Harmony Week

Our Harmony Week (previously known as Harmony Day) craft ideas help gain a better understanding of the many different people who call Australia home!

Harmony Week Collaborative Weaving Tapestry

Practice your weaving skills and celebrate Harmony Week’s theme - Everyone Belongs! Get each individual to weave and decorate their own cardboard shape, then combine them in a beautiful bright wall hanging!
  • If you wish to use a combination of sizes for the tapestry like we have, simply download and print the large circle template provided onto cardboard. Cut out the large weaving circle and make slits along the solid black lines, ready for weaving! Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors.
  • Step 1Take a weaving shape and the white embroidery thread. Take the end of the thread and pull it through one of the slots that run around the edge of the weaving shape, pulling the thread to create a tail approximately 5cm long at the back.
  • Step 2Wrap the thread across the weaving shape to the opposite side, loop it around a tab, bringing it back across the circle and looping it onto the tab next to the original starting point.
  • Step 3Continue this way using the figure 8 pattern to move clockwise around the weaving shape until you are back at the beginning.
  • Step 4Flip the weaving shape over and secure by tying the embroidery thread onto the tail you created in step 1 and trim the excess. Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors. Your shape is now ready to start weaving!
  • Step 5Take your first piece of weaving material. We are starting with a piece of ribbon, but you could also use paper raffia or chenille stems. Be creative! Tie your ribbon (or chosen material) to the centre of the embroidery thread where all the threads cross over. Begin weaving the ribbon around the circle using an over/under pattern. It’s easier to weave further out on the circle where the threads aren’t as close together, then you can just pull the ribbon to pull the weave in tight.
  • If you’re struggling to weave the ribbon, you may want to thread it onto a needle to make it a bit easier.
  • Step 6Continue weaving in this way until you get to the end of the ribbon. Simply tuck the end under the woven centre and then start with your next piece of weaving material.
  • Step 7Continue weaving all the way around the circle until you are nearly at the edge. You want to leave a border around the outside that you can decorate.
  • Step 8Use POSCA Markers and a permanent pen to decorate and complete your weaving shape. You could add colours, patterns and words that relate to Harmony Week and the theme ‘Everyone Belongs’.
  • Step 9Once everyone has completed their weaving shapes, collect them all together. You can use all large or small shapes, or you can do a combination of both. Younger children may prefer to do smaller shapes so it doesn’t take as long, while older more experienced children might like to experiment with the larger shapes.
  • Step 10Arrange your weaving shapes into a pattern for the wall and then join them together in your chosen formation by taping lengths of craft line to the back of the weaving shapes. Leave a long length of craft line at the top of the weaving shapes at the top of your formation, then use this to attach to a hanging frame. We have found a nice stick to use and tied the craft line to it using double knots.
  • Step 11Your Collaborative Weaving Tapestry is now ready to hang and display proudly on the wall for Harmony Week!

Materials used in this activity

Ribbon Pack - 65g Pack
Optional
Product Code: 10798
EACH $15.39 (inc GST) $13.99 (ex GST)
5 or more $10.77 (inc GST) $9.79 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Chenille Stems - Bright - Pack of 100
Optional
Product Code: 10825
EACH $7.69 (inc GST) $6.99 (ex GST)
5 or more $5.38 (inc GST) $4.89 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 10897
EACH Was: $43.99 Now: $27.50 (inc GST) Was: $39.99 Now: $25.00 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Craft Line - Clear - 30 Metres
Optional
Product Code: 11160
EACH $4.39 (inc GST) $3.99 (ex GST)
5 or more $3.29 (inc GST) $2.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Cardboard Weaving Shapes - White - Pack of 20
Optional
Product Code: 13261
EACH $13.19 (inc GST) $11.99 (ex GST)
3 or more $9.89 (inc GST) $8.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 13717
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Micador Stay Anywhere Permanent Pens - Pack of 12
Optional
Product Code: 14216
EACH $43.99 (inc GST) $39.99 (ex GST)
4 or more $37.39 (inc GST) $33.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
CleverPatch Cardboard - White - A4 - Pack of 100
Optional
Product Code: 16288
EACH $21.99 (inc GST) $19.99 (ex GST)
4 or more $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Clear Sticky Tape - 18mm x 66m
Optional
Product Code: 17769
EACH $2.19 (inc GST) $1.99 (ex GST)
12 or more $1.53 (inc GST) $1.39 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Paper Raffia - 50 Metres - Set of 10 Colours
Optional
Product Code: 18850
EACH $49.49 (inc GST) $44.99 (ex GST)
3 or more $40.69 (inc GST) $36.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
POSCA Paint Markers - Medium Tip - Coloured - Pack of 16
Optional
Product Code: 19481
EACH $109.99 (inc GST) $99.99 (ex GST)
5 or more $93.49 (inc GST) $84.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value