Part 8 (1/2)

Place together, at right angles, two groups of four spokes of No 4 reed To the under group add the six-inch spoke of No 4 reed (Figure 1) Hold the spokes firmly in the left hand Take the No 2 weaver and insert it under the thu point in both directions (Figure 2) Then wind the weaver over and under alternate groups of spokes, three times around Hold both spokes and weaver firle spokes now and continue weaving until your mat is four inches in dia it down beside a rib The projecting ribs are triiven spoke, as No 1, bend it to the left in front of No 2 and insert it on the right side of No 3 No 2 is now taken and carried to the left over No 3 and inserted to the right of No 4

Proceed thus until all the spokes are inserted, when the mat is finished The scallops should form a seer , of No 4 reed, and one spoke nine inches long of the sa the smaller mat

To add a neeaver, place the end about two spokes back of where the former weaver ended and parallel with it

4 Hamper Basket

_Problem_--To construct a siht spokes 16 inches long; one spoke 9 inches long Weavers of No 1 reed

Begin the basket exactly as the un Weave until the bottom is three inches, or three and a half inches in diales with the base, drawing the weaver tight so as to hold the spokes in position and keep the until the basket is three inches high, or until about one and a half inches of spokes is left for the border

Finish the edge by turning down the spokes as in the edge of the e of the basket Take any spoke, as No 1, bring froht to left over No 2, then No 2 over No 3, and so on until the ends of all the spokes are turned to the inside of the basket Keep both basket and weaver well da After the basket is finished press it into shape while still dahly dry tri on the inside of the basket, leaving theh to be held in place by the curved spoke under which each passes This makes a beautiful hamper basket

[Illustration: HAMPER BASKET]

A handle may be added to this little basket, but it is not advisable to encourage a child to add a handle until he has made his third basket or has shown in soht so far

_To add a handle_ Take a length of reed, of the same number as the spokes, for the handle bow For a small-sized basket take ten inches

Insert one end down through the weaving beside one of the spokes Bend the bow into the shape you wish for the handle and insert the other end of the bow beside a spoke on the opposite side of the basket, being careful that the two spaces between the two ends of the handle are equal The handle should be about as high above the border as the border is above the bottom of the basket The width of the handle should be a little less than the width of the basket at the top

You are now ready to cover the handle Take a long weaver; push one end of it through the wale under the second row Hold the end in place and wrap the weaver about the handle bow, keeping the spaces about equal, and drawing taut enough to be graceful, until it reaches the opposite side Then draw the weaver through the wale and under the second row and up on that side; next wind about the handle bow again, back to the starting-point Push the weaver through the wale, under the second row and out again, and once more wind across the handle bow Repeat this operation from side to side until the handle bow is covered Keep each roinder close to the preceding one and parallel to it When the bow is covered, tuck the end of the weaver through the wale and under the second row and clip the end, leaving it just long enough to stay in place The handle bow needs to be da weaver is well soaked it will crack and make trouble

5 Basket Tray

_Proble an even nu same number reed for both spokes and weaver

_Material_--Sixteen spokes, each 11 inches long, of No 3 or No 4 reed Weaver of reed of saroups of four Place set No 1 on and at right angles to set No 2 Sets 3 and 4 are laid diagonally across sets 1 and 2

[Illustration: HOW TO BEGIN THE BASKET TRAY]

Hold the spokes firo in and out four times round, over and under the same set of spokes each time At the end of the fourth round, pass the weaver over two sets of spokes and weave four rows Next separate the spokes into sets of two and weave one ro each ti-point in the circle, pass it over two sets of spokes instead of one, and then weave the next round When you have been around seven ti double spokes, bend the spokes up for sides and weave two le spokes and weave six rows, re each time to pass the weaver at the end of a new round over two spokes instead of one, so as to have them properly alternated Trith and start the border by bending any given spoke to the right and inside the tray, holding it in place

Continue with each succeeding one until all the spokes have been bent into position These spokes being bent so closely and consecutively over each other, for the handle of a basket The points of the spokes are pushed under the coil, through from the inside to the outside of the basket Keep a vessel of water at hand and wet the material constantly as you weave When the tray is finished, press it into shape and set aside to dry When it is well dried, clip off the projecting ends

[Illustration: REED BASKET TRAY]

6 Basket with Handle

_Proble an uneven number of spokes, spokes and weaver the same number reed; and to add a handle