LKS2 Topic: British Clothing Block B: Spinning and Weaving
Explain how spinning and weaving have developed over time. Practice using a drop spindle, learn the
basics of weaving and produce a piece of cloth using a cardboard loom. Discover the key developments
of weaving from its beginnings as a medieval cottage industry and how the developments in the textile
industry affected Britain in the 18th and 19th Century.
Block B: Spinning and
Weaving
[3 Sessions]
Main Outcome: History
Other outcomes: D&T

By the end of this block you
can expect the following
outcomes:


Study an aspect or theme in British history (clothing) that extends pupils’
chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, pupils
develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
Understand how key events and individuals in Design and Technology have
helped shape the world.
Session 1 History and D&T
Spinning
Explore the craft of spinning
and how it has developed over
time. Practice spinning using
the drop spindle technique and
use poetry to show the process
that spinning goes through.
Session 2 History and D&T
Hand Weaving
Explore the craft of weaving
and its development in
medieval times. Learn the
basis of weaving and practice
weaving using a simple
cardboard loom.
Children will:
Session 3 History and D&T
Continuing Hand Weaving
and Finishing
Discover how weaving
developed over time,
particularly during the
industrial revolution and how
this affected people’s lives.
Continue learning about the
basics of weaving and
complete a simple weave on a
cardboard loom.
Children will:




Learn how the craft of spinning has been important to people through the
centuries and how it has changed and developed over the past 1000 years.
Spin a ball of yarn from sheep’s wool (fleece) using a drop spindle.
Learn about the whole process from sheep to yarn in the form of a poem that is
an adaptation of “The House that Jack Built”.
Make a zigzag book and use it to write and illustrate the poem.
Children will:








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Learn about the process of weaving yarn to make cloth and how this craft
became a thriving cottage industry in medieval times.
Learn the vocabulary of weaving and its history, e.g. weft, warp, loom, merchant,
spinster, yarn.
Weave paper strips on a paper loom to learn the “under/over” technique.
Make and thread a cardboard loom and use it to begin weaving a rectangle of
cloth.
Practice the craft of drop spindle spin learnt last session to create yarn for
weaving.
Learn about the process of weaving through the ages in Britain and particularly
how it changed in the Industrial Revolution.
Learn how developments in the textile industry affected the lives of people in
Britain in the 18th and 19th century.
Continue to hand weave a piece of cloth on a homemade cardboard loom.
Learn how to finish off their weaving by securing the loose ends and removing it
from the loom.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
LKS2 Topic: British Clothing Block B: Spinning and Weaving
Resources
Session 1
Provided: PowerPoint presentations covering: How spinning has changed over the years & A poem
about yarn; Information sheets covering: Instructions for teachers on making drop spindles, Jumbled up
text for Zigzag books & Instructions for making a back to front Zigzag book.
You will need: Access to the Internet; A set of magnifying lenses (1 each or 1 between 2 is ideal); A
selection of different fabrics (or items of clothing) that are both knitted and woven -try to include some
with a fairly loose weave/ stitch; A selection of lengths (30cm approx.) of different threads and yarns
e.g. knitting wool, string, twine, embroidery and sewing thread of different thicknesses/textures; Sheep
fleece (can be bought from a variety of online sellers); 2 pieces of A4 white card per child, pencils, pencil
crayons, glue sticks, scissors, PVA glue, spreaders; Template strips of stiff card 14cm x 1.5cm enough for
one per child.
Session 2
Provided: PowerPoint presentations covering: How weaving works & Weaving puzzle; Information
sheets covering: Paper loom sheet, Instructions for making a cardboard loom and weaving on it &
Weaving crossword puzzle.
You will need: Access to the Internet; Squares of loosely woven cloth e.g. hessian or similar; Copies of
the paper loom sheet (1 per child); A large number of 1.5cm strips of different coloured paper cut from
the entire width of A4 sheets (use at least one sheet for each for each child in the class and mix up the
colours); A group set of drop spindles as used last session with some raw fleece to spin; Stiff card
rectangles (1 for each child and can be any size but 18X23cm is about right); Small rectangles of stiff
card about 9X4 cm to make the shuttles; A large quantity of different coloured woollen yarn; Rulers,
scissors, pencils, masking tape.
Session 3
Provided: PowerPoint presentations covering: The introduction of the weaving loom & Finishing your
weaving.
You will need: Access to the Internet; Threaded cardboard looms and shuttles (begun last session); A
selection of different coloured yarns; Scissors; Tapestry needles (they have a blunt end and a large eye)
one per child.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.