The Young New Zealanders' Challenge
of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Skills Section
Preface
Participants, instructors and assessors should take note of the conditions as laid down in the
Award Handbook.
This programme is for guidance and is not to be taken as a rigid syllabus. To indicate the
content appropriate to young people with varying degrees of knowledge and experience, it is
arranged under three headings 'For Beginners', 'For those with some knowledge', and
'For the more advanced', and participants are free to select as broad or as restricted an
aspect of this skill as they wish, but appropriate social and cultural aspects are to be
covered.
NEEDLECRAFTS
WEAVING
Introduction
This activity should include as much practical work as possible, preferably undertaken with
others through a group or club. The essence of this programme is the practical
application in learning the basic skills, stitches and right choice of materials. It is hoped also
that young people will be encouraged to be creative in making their own designs, patterns
and colour schemes, especially at the more advanced stages.
The social and cultural significance and historical background to this activity should be
studied also.
For assessment
Each individual is to produce evidence of regular application to the activity over the required
period with examples of finished work.
General
For beginners, all weaving can be done on a two-shaft or rigid heddle loom if desired.
All the work should be assessed on colour and design, the suitability of the material for the
purpose for which it is intended, and the evenness and correctness of the weaving.
Spinning is included in the syllabus to give the weaver an insight into the choice of machine
spun yarns. Participants who choose to study wool should include the spinning sections in
their practical work.
Participants should be encouraged to take a special interest in local traditions of weaving,
and to undertake independent research. Visits to mills and independent handloom weavers
should be encouraged also. Young people should show also some knowledge of weaving in
primitive societies.
There are many excellent books on weaving available from libraries, and participants should
be encouraged to read widely on the subject. The publications and films of the New
Zealand Wool Board are excellent.
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The Young New Zealanders' Challenge
of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Skills Section
For beginners
Those starting this activity should:
1
Do three of the following:
a)
b)
colours.
c)
d)
Weave a woollen scarf in plain, tabby weave.
Weave a set of at least two table mats in plain weave, using two or more
Weave an article of own choice.
Spin a hank of wool on a spindle, using any kind of fleece.
2
Keep a log-book giving particulars of yarns used, with samples, set-up length and
width of warp, etc., with notes on finished articles. This log-book should contain a
record of all weaving done, and should be
kept throughout the period of the
interest.
3
Keep a log-book on weaving, spinning, yarns, vegetable dyes, etc.
For those with some knowledge
Participants should:
1
Do three of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Spin a hank of wool.
Weave a cushion in wool, introducing wool spun by the participant into the weft.
Weave a piece of material on a four-shaft loom, introducing a pattern. This
may be made up as an article.
Weave a piece of material on a two-shaft or rigid heddle loom, using different
textures of yarn, i.e., fine and thick yarns, fancy yarns, etc. This may be made
up into an article.
Weave an article of own choice.
2
Keep log-book of weaving done as for beginners: Item 2.
3
Undertake one of the following:
a)
Study the local traditions of weaving, and make a log-book on the subject.
b)
Study wool, and make a log book with photographs and cuttings of different
types of sheep, samples of their wool, and notes on the uses and processing
of wool for various purposes.
c)
Study the yarns used for weaving, i.e. linen, cotton, wool, silk and synthetic
yarns, and make a log-book showing their sources, preparation and uses.
d)
Study spinning and weaving equipment, and make a log-book showing
different types of looms, spinning wheels, spindles, carders and other
equipment used in hand spinning and weaving, both historic and present-day,
throughout the world.
(e)
Study hand-woven floor rugs, furnishings and tapestries, and make a logbook.
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The Young New Zealanders' Challenge
of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Skills Section
For the more advanced
Participants should:
1
Undertake three of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Weave and finish a length of tweed, not less than three yards.
Weave a piece of linen, e.g. tray cloth, table mats.
Weave a floor rug.
Weave a piece of material, introducing yarn spun by himself/herself.
Spin at least one ounce of wool, giving particulars of type of fleece used
(e.g. Cheviot, Merino, etc.) and the purpose to which the yarn is to be put (e.g.
tweed, knitting, carpet, etc.). Spindle or spinning wheel may be used.
Weave an article of his/her own choice.
2
Keep a log-book of weaving done as for Beginners, Item 2.
3
Undertake one of the following:
a)
Continue the study of the subject chosen from Item 6.
b)
Study another subject chosen from Item 6 for those with some knowledge.
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