Weaving a gift box with a lid from palm leaves

20 December 2011
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Cut the rigid, thicker part of the leaf to give you a long pliable strand to weave with

Split the palm leaf in two

Start weaving a basic weave pattern for the gift box

Add leaves to build up the base of the box

Add leaves to build up the base or bottom of the box

Keep the leaves tight to create a firm weave

I use the firmer blunt side of the leaf to weave in and out of the strips. Keep the weave pattern tight.

This will be the bottom of the gift box. Let the strands extend on all sides

Firmly fold the palm leaves over the create a neat side

Firmly fold the palm leaf strands over to create a sharp and neat bottom side. Do this for all four sides.

Lift the side strands and continue the in and out weaving pattern on the sides

Continue the weaving pattern around the box

Hold the long strands up while weaving. You can also clip it together with a washing peg. Weave the last side of the box to close the shape

Start to weave all the loose strands in to the design

Add the next strand. By the third strand the box shape will be stable and much easier to weave

Gently hold the box and tug all the end pieces to firm up the shape

Gently hold the box and tug all the end pieces to firm up the square shape. Tuck the left over strands of palm into the design by following the weave pattern

Cut the leaves at an angle and weave it through on itself to create a neat overlap

Just continue to weave the palm leaf in and over untill the end peices are neatly incoprporated.

Weave the loose leaves by catching the top vertical leaf either over to the front or to the inside of the box

Weave the loose strands at the top by catching the upper most palm leaf. If the leaf end inside the box, fold it over the leaf and tuck it into the weave pattern

Weave the loose strands back in to the box

The loose strands that ends outside the box needs to be cut short and then woven over and into the box.

Tuck these strands into the weave pattern inside the box

Neaten all the palm leaf strands by pulling it tight and weaving it back into the weave pattern

The lid is woven in the same way

Only shorter than the box on the sides

You can place the lid on top of the box or as a base

or make it slightly smaller than the box.

The box is now ready to decorate. It is quite strong and will dry to a grey green

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