How to weave a small mat from coconut leaves

The beautiful table mat you see here is woven from coconut leaves. This is a small 10 inches x 10 inches mat, very flexible and can be used for a very long time. You can use this mat on your dining table also to keep bowls with food items

Please go through the instructable on how to weave this small table mat using coconut leaves

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

Step 1: Harvest Coconut Leaves

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

You can collect the coconut leaves known as fronds from a large branch from the tree. we need about 10 to 12 pieces of these fronds

Pull away the fronds from the branch
Trim the front edges which are used to attach with the branch
Using a craft knife, remove the stick running at middle of the fronds
Now you have 2 leaflets from one front
Step 2: Start Weaving

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

Place required number of leaflets side by side on the floor (9, 10 or 11 to the required size)
Take another leaflet and weave through leaflets on the floor in an above and below pattern
Continue adding leaflets till the numbers on both sides are equal.
You can also add more leaflets on both sides to make it larger
Step 3: Folding Extra Length

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

If you look at the partly woven mat at this stage, you will find the extra length of leaves in an above and below position
First, take the leaflets at one side which are below and fold them over the end leaf
Insert the folded portion through other leaflets in perpendicular in the same pattern as above and below
Trim end of leaflets protruding through. Do this for all four sides
The last picture shows the finished mat at this stage

Step 4: Repeat Folding on Other Side

small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves small mat from coconut leaves

Now turn over the mat and repeat same we did on the other side, like folding extra length and inserting ends through the leaflets in perpendicular
Trim all extra length of leaflets and our mat is finished
This mat is 10″ X 10″ in size and can be used as a table mat. It lasts for a long time even after drying

courtesy: instructables