The cover is made like the bottom of the basket, only the spokes are bent gradually upward from the centre. The material for this cover consists of six fourteen-inch spokes, one spoke seven or eight inches long and two long pieces for weavers.
When the cover is nearly as large around as the top of the basket it is finished off with a border like the one described for the top of this basket. The cover has to be fastened to the basket and the easiest way of doing this is by making rings of rattan.
A piece of rattan about twelve inches long is tied into a ring, the ends being twisted in and out of the ring. Three rings are necessary, none of them measuring more than a half or three quarters of an inch across. One ring is attached to the cover on the front between the border and the last row of weaving, the ends being sewed under a spoke. Another ring is attached in the same way at the back of the cover and the third is fastened across a spoke in the front of the basket between the fourth and fifth rows of weaving. The cover is placed on the basket so that the ring at the back will be just over a spoke of the basket. A small piece of weaver is then placed between the third and fourth rows of weaving, below the border and to the left of the spoke mentioned. It is brought through the ring on the cover and drawn just tightly enough to allow the cover to close easily. The ends are crossed and brought through to the inside and sewed down, as the rings were. When this is done the basket is complete.
There are many other pretty articles that can be made easily, such as a mat for a teapot or lamp and trays for other purposes ([Figure No. 203]).
A very simple way to make a mat would be to cut four fourteen-inch spokes of rattan, one eight-inch spoke, and two weavers. The mat is started in the same way as the first basket in this chapter. When the end of the first weaver is reached, a second is joined to it. By the time the second weaver has been used, the mat is large enough for a border. The mat has to be bound. The binding may be done by passing the weaver under the last row of weaving just before it reached the next spoke. It then goes behind that spoke, in front of the next and under the last row of weaving. The spokes should then be soaked in water, and when soft take spoke No. 1 and cross No. 2 and push it down beside No. 3 and so on around the mat. A number of these mats may be made and joined together for various purposes. Two mats joined by ribbon make a very pretty whisk-broom holder.
In nearly all this work weaving is the principal thing. By changing the weave we can obtain very interesting and pretty results. The simple over and under weave may be changed by using two weavers and twisting once, twice or three times between the spokes according to the size of the article.
XXII
RAFFIA BASKETS AND NAPKIN RINGS
Raffia is so soft and strong that it is very well fitted for the work of children's fingers.