THE VERY PRIMITIVE LOOM

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The simple loom is now ready to operate. Raise the heddle bar and place a cattail leaf below the attached strings so that it lies across (and perpendicular to) the warp cords. (The space between the two sets of strands is called a "shed", by the way.) Now lower the bar and gently push the reed close to the dowels of Row One. With the heddle bar still down, lay your next piece of greenery in the shed below the warp. Then lift the bar again and nudge the leaf so that it lies as close to the first as possible (but remains flat).

The technique is as simple as that . . . just raise and lower the heddle bar and stick a leaf through each time. Continue this process until you have filled all the space between the lines of dowels.

You have now woven your first place mat. To remove it from the loom, unfasten the two knots on each dowel and tie the strings together so that the leaves are held in place. Next, tidy up by cutting the uneven edges of the greens in a straight line about two inches from the outside two twine warps. Finally, place your finished product on a level surface and let it dry flat. If you've used green leaves, they'll shrink as they lose their moisture and you may have to retie the fastenings to tighten up the mats.

The fruits of your loom experiment are delightful either as table settings or under flower arrangements. The mats can be left in their natural state or—when dry—enhanced by a light spray of a clear acrylic finish to highlight their markings and give them a glossy shine.

You needn't, however, stop with place mats. Be creative! Put your dowels closer together and make narrower, longer wall hangings. For your beginning weave find an interesting stick long enough to serve as the ornament's tie rod, and finish with another piece of wood heavy enough to hold the "fabric" taut. Between these end pieces work in reeds, seed pods, interesting grasses, feathers, weeds or whatever intrigues you. Any design and pattern you fashion will be entirely your own artistic creation and, therefore, all the more enjoyable.

Or—for a more practical product—make cornstalk doormats. These are woven in the same way as the table covers, but I prefer to use a warp of baling twine for greater strength and an interesting effect. You can work with either green or ready-dried stems ... just be sure to strip off the leaves. Then place your dowels and string the loom to turn out a finished rectangle of the size you want.

Any of the articles you create on your primitive outdoor machine make unique gifts, cost only pennies and demand little time. And—after a bit of practice with natural bounty that's free for the taking—you'll be hooked on weaving and ready to progress to more intricate looms and more sophisticated fabrics.

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