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Last updated 18/11/2025

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As far as I know the Free Weaving technique, which uses folded strips, is first recorded in 1833 in 'The Girl's Own Book' by Lydia Marie Child.

There are separate pages for:

The Paper Rosette

The Woven Cross

The Woven Basket

The Plaited Belt

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In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1905

'Shukouka Kyohon : Liron Jishuu Souga Setsumei' by Kikujiro Kiuchi, Rokushiro Uehara and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Shigebei Takase in Chiba in 1905, contains several pages of instructions for making Free Weaving designs.

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1944

There are several pages about the weaving of folded paper strips in 'Origami Shuko' by Isao Honda, which was published in 1944.

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1960

There are three pages devoted to 'Ribbon Folding' in 'All About Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Bunka Company, Limited in Tokyo in 1960.

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1967

'Paper Ribbon Weaving' features in 'Origami Folding Fun: Pony Book' by Isao Honda, which was published by Japan Publications Inc in Tokyo in 1967.

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In Europe and the Americas

1855

There is a section about 'Plaiting Paper' in 'Woman's Educational Mission: Being an Explanation of Frederich Froebel's System of Infant Gardens', by Baroness von Marenholtz, translated into English by Elizabeth, Countess Krockow von Wickerode, which was published by Darton and Co in London in 1855. While it is not completely clear, this section seems to refer to free weaving rather than to frame weaving. Certainly it is free weaving that is shown in the illustration:

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1863

The basic technique of free weaving appears in 'De Kleine Papierwerkers: Volume 2: Wat men uit strookjes papier al vlechten kan' which was published by K H Schadd in Amsterdam in 1863.

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'Das Frobel'sche Flechtblatt' by August Koehler, which was published by Hermann Bolau in Weimar in 1863 is said, In 'Der Kindergarten: Theoretisch-Praktisches Handbuch' by A S Fischer, see entry for 1874 below, to deal with the subject in detail.

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1865

A number of free weaving designs, 'invented by Seren and Fraulein Lencer in Apolda', appear as Lebensformen in the third edition of 'Arbeitschule Volume 2: Das Flechten: für Kinder von 3 bis 12 Jahren' by Seidel and Schmidt, which was published by Hermann Bohlau in Weimar.

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1869

The chapter on the Froebelian occupation of 'Flechten' in 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer, which was published by Habel in Berlin in 1869, illustrates a number of designs made by weaving together paper strips that have been doubled / folded in half.

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The same illustrations is to be found in 'Paradise of Childhood' by Edward Wiebe, which was published by Milton, Bradley and Company in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1869.

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Information about Free Weaving also appears:

1873

In 'Die Praxis Des Kindergartens' by Auguste Koehler, which was published by Herman Bohlau in Weimar in 1873.

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In 'Der Kindergarten: Theoretisch-Praktisches Handbuch' by A S Fischer, which was published by Alfred Holder in Vienna in 1873. The relervant section is mostly about Frame Weaving but at the end the author says, roughly translated, 'We would also like to point out free braiding, without the use of the weaving mat, by means of which the so-called bookmarks are made. We refer you to Koehler's 'Flechtlehre' (Weimer, Bohlau, 1863) which deals with the subject in detail.'

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1874

In the revised and updated third edition of 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer, which was published by Carl Babel in Berlin in 1874.

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1875

In 'Froebels Methode' by Elise Van Calcar, which was published in 1875.

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1882

In 'The Kindergarten Guide' by Maria Kraus Boelte and John Kraus, which was first published in single volume form by E. Steiger and Company in New York in 1882.

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1883

In the second edition of 'Der Kindergarten' by A S Fischer, which was published by Alfred Holder in Wien in 1883 the author devotes most of the section on Flechten to Frame weaving, but then goes on to describe the free weaving technique. He says: 'Such braids are very well suited for use as bookmarks but also crosses and doilies from 4, 6 or more long braiding strips in the manner described'. No instructions for specific designs are given.

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1885

In the second edition of 'Spiel und Arbeit' by Hugo Elm, which was published by Verlag und Drud der Otto Spamer in Leipzig in 1885.

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1887

In Part 2 'Die Praxis' of 'Theoretisches und praktisches Handbuch der Fröbelschen Erziehungslehre' by Bertha von Marentholtz-Bülow, which was published by George H Wigand in Kassel in 1887.

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1889

In 'Royal Gifts for the Kindergarten' by Frances Post Van Norstrand and Alice H Putnam, which was published by the Standard Publishing Company in Chicago in 1889

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1890

In 'Le travail manuel a l'ecole et dans la famille' by MM, Bertrand, Toussaint and Gombert, which was published by Loucene, Oudin et ces Editeurs in Paris in 1890.

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1894

Several Free Weaving designs appear in 'Course of Paper-Plaiting or Mat-Weaving' by Eleonore Heerwart was published by Charles and Dible in London in 1894. The author notes that the circle is 'well known in German Kindergartens'.

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1900

In 'Introduccion a la Ensenaza Practica del Sistema de Kindergarten' by Ernesto Steiger, which was published by E Steiger and Co in New York in 1900.

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1910

In Part 1: 'Das Flechten' (Weaving) of 'Die Frobelschen Beschaftigungen' by Marie Muller-Wunderlich, which was published by Friedrich Brandstetter in Leipzig in 1910.

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1939

Some basic instructions for Free Weaving appear in 'Plegado' by Rufino Yapur, which was published by Editores Independencia in Buenos Aires in 1939.

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1939

'Trabajo Manual Educativo' by Araminta V Aramburu, which was published by F Crespillo in Buenos Aires in 1939, contains some basic information about free weaving.

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1951

Some basic instructions for Free Weaving appear in Plegado laminas published by Della Penna, April 1951.

Entrelezados

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