KINDS OF WEAVES.

With respect to their weaving, Philippine mats divide themselves into
six groups and are here arranged according to their difficulty. They
are (1) the over and under weave found in most simple mats, such
as those made of buri straws, pandan straws, and sedges; (2) the
sawali weaves, which employ the floating straws for making "woven in"
designs and panels for figured sabutan and tikug mats; (3) the open
work weaves of the Romblon buri mats; (4) the circular mats which
employ the hat weaves, either with or without "woven in" designs;
(5) the hexagonal weave; and (6) the embroidered mats in which the
designs are later added. In difficulty, and in place in a course of
instruction, embroidered mats follow the simple over and under weave.

Over-and-Under Weave.

This weave is the simplest and is the one which beginners should
first take up. It is made by weaving over one and under one
continuously. Until this is thoroughly mastered children should not
be allowed to begin the more difficult weaves.

The steps have been diagrammed in figures sufficiently large and
clear in Plates VII, VIII, and IX that a detailed explanation is
not necessary. Step 1 shows the position of the first four straws
as they are placed upon the table or desk; steps 2, 3, 4, and 5,
continued additions and weaving; steps 6, 7, and 8, turning the edge
a on the end of the mat; step 9, turning the opposite edge c; step 10,
the double turn of the corner straw; step 11, the corner turn woven in
the mat at corner No. 1, lapping over the straw already woven; step
12, the continuation of the second edge b; step 13, the turning of
the second and third corners; and steps 14 and 15, finishing the mat.

In weaving large mats, it is customary to begin at one end of the
mat, preferably near the left-hand corner as the mat lies before the
weaver. The weaving continues along the end until half of the desired
width of the mat is reached, when the first corner is turned. Now the
weaving continues down the side and in, as far as the middle of the
mat. When the desired length is woven, the second corner is turned
and the first half of the mat completed.

As the straws are not generally long enough without splicing, new
straws are now added by lapping them from two to three inches upon
the projecting ends of the straws already woven. This makes a narrow
strip of double thickness down the center running the length of the
mat. The weaving