yarn is one of Mexico's principal products, and it is made locally into many colourful items, including rugs and woven pictures. The pieces are considered art, and are sold all over the world. One traditional craft, known as yarn art, involves the decoration of containers and pots, and could easily be tried out in your setting.
You will need:
* Items of recycled 'junk' to decorate * String/wool/ embroidery thread /nylon thread/ other yarn * PVA glue * Glue brushes
Getting started
In Mexico, some yarn art has a function, for example, intricate trinket boxes or bold vases, but many items are purely decorative and might be hung on the wall or displayed on a table. This means that most items of junk can be used for decorating this way - for instance, children could choose a box, yoghurt pot, jar or even a paper plate to work on.
Once children have selected their base item, they will also need to choose some yarn. Have as many different types available as possible for experimentation and effect, including wool, embroidery thread and nylon strings. Ordinary string is probably the easiest thing to work with since it is thick and sturdy. The children might find this the best option while they are getting the hang of the activity.
Children should cut off a length of yarn that is comfortable for them to work with, as you would when cutting thread for sewing. This is usually about half of their own arm's length.
The idea is for children to cover their object completely in yarn. First, apply glue to the base item. It is best for children to start on the outside edge and work their way in, spreading on just a little glue at a time and then pressing on the yarn. If the glue is applied all over the base item the glue will begin to dry out too quickly, and in the meantime manipulating the object becomes a very sticky affair! When working on a pot, start applying the glue at the top.
Winding the yarn
The first piece of yarn needs careful positioning around the edge, or the top, of the item, and must be firmly stuck down. This is the trickiest part of the project, and once done, children will find it much easier to position the rest of the yarn. When working on pots, the children simply wind the thread tightly around their base item, adding more glue as necessary as they go along. When working on boxes or plates, children need to coil their thread around and around in a spiral fashion, inside the first piece of yarn that acts as a guide. Children should position the coils of thread closely together so that none of the base item shows. They can always slide the spirals gently together before the glue dries if they find winding closely a bit difficult. As a piece of thread is used up, children simply stick down the end and begin where they left off with a new piece. They may choose to stick to one type of yarn or to one colour, or they may like to mix and match, creating a rainbow of different textures and shades. Traditionally, Mexican pieces are boldly coloured and give a striking effect. Bright colours are often teamed with black for contrast.
Extra effects
As they get more experienced, children might choose to be more adventurous in their designs. They might like to try winding in swirls or square patterns instead of plain spirals, building up the decoration in separate panels until they've covered the whole base item. Alternatively, they may decide to add more detail to the finished piece of yarn art. Extra patterns of thread can be stuck on over the original work to create raised effects, or decorative items such as sequins, beads or buttons can be added.
Finishing off
Any off-cuts of thread can be used to make yarn collages, or they could be dipped in paint and used for printing. The activity could inspire a whole Mexican theme.
Why not make a display of the children's work, and serve the viewers some tasty tacos, with some Mexican music playing in the background for atmosphere? As they say in Mexico, 'Tenga diversion!' - 'Have fun!'
