'New Threads'

Read how other educators have added to or modified these activities. Do you have an idea or activity that might work well along with the others on this website? Please share it with us. Email Charlotte Coffman cwc4@cornell.edu.


AHS Conference feedback

At our workshop at the July 2006 American Horticulture Society Conference, we asked participants to contribute ideas that we could add to these activities. Here's what they suggested:

Rope making:

• Make cordage from plant fibers.
• Use the rope you made to make plant hangers and coil baskets.
• Hang different sized ropes from the ceiling and attach cloth leaves to simulate a rainforest in a corner of the classroom.

As a capstone activity, make a rug. Dye sturdy cotton cloth with indigo or use old denim garments. Tear fabric into narrow strips. Use the rope maker to create a three-ply "rope". Coil the rope into an oval or round shape, stitching the coils loosely together to make a "braided" rug.

Weaving:

• Try weaving long cinnamon sticks with closely spaced warp yarns to make a trivet with an inviting aroma.

Instead of supplying mat materials, set up the looms outdoors and ask youth to collect natural materials that they weave into their artwork. Perhaps they will discover interesting plant stems, colorful leaves, bean pods, pinecones, and more.

Indigo dyeing:

• Pound flowers and leaves onto fabric to create botanical designs.
• Make "Dirt shirts," garments dyed with soils.
• Use photosensitive fabric paints to capture plant images.
• Teach knitting - use plant-dyed yarns and make knitting needles from dowels.