140 
nERAMIC STUDIO 
inches. The final stitches should l^e close together and the end 
of the roll well covered. 
When the basket is completed there should be nine coils 
of natural raffia, in the side, 23 coils including the design, and 
six coils of natural raffia above the design. If the coils are 
uniform, the side should be twelve inches in height. 
A RAFFIA PILLOW 
Madge E. Weinland 
MATERIAL REQUIRED. 
THE material necessary for a green and blue Raffia pillow 
22 inches square, is four bunches of dark blue raffia and 
three bunches of Irish green raffia, for the upper cover, and 
about one pound of natural raffia for the lower cover. If the 
pillow is to be filled with raffia, about four povmds more of the 
natural raffia will be required. Procure, also, a block of soft 
wood, three inches thick, five or six inches wide, and at least 
eight inches in length; also eleven six -penny nails. Into this 
block of wood, and as near the end as possible, drive these eleven 
nails in a straight row, about three-eights of an inch apart, 
center to center of the nails. This block must be heavj-, so 
that it will remain in place while working the raffia. 
TO MAKE THE PILLOW. 
It is better to make the under cover first as it is of less 
importance, and easier to work. Around each nail tie a three 
leaf strand of natural raffia of uniform size, leaving the upper 
end long enough to make a three inch fringe; then make a broad, 
flat braid Beginning at the center, or the sixth strand, cross 
the sixth strand over the fifth strand and under the fourth, over 
the third, under the second and over the first; hold this strand 
in place and take the fifth strand, which is now mider the sixth, 
and cross it over the seventh and under the eighth, over the 
ninth, under the tenth and over the eleventh. Hold this in 
place and begin to interlace the seventh strand (which is under 
the fifth) over the fourth, under the third, over the second and 
under the first. Interlace the fourth strand, which is under 
the seventh, just as the fifth strand was worked, over and under. 
Continue in this way until the first and eleventh strands are 
reached. Having braided this far, begin to work with the fifth 
and sixth strands again, which are braided back toward the 
center in the manner as was done in the beginning. Interlace 
the strands until the braid is 21 inches long. In working, do 
not pull the strands strongly, as this will result in a narrow 
braid. The braid should be kept of uniform width and as 
broad as possible. If any leaf of a strand runs out before 
reaching the end of the braid, lay in the larger end of a new 
leaf along the end of the leaf that has run out, and continue to 
braid, holding the new leaf in place until it is worlced into the 
braid sufficiently to prevent pulhng out. About one inch of 
the end must project out on the under side of the braid. When 
the braid is 22 inches long, along its edge, untie the Icnots 
around the nails, remove the braid and start another. 
For the back of the pillow there should be nine braids, if 
they have been made of proper width. When that number 
are finished, sew them together with single strands of natural 
