THE CRAFT OF TOY MAKING AND WEAVING

Back to: CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS JSS3

 

Welcome to class! 

In today’s class, we will be talking about the craft of toy making and weaving. Enjoy the class!

The Craft of Toy Making and Weaving

A toy is a product or object designed for play for children of less than 14 years of age.  The magnetic delight of a beautiful toy is likely to be enchanting and captivating to an adult as well as a child.  Between the 18^th and 19^th century, wooden toy making flourished and Germany was renowned for its wooden toys. The wonderful craft and humorously carved toys of Sam Smith had achieved the status of art by his death in 1981.  Some of his works are in display in respected galleries.

Today, the craft of toy making has expanded in scope with wooden toys, plastic and soft toys as types of available toys.  Toys can be made in a stationary or movable form.  To make a toy move, wheels can be attached either directly to the body or the axles glued underneath it.  When creating a toy, it is important to be mindful of safety, health and comfortability of the intended toy from the beginning.  Avoid the use of toxic paints, itchy fabrics, unhealthy stuffy fibres that can cause allergies.  In the case of a joint by nails, be sure the nails are not exposed to avoid injury.

• Wood toy:

Materials– wood, adhesive (glue), paint

Equipment– fret saw, circular saw, band saw, sandpaper, brush, spraying machine, knife, small pin size nails, lathe for turning wood to make skittles.

Production technique– drawing, carving, cutting, glueing, smoothening, spraying, drying and packaging.

Plastic toys:

Materials– plastic, adhesive, heat source

Equipment

1. Mould for taking the cast of objects with liquid plastic.
2. Mixer for mixing the plastic.
3. Heater for melting and keeping the plastic at a basic working temperature.
4. Scraper for cutting excess plastic.

Production techniques– initial moulding of objects with clay or wax, cast to take a mould of objects in a hollow fillable cast for mass production of identical objects.

Soft toy making techniques:

Materials– fabric, sewing thread, fibre for filling, small buttons, cardboard, cotton, paper, pencil, calico, chalk.

Equipment– needle, sewing machine, scissors, pin, pliers.

Production technique– choose a design to make. Draw the pattern on the fabric to be used with chalk to allow washing off.  Cut along the drawn lines in double fabric folds. Then sew the fabric pieces together with the right side of the fabric facing inside.  Turn the fabric inside out after sewing to face the right- side outwards.  Sew every part of the toy body independently in the same technique. Assemble all the parts to form the toy sew the small buttons in the eye region to represent the eyes.  The sewing toy-making can be done by hand or machine.

Weaving

This is a method used in textile and craft production in which two distinct sets of yarns or flexible materials are interlaced at right angles.  Since the earliest days, humans have made clothes, baskets and so many other things by weaving different types of materials.  The art or craft of weaving is meditative, relaxing, cost-effective and productive as it gives one the end product of fabric, chair and other range of products.

In weaving, the longitudinal threads are called the ‘warp’ while lateral threads are the ‘weft’. The character or peculiarity of the textile in production depends on the methods in which the threads or other flexible materials are interwoven.  Clothes weaving are usually done on a loom, a device that holds the warp thread in place while the filling threads are woven through them. The manner or technique by which the warp and filling threads interlay with each other is called the weave.

The art and craft of weaving for fabric and other woven products like a bag, basket, a chair can be done in plain, one colour pattern or a multicolour illustrative and decorative pattern. The art of weaving can also be described as the repetition of the primary motion of the loom which are in three actions; shedding, picking and beating- up.

Shedding is the point where the ends of the threads are separated by raised or lower phones to make space for the pick to pass. The pick is propelled by hand, an air – jet or shuttle across the warp through the space created by shedding in an action called picking

Handweaving indigenous fabrics

1. Akwete (traditional Igbo fabrics)
2. Djerma (Hausa Traditional fabrics)
3. Aso Oke (traditional Yoruba fabrics)
4. Esan-(Ishan) traditional fabric

Weaving on a cardboard loom- weaving on a cardboard loom is a simple and cost-effective way of improvising on the loom depending on high wide you intend your weaving to be. To create a simple loo, standard firm cardboard that is easy to cut with strong scissors will be ideal.  Based on the use of what you are weaving, choose the width of your simple loom and cut to size.  Use a pair of scissors to cut a series of silts at the edge of the cardboard. Same steps should be repeated at the opposite edge of the cardboard.

Materials needed for making and weaving on cardboard- cardboard, scissors, ruler, large plastic or metal needle, yarn or thread

Basket weaving

Baskets are one of the ancient and cultural hands over the craft of almost every tribe.  Though the process of production varies from people to people.  The kind of material used in the production of every basket defines its character and texture.  Baskets are made in standard shapes and sizes both in their decorative and utility purposes.

Uses of baskets

1. Baskets are used to gather, store and serve dry foods.
2. They can be used to store clothes, jewellery and other valuable items.
3. They are used in making the home and office furniture.
4. Baskets are used to carry liquids, that have been waterproofed.
5. Baskets are used for the presentation of gifts.
6. They are used as packing and transportation device for farm produce.
7. Baskets are used for spreading and drying food items.
8. They are used for smoking fish and meat.
9. They are used for hats, mats and fabric production.
10. Baskets can be used as filters, sieves and strainers.

 

In our next class, we will be talking about Introduction to Digital Arts and Design.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

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