Weaving with Paper: 30 Projects to Expand Your Creativity with Inventive Techniques, Intriguing Prompts, and Inspiring Works of Art

Paper artist Hiebert (The Art of Papercraft) provides an inspiring guide to paper weaving, in which strips of paper are interlaced to create decorative designs. She begins by chronicling the history of the craft, noting it was popularized by Friedrich Froebel (1782–1852), who founded the first kindergarten, and then outlines the few materials needed to begin: any type of paper (including junk mail, old books, and magazines), glue, scissors, a ruler, and a craft knife. Hiebert covers the basics, like how to cut, weave, and secure strips, as well as how to add variations, like curves and gaps. Readers will also learn how to set up a paper loom—one solid piece of paper with slits through which loose strips of paper are woven in. There are 30 prompts to help readers get started. For example, they can create an image of their home state using strips of a map or weave shapes like a silhouette of a person or pet. Throughout, Hiebert includes creative examples of paper weaving projects from professional artists, including a remarkable installation by Audrey Pinto that weaves together recycled magazine covers, honeycomb packaging paper, sari silk threads, and tree branches. This is sure to get crafters’ creative juices flowing. (Dec.)