After a bunch of bees built their hive in Our Tree, I decided to keep the bug theme going with a nice spider web. I looked at several spider web tutorials, but finally found this perfect one. Simple with no fancy supplies needed. Just the way I like my crafts.
We started by taping four pieces of yarn to the floor so that they all intersected at the middle. These are the “spokes” of the spider web. I tied them together. As you can see. The tutorial recommends using a little piece of yarn for this. I used the end of my little ball of yarn. If you make this spider web you should do what the tutorial recommends. I think it would work better.
John Amos was fussy this afternoon. So we had to stop a few times to calm him down. And to make silly faces. And (not pictured) to roll all over the floor, bunging up the taped down yarn and in general cause your mother grief.
So, this photo is kind of crummy. A huge black storm rolled in while I was feeding John Amos. Nice weather for making spider webs, but not so good for taking pictures. You can read the tutorial for more detailed instructions, but as you can see we made a spiral with our ball of yarn to create the web. As we unwound the ball of yarn we tied it to each spoke. This is important. The spider web won’t stay together if you don’t tie it.
I loved this craft because Ellie got to practice tying knots. Ah, the elusive skill. She so very much wants to know how to tie knots, but just can’t quite manage it. She got lots of practice making this spider web. I still don’t believe she fully gets the concept, but she did do a nice number on her Daddy’s shoes yesterday….
Once our spider web was finished we hung it up on the tree.
Look at that! A happy spring spider web.
It’s a little bit hard to see the gray yarn on the gray floor, but we took our extra yarn out in the hall to measure it using the linoleum tiles. Wearing sparkle-y shoes, of course. It was 15 tiles long. This is one of the things I love about homeschooling. You can let the learning just keep going. We did have to stop the “learning” once this piece of yarn got wound around Ellie’s bike wheels. It was fun while it lasted.
The next day we made a family of spiders to live in the web. A bit backwards, yes. Whatever. Our spider web also defies physics. It’s the process that matters. The process.
Sadly, I had to do most of the work making spiders because it was too hard for Ellie. First I twisted together four bits of pipe cleaners, then I hot-glued a bit of felt and some google-y eyes. We started using regular glue but it just wouldn’t hold. Ellie had fun bending up the legs. Except for the example one I did, but I think hers are cuter.
I suppose I could have used better planning and done spiders back when we had owls and bats for a nice Halloween thing. But I kind of like seeing these black spiders beside our lovely flowers. Our spiders are cute. Not creepy.
You are such a sweet mom! I could never watch Gemma try and tie all those knots, I would literally have to sit on my hands I think. I’m so impatient with stuff like that
Very cute project!!!
Don’t be too impressed. Ellie didn’t do all of that herself. I think she only helped do a third of the knots. At first I made the knot and she pulled it tight. By the end of the project she was doing it mostly by herself, I did help hold the strings tight so the web wouldn’t end up saggy. I’m pretty impatient too, and Ellie can always pick up on that. She usually responds by refusing to work on whatever we are doing. I have leftover yarn if you want to give it a try.
Your web and spiders add nicely to your tree. And, Ellie is quite the character. The white top looks lovely on her.
I’m taking notes, Kristie! You’re inspiring me with creative ideas even in small apartment city living (and actually the city has other ample opportunities for learning, too, I’m realizing!) Cute web
Thanks Sarah! I agree with you about discovering what the City has to offer. I have struggled quite a bit with the prospect of my children growing up without splashing through creeks and building forts in the woods like I did. But the City has other treasures–like museums! and exhibits!–that make for a fun childhood, too.