THE 
WOOD CARVING AND PYROGRAPHY. 
CRAFTS 
LEATHER AND METAL. BASKETRY, ETC. 
Under the management of Miss Emily Peacock, 6 Brevoort Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. All inquiries in regard to the variovs 
Crafts are to be sent to the above address, but will be ansivered in the magazine under this head. 
hour in cold water before using; oftentimes it will become plia- 
ble in less time. It must not be allowed to soften too much as 
it loses the character of rattan work when soaked too long. It is 
necessary to keep rattan damp and it will need a frequent dipping 
in water. Reeds can be more easilj^ handled if each reed is 
coiled in a separate roll. Make rolls 8 in. diameter and fasten 
the ends. 
Making of a mat: — Begin with a reed mat for hot dishes or 
flower pots, as it combines simplicity in construction with art 
elements. Materials are No. 2 and No. 4 rattan. 
_ Cut from No. 4 rattan five strips 18 inches long called 
spokes; mark center of each; lay three of the strips on top of two 
at center, keeping the group of three vertical and the remaining 
two horizontal as in sketch I. Hold this firmly in left hand 
keeping the thumb on top; take the end of a No. 2 weaver in the 
right hand and place it back of the three vertical spokes with 
SOME SIMPLE BASKETS 
Mrs. Hugo Froehlich 
THE making of baskets that are useful affords a good chance 
to produce something beautiful as well. This is as it 
should be, but to many it is a question of, " How are we to 
know good baskets?" One way is, to copj^ shapes of fine 
baskets, studj- specimens of old Indian workmanship, as 
these are almost without exception accepted as the highest 
expression of Art. Some good reproductions of these can be 
found in most every library where sketches can be made. 
George Wharton James in his book on "Indian Basketry" and 
" How to make Baskets ", has shown many fine examples. Also 
Miss Marj^ White in " Baskets and How to Make Them ", shows 
some fine Indian specimens and gives simple instruction as to 
the making of them . 
Old pottery made by the Indians gives suggestions of 
basket shapes, as they used same forms for both. These in 
most cases are so simple in line and form that they seem to be 
made without effort. This is a sure sign of good art and is one 
of the difficult conditions confronting us. 
Tools and preparations for simple reed baskets are: — 
A knife, an awl (or something large enough to make a 
good size opening), a pair of shears, a large pan or pail in which 
to soak the rattan, and a measuring stick. 
Rattan is a brittle reed and must be soaked about an 
r/qir 
the long end of the reed toward the left along top of horizontal 
spokes, leaving an end a on the right for weaver to fasten. 
Fold weaver over in front of the group of three spokes at b 
and under the two horizontal ones at right, fastening the 
end of weaver a left for that purpose. Continue over verti- 
cal spokes below and under horizontal ones at left, alwaj^s going 
fron;i left to right. 
Twice around in this way will bind the center, going over 
the end a on the second round, so as to cover it . 
Cut off lower part of middle vertical spoke at c; this 
leaves nine or an uneven number of spokes and is the founda- 
tion for a simple alternate weave, under and over, without the 
necessity of skipping a spoke at every round . 
Our next step is to separate the spokes, making them equal 
distances apart. Continue with the weaving under and over 
each spoke. If other reeds are required, lap them on the side 
away from the worker, and go on as before. 
Push weaver closely in toward center with fore-finger of 
right hand, pulling it just enough to insure fimmess and even 
work. Weave until a center of about 4i in. is covered, cut end 
of weave on slant, and by preparing a place for the same with 
the awl at the side of a spoke, insert the end between weaves 
