There are many uses for cedar in First Nations art; This project, a cedar mat, is for beginners. It is a small plaited mat with two-strand twining. The project should take about 1.5 hours to complete.
Tools & Materials
Material List
- 10 strips of red cedar, each 10 inches long, 3/8 inches wide
Tool list
- Gerry Stripper
- Lino Knife
- Net-mending knife
- Exacto knives
- Blunt end needles
- Straw
- Measuring tape
Procedure
-
Clear outer bark off cedar tree and let dry for a year
-
Soak coils, then lay down flat on an even surface (such as a driveway) Cut out any knots (they will make the bark go crooked)
-
Flatten it out until it’s as wide as your hand or about three strips (using the Gerry Stripper). Thin it as much as you can.
-
Measure strips per project (i.e., 5” coffee coaster, 7” for jewelry mat)
-
Take two strips and place one horizontally and the other vertical.
-
From here on in, you will add a strip of cedar starting at 12 0’clock (see photo), adding strips clockwise to keep it even.
-
We will now start the two-strand twining. The twine will be 30 inches in length. Place twine on cedar as shown in the picture.
-
We are at the end and will finish off the twining by following the stitches exactly. You will follow two stitches and end in the back of the mat.
-
Cut ends evenly