in small hands.
I love to offer gridded paper and pencils for anyone who likes to test and draw an idea before it hits the strings.
Kids often think in pixels because of games and things they're used to on screens, so names and simple characters and bold shapes land beautifully on a racquet!
The Making
Choose a starting knot and begin! Over and under brings pattern quickly and teaches tension without any fuss. Depending on what their design is, kids can practise creating little x's / cross-stitches on the loom, or simply wrap around and across the little 'squares' between the strings.
At Smudge we always talk about experimentation and play more than perfection! It doesn't matter if their weaving is in tight rows and feels calm and sure. Or has more open spacing and feels breezy and bright. Neither is better! They simply look differently across the racquet.
When Olive and I tried this at home we learned that shorter lengths reduce tangles and keep decisions moving, so we cut as we go rather than pre measuring everything.
A little tip; if the knot slips, double it and tuck the tail under a neighbouring string and press it flat with your thumb so the back stays friendly.
Variations
Add beads to the wool as you weave to give more texture to the piece.
Materials
Old tennis or badminton racquets
Thick wool, ribbons, fabric strips
Large plastic embroidery needles
Gridded paper circles and pencils
Scissors and a few hooks for hanging
Optional: Beads in a small bowl
Back to Top
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Thoughts?
Would love to hear if youv'e tried this or have any ideas on how to make it even better!
