In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 14th type of maze construction is the Weaving Path maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Today I will give 2 different methods of making a weaving path maze. The main difference between the two methods is the resulting spacing of the paths in the final product. One method will result in a more uniform design.

Here is an outline for this blog post with jump links if you want to skip ahead to a section:

WEAVING PATHS MAZE DEFINITION

THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN

HOW TO MAKE A WEAVINGS PATH MAZE (GRID METHOD)

HOW TO MAKE A WEAVINGS PATH MAZE

ADDITIONAL WEAVING MAZE EXAMPLES

ADDITIONAL WEAVING MAZE LEARNING

WEAVING MAZE BOOKS AND FREE MAZES TO SOLVE

WEAVING PATHS MAZE DEFINITION

Weaving Paths Maze - A Maze WHERE paths are allowed to weave around each other creating an extra plane for the maze solver to work in.

THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN

These 5 rules apply to any maze you make so we start with them !

1. Always keep an open pathway for the solution

While drawing a maze you will need to juggle multiple open pathways each of which could become the solution. One of them will become the solution. Keep track of it. This is especially important if you are designing pathways in both directions (from the start and from the goal).

2. Clearly mark the start and goal, or the objective of the maze

A maze should have a start and a goal that you can assess just by glancing at it. There are many ways to start and end a maze I review in this blog post: Options for Starting and Ending a Maze

3. Ensure the difficulty matches the intended audience

Most people want to solve a puzzle/maze that is just slightly below or slightly above their skill level. Many things help determine the difficulty of a maze. Size, number of branches, the length of dead ends, the number of choices, the complexity of the rules (if the maze has them).

4. Ensure your maze has a solution

When your maze is complete, solve it to determine the difficulty level and to ensure it is a real, solvable maze. Depending on the complexity of the maze you may want to do this right away or wait so you can properly assess the difficulty.

5. Explain anything that needs explaining

Some mazes have rules or conditions. Explain them with directions. If it isn't obvious, make it so.

6. (FOR WEAVING MAZES ONLY) Never end a weaving pathway under another

This applies to weaving mazes and pipe mazes and any other maze where pathways go over and under one another. The pathways cannot end under one another.

How to Make a Weaving Paths Maze (GRID METHOD)

Step 1 - Draw a “picnic blanket” template

The template will serve as the shape of the maze and also help you keep track of spacing as you make the actual maze. It can be anything from a simple shape like a square, to a complex picture. My example uses a simple square structure. I use 2 colors to help keep the construction organized. This background will organize the drawing of your pathways. I have a rule that no pathways can be drawn in the white boxes. This picnic template creates that structure for you.

Step 2 - Start Drawing the Pathways

While most mazes are built by individual walls, in a weaving maze you design a pathway by virtue of the parallel walls you are drawing. A weaving pattern is achieved by controlling the direction of paths rather than the building of walls. Using the template, ensure you only draw pathways on the colored part and never on the white portion of the grid. This ensures good spacing. I draw a section at a time and use a color (I prefer grey, but feel free to choose your own color) to help establish the maze from background.

You also must follow a few rules: Do not end a maze path under another pathway. Do not change pathway directions under another pathway. Do not split a path way into multiple pathways under another path. Basically, only create dead ends in open space.

Step 3 - Draw additional paths

Continue drawing pathways making sure you take advantage of the weaving. Here is a mid-completion look at the maze construction.

A note on difficulty and fun-ability: Remember that in a weaving maze the more loops you create the more difficult the maze will be to solve. But, those loops also add a bit of fun to the maze solve also. If a solver incorrectly takes a false pathway and instead of reaching a dead end the loop will return them to the mistake (Much more fun to solve!!!).

Step 4 - Complete all pathways

Complete all pathways, ensuring that you have made a viable solution !

Step 5 - (Optional) - Add directional arrows or shadows

If you believe the final version of the Weaving path maze you have made has paths that might confuse the solver you have the option to add arrows at any dimensional intersection to clarify the path can be taken. I think this maze does not need any arrows. I also sometimes use shadows to show where a pathway goes under another pathway (best seen in my Pipe maze example).

Step 6 - Complete the Finishing Touches

Add the Start and Goal arrows (could be done sooner), and delete the background guide template.

275 Weaving Maze ALT Delete background.png

Step 7 - (Optional) Create a Background

Make the maze completely black. Copy and shift it and return it to the original coloration to create a shadow background. I think this helps to make the maze look more dimensional and easier to follow for a solver. Notice that this also makes the pathways look darker (I did not change the color between steps). Depending on what colors you use this color dynamic will change.

Step 8 - Draw the Solution

Highlight the correct path in the final version of the maze to create the final maze solution (shown here in red).

HOW TO MAKE A WEAVINGS PATH MAZE

This was my original version of directions to make a weaving maze. It does not use a grid and so the spacing is varied. I prefer the method above.

Step 1 - Draw the Outline (optional)

Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

Step 2 - Start Drawing the Pathways

Step 3 - Complete the Maze

Step 4 - (Optional) Add Arrow Help (or shadows) - If you believe the final version of the Weaving path maze you have made has paths that might confuse the solver you have the option to add arrows at any dimensional intersection to clarify the path can be taken. As you can see below the arrows are dual-sided to prevent hinting the correct solution path. You could use one way arrows, which will change the thought process of the solver, giving them hints on the correct paths to take.

Step 5 - Draw the Solution - Highlight the correct path in the final version of the maze to create the final maze solution (shown here in red, with alternative solutions in pink and aqua). In my example there are 3 possible solutions. I should have made a more difficult maze.

How to make a weaving maze step 1

How to make a weaving maze step 2

How to make a weaving maze step 3

How to make a weaving maze step 4

How to make a weaving maze step 5

ADDITIONAL WEAVING MAZE EXAMPLES

The below example of a weaving path maze was made without a template guide. It has irregular spacing between pathways and many large gaps vs. the improved method. Depending on how you want your final maze to look will determine if you use the guide or not. One other thing to note about this version is that the black and white pathways on a white background make it difficult on my eyes. I would actually prefer this maze more if the pathways had a color.

One more example made with a guide and even spacing, no gaps. This also adds some color and a new shape. I did not use a background. Obviously the template used to make this had the same shape as the final maze.

That inspired me to show you a few examples of weaving maze templates. Get creative on your own templates. Just an additional note - make sure to fill in all spaces to create the shape when you are actually making the maze. It requires a little more on-the-go planning as you create the maze.

Another example that I did for Christmas, a Weaving Christmas Stocking Maze. It uses multiple colors and a unique shape.

And my last example of a Weaving Paths maze I have something a bit different. This one also has no border, but has a point-to-point structure with weaving paths. A Weaving path can look many different ways, with the consistent portion being the ability to solve using another plane. This construction would have a different step by step, but have the same general rules. A quick step by step could be - draw a collection of spaced dots, connect them with pathways (including weaving pathways). Etc. Maze. Enjoy.

ADDITIONAL WEAVING MAZE LEARNING

For additional examples, explore the 10 different types of weaving maze styes, including pipes mazes and see which you prefer:

What is Your Preferred Weaving Maze Style ?

I also created a method to help create a complicated weaving maze that I found very helpful when making this maze type for adults:

Creating a complicated Weaving Maze - an updated method

I did a 3 part blog series on maze constructions if you want to design your own type of maze. Part 2 speaks about pathway options including weaving pathways !

Part 1 - Starting and Ending a Maze - Speaks to the 9 most popular ways to start and stop a maze

Part 2 - Maze Path options - Explores the 12 different pathway options for a maze

Part 3 - Conditional Path options - Speaks to 11 different conditional options to add to a maze to make it more enjoyable

WEAVING MAZE BOOKS AND FREE MAZES TO SOLVE

I have made quite a few weaving mazes for this site. In the free printables section you’ll find 23 weaving mazes that are available as a free download.

I also have a Skull Weaving Maze, Poster Size Weaving Maze, and various Christmas themed weaving mazes.

And I have 2 volumes of a Weaving Maze Book for sale on Amazon of 100 mazes each as shown below ! If you prefer similar mazes, but with no dead ends, you might like Pipe Mazes.

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.