king raffia mats_]

[Sidenote: _The rods and the warp strings in kindergarten patterns_]

Mats of raffia are made like all the other mats. The warp may be of
twine or carpet thread. In this case, the mat should be woven of raffia
in the natural color, with stripes of bright color at each end; or, it
may be of some dark tone with stripes of a contrasting color. By using
a warp of raffia, many of the beautiful kindergarten designs can be
produced. Use one color for the warp and another for the woof. The
method of stringing a warp of raffia is described in "Methods of
Stringing Warp," on page 45. The illustration shows a raffia mat in
process of making. The natural color of raffia is used, with stripes of
cardinal, and the method of stringing color in the warp to obtain this
effect is clearly seen. The children will have no difficulty in carrying
out the pattern, if they remember that the _rods_ correspond to the
_border_ of the paper mat. Before stringing the warp for a kindergarten
pattern, count the strips in the paper mat and begin to count on the
loom _from_ the rods. In this kind of work the string on top of the rod
does not count. It forms the _border_ of the mat.

[Illustration: _A woven mat of raffia, from a kindergarten pattern in
green and the natural color of the raffia_]

[Sidenote: _Stringing the warp_]

In making mats, or matting, of raffia, the material can be carried over
the rods as in wool-weaving, or it can be finished on the edges in the
same way as the real matting is done. This will be easily understood by
examining a piece of matting. In stringing the warp, have three strings
over each bar instead of one. Cut the woof strips several inches longer
than the width of the loom. Weave the first strip, leaving a piece at
each side. Thread a tape needle with one end and weave it in and out the
three warp threads on the rod. Then cut it off close to the edge. Finish
off all the ends in this way. When the work is removed from the loom,
press the edges flat with a warm iron. It is a little easier to keep the
pattern right by weaving in this way, and the work resembles the real
matting more nearly. Use a tape needle for weaving raffia.

[Sidenote: _Porch curtains_]

If the doll house which we are fitting is a large one with porches, one
could complete the furnishings with a porch curtain, for sunny
afternoons.

[Sidenote: _Glove, trinket, and mouchoir boxes_]

Boxes of all kinds can be made of raffia