Skip to main content

Activity: Make A Woven Web

Activities & Education

Learn about Louise Bourgeois’s sculpture Maman, and get inspired to weave a wonderful web!

image of maman sculpture on the museum grounds
Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999, bronze, stainless steel, and marble, 30ft. 5 in. × 29ft. 3 in. × 33ft. 7 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2014.20.

Look Closer:  

  • What do you think about when you see a spider? How do they make you feel? 
  • This spider is named Maman, which means “mom” in French. The artist Louise Bourgeois created this spider sculpture to represent her mother, who she called her closest friend.
  • Bourgeois thought of spiders as helpful, caring, and hardworking―just like her mom! The artist’s mother was also talented at working with thread and weaving, similar to how a spider weaves its web. 
  • Think of someone you love. Is there an animal that reminds you of them? Why?

Activity: Make a Woven Web

art supplies against a pink background, includes scissors and blue, white, and red yarn

Materials: 

  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Yarn 
  • Fabric strips
  • X-Acto knife and cutting mat (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Have an adult use a pair of scissors or an X-Acto knife to cut your cardboard into a circle.

image of a weaving art activity - cutting a paper circle with scissors

Step 2: Use a pair of scissors to cut notches around your circle. Try to have the notches evenly spaced for the best effect.

Step 3: Wrap a piece of yarn around the circle, going over each notch once. Then, tie the string in the back so your web is secure, but not too tight.

image of a weaving art activity - blue string
image of a weaving art activity - blue string
image of a weaving art activity - blue and red string with a pair of scissors

Step 4: Take a piece of yarn and tie one end to the string of the web. Cut off any excess string from your knot.

image of a weaving art activity - blue and red string with a pair of scissors

Step 5: Take the other end of the yarn and weave between strings. To weave, go over the first string, under the next, and then repeat. Be careful not to pull the string too tight so your design does not warp.

Step 6: When you are at the end of your string or want to change colors, tie the other end onto the web. Cut off any extra yarn.

Step 7: Tie a fabric strip or another piece of yarn where you left off. This time try going in the opposite pattern: under, then over, and repeat.

image of a weaving art activity - blue and red string with a pair of scissors
image of a weaving art activity - blue, red, and gray fabrics woven together in a circle

Step 8: Continue until you fill the web completely, then admire your creation!

image of a weaving art activity - blue, red, and gray fabrics woven together in a circle with scissors and yarn next to it

Have fun exploring! Share your woven web with us on social media – tag #crystalbridges on Instagram.

 

Written by Marie Hofer, educator, Crystal Bridges.