For centuries, resourceful communities have turned to nature’s bounty to create essential items for shelter and daily life. Among these time-honored crafts, the art of weaving cattail mats stands out for its simplicity, sustainability, and practicality. These mats, particularly significant for their role as exterior coverings for wigwams, offer a glimpse into the ingenuity of traditional building techniques. A full-sized sewn cattail mat typically measured around five to six feet wide and ten feet long, and constructing a wigwam required a considerable number of them – often half a dozen or more. This article provides a detailed guide on how to weave your own cattail mat, allowing you to connect with this ancient craft and create a durable, natural covering for various purposes.
Understanding Cattails and Their Preparation
Cattails (Typha species) are ubiquitous wetland plants, easily identifiable by their characteristic brown, sausage-shaped seed heads. Their long, slender leaves are ideal for weaving, offering both flexibility and strength. The best time to harvest cattails for mat-making is in late summer when the leaves are mature and dry.
Harvesting and Selection:
- Locate a Sustainable Source: Before harvesting, ensure you have permission to collect cattails from the area. Choose a location free from pollution and pesticides.
- Harvesting Technique: Use a sharp knife or sickle to cut the cattails near the base. Avoid pulling them out, as this can damage the root system and hinder regrowth.
- Preparation is Key: After gathering the cattails, lay them out to dry in the sun for several days. This will reduce moisture content and prevent mold growth.
- Sorting and Trimming: Once dry, inspect each cattail leaf. Discard any that are damaged, discolored, or brittle. Remove and discard the brittle tip and the thick very end of the leaf.
- Bundling: Sort the cattails into bundles, typically consisting of four leaves each. The desired width of your mat will determine the length of the cattail leaves you use.
Essential Tools and Materials
Before you begin weaving, gather the necessary tools and materials:
- Dried Cattail Leaves: As described above, prepare a sufficient quantity of dried cattail leaves.
- Strong Twine or Cordage: Choose a durable natural fiber twine, such as hemp, jute, or cotton. Synthetic twine can also be used, but natural fibers offer a more traditional and sustainable option.
- Two Sturdy Cattail Stalks (or similar): These will act as the end pieces around which the cattail bundles will be secured.
- Stabilizing String: A length of string to hold the end stalks in place while you work.
- Needle: A large, sturdy needle suitable for sewing through the cattail leaves. A curved needle can be particularly helpful.
- Sharp Knife or Scissors: For trimming cattail leaves and twine.
- Fixed Points: Two stable points, such as poles stuck in the ground or furniture legs, to which you can attach the stabilizing string.
Setting Up the Weaving Frame
- Establishing Fixed Points: Position your two fixed points slightly further apart than the desired length of your mat. This provides tension and allows you to weave a tight, even surface.
- Creating the Stabilizing String: Cut a length of your stabilizing string and securely tie each end to one of the fixed points. This string will serve as a temporary guide and support for your initial weaving.
- Attaching the Center Stalks: Take your two sturdy cattail center stalks. Tie the stabilizing string to each end of the center stalk. The desired width of the cattail mat will determine where you tie the stalks with the string.
- Securing the Twining String: Beneath the stabilizing string, use a clove hitch knot to fasten a double-length (or longer) string that will be used to twine around bundles of cattail leaves. This string will be used to bind the cattail leaves together.
The Weaving Process
- Preparing the Leaf Bundles: In each bundle of cattail leaves, use four individual leaves. Arrange the four leaves into a bundle of two pairs, with the curved-out side of the leaves in each pair facing to the outside of the mat. This creates a more even and aesthetically pleasing surface.
- Folding Around the Stabilizing String: Fold a leaf bundle around the stabilizing string. First, fold two leaves over the string in one direction; then, fold the other two leaves in the opposite direction. Alternate the thick and thin ends of the leaves for even thickness down the width of the cattail mat.
- Twining the String: Twine (i.e. twist) the two strings around each folded-over leaf bundle. Each end of the doubled string passes around the cattail bundles in an under-over pattern. One end of the string will pass over the leaf bundle, while the other end of the string passes under the leaf bundle. With the next inserted leaf bundle, twist the two ends of the string so that the end that went over now goes under the leaf bundle, and the end that went under now goes over. This alternating pattern creates a strong, interlocking weave.
- Securing the Width: When the full width of the cattail mat has been twined, tie the two ends of the string together around the sturdy stalk. This completes the first row of weaving and secures the width of the mat.
- Repeating the Process: Continue adding leaf bundles and twining the string, working your way down the length of the mat. Maintain a consistent tension and spacing between the rows to ensure a uniform and durable weave.
Double-Matting and Stitching
- The Importance of Double-Matting: The cattail mats are "double-matted," meaning they are stitched through from both sides of the mat. This technique enhances the mat’s strength and durability, making it suitable for use as a floor covering or wall hanging.
- Stitching the First Side: From the first side of the mat, sew through the flat width of two leaves (of the four in each bundle), from one edge of the cattail mat to the other. Use a sturdy needle and strong twine for this process.
- Stitching the Second Side: Turn the mat over to the second side and sew back through the remaining two leaves in each bundle. This creates a cross-stitched pattern that further reinforces the weave.
- Subsequent Rows of Stitching: Repeat subsequent rows of stitching in the same manner. Rows of stitching should be spaced approximately 4 to 6 inches apart. This spacing provides adequate support without making the mat too stiff.
Finishing Touches
- Finishing the Rough Edge: After all the rows are stitched, the rough edge of the cattail mat can be finished like the top with twining around each folded-over leaf bundle. This creates a clean, professional edge and prevents the cattail leaves from fraying.
- Trimming the Ends: The folded-over ends can also be trimmed even with each other using sharp scissors or a knife. This final step enhances the mat’s appearance and ensures a uniform shape.
Applications and Uses
Once completed, your cattail mat can be used for a variety of purposes:
- Floor Covering: A cattail mat provides a natural, insulating floor covering for tents, cabins, or even modern homes.
- Wall Hanging: A decorative and textured wall hanging, adding a touch of rustic charm to any space.
- Outdoor Seating: A comfortable and portable seating option for picnics, camping trips, or backyard gatherings.
- Gardening: A weed barrier in gardens, providing a natural and biodegradable alternative to plastic sheeting.
By following these instructions, you can create your own beautiful and functional cattail mat, connecting with a rich tradition of craftsmanship and utilizing a sustainable, natural resource. This project offers a rewarding experience and a tangible connection to the past.