Fig. 382. of your left hand, the vertical ones on top, as shown in Fig. 382, and with your right hand place one end of the raffia on top of the reeds, under your left thumb, leaving the free end to fall to the left, as in Fig. 382. Hold the ribs securely now, and bring the raffia up under those on the left-hand side close to the crossing, then over the upper ribs (Fig. 383), under the right-hand ribs and over the lower ones, going
Fig. 383. around twice and catching down the end of the raffia in the process; then trim off the remaining short end of the raffia. Do not loosen your hold with your left hand, but with your right separate the ribs as well as you can and begin to weave the raffia, starting at the left-hand rib of the upper group, as shown by letter A, Fig. 384. Bring the raffia over
Fig. 384. this rib and draw it down close to the centre, then under the next, over the third, under the fourth, and so on until you have been once around, when you will find another rib necessary to make the weave come out properly. Here is the place for the short rib; place one end of this rib across the centre of the others, as shown by letter B, Fig. 385, and hold in place with your left thumb. Bring the raffia over the new rib, and continue
Fig. 385. weaving as in the first round; when you reach the short end of the rib bind it down with the raffia as you carry it over one of the other ribs, as shown by letter C, Fig. 386. Weave steadily with the raffia now, and keep your mind on separating the ribs until they are of an equal distance apart; also remember to draw the raffia down firmly each time you pass it in and out between the ribs, first on one side, then on the other. Of all parts it is most essential that the centre
Fig. 386. of the basket should be firmly and strongly woven. Be careful not to weave under or over two ribs at one time. Under one, over the next, is the rule; and when you find, as you will occasionally, that something is wrong, and alternate weaving has become impossible, look back over your work and you will discover that you have somewhere crossed
