Family Circle

Data Visualisation

Crafting Connection and Generational Data

A colorful circle made of yarn symbolizing continuity and connection

Crafting a Family Bond

This was spontaneous weekend project which came about when my colleague offered some cotton string cutoffs from hand weaving a kākahu, a traditional Māori cloak she was lovingly weaving for her sister with beautiful patterns, colours and finished with feathers.

White blue and yellow pattern weaving with different stitches and white feathers at the bottom
Close up of kākahu, photo courtesy of Samantha Callaghan

Inspired by the cultural significance of kākahu as family heirlooms, I thought it would be a nice opportunity to craft something with my kids, connecting it to our family. It had been four years since we last made a data visualisation together, and I was ready to try another one. The activity needed to be engaging, relatable, and simple enough for my children, while remaining manageable for me.

From Concept to Collaboration

After brainstorming and searching for ideas with my children, we settled on creating round macrame-inspired pieces that could double as coasters. Each person would knot their age number in their favourite colour, starting with the children, followed by the parents. Initial sketches engaged the kids, leading to discussions about colours and counting age markers for family members. Seeing their enthusiasm, I decided to include grandparents to expand the project. Although we initially considered showing two family sides merging, it was too complex, so we opted for a simpler sequence from youngest to oldest.

Four colorful circles, each with a different design, representing a vibrant array of patterns and colors.
Sketches on paper and on sketching app

Macrame wasn’t suitable for the spiral pattern I envisioned due to its complexity and need for longer strings. Switching to a wrapping method offered simplicity and allowed us to add frayed sections, a detail the kids loved, to indicate male or female. After testing, we decided on frayed edges for females and knots for males. Their father suggested placing frayed edges at the start or end of sections to balance the design.

Preparation and Process

With the concept finalised, I created a plan and outlined steps to make the craft approachable:

  1. Make dye labels: Write names and match colours.
  2. Prepare the string amounts.
  3. Create dye.
  4. Dye the string, rinse, and dry.
  5. Wrap string according to years (age).
  6. Sew into a circle.

A child focused on writing on paper with a pencil, showcasing concentration in calculating mathematic formulas.
Calculating

Dyeing was a delicate and time-consuming process, requiring precise colour blending to match shades. Adjustments were necessary when colours appeared too light or off-tone, which naturally extended the timeline.

A young child is engaged in sorting white strings into piles on a table
Sorting strings
Three children putting string into colored liquid into jars with spoons, illustrating a fun moment of exploration.
Dyeing
to add
Dyed string still wet

Some colours when dried were a lot less vibrant and something I completely forgot, and should have waited for them to dry before redyeing some.

A collection of colorful yarns displayed in jars on a white table, showcasing various textures and hues.
Dried string

Assembly and Reflection

Wrapping the string to represent ages brought moments of reflection, especially when working on older generations. Sewing the wrapped sections together proved difficult as some wrappings loosened. Despite initial reluctance, I resorted to using a hot glue gun to stabilise the structure.

A child perched on a chair used as a frame for wrapping string, enveloped a blanket, unknotting string
Wrapping on a makeshift frame with someone helping me unknot
A long bright string of wrapped yarn in various colors rests on a wooden floor
Wrapped string

Conclusion

The finished piece represents not only our family data but also the bonding and creativity shared in making it. Through this collaborative project, we deepened our connections and created a potential little heirloom and a memory, that celebrates family in a tactile way.