always commence on its outer edge; then if any slight variation of
space has occurred, the irregularity will not be noticeable, as it
will be in the line work of the unit, and not in its solid part. Each
unit made in working as suggested from the outer edge inward will
begin the other half of a solid figure already commenced. Notice the
part of the design which has been marked off as one unit, and adhere
to that arrangement.
This design may be placed on a mat 57 inches in diameter, or 114
inches in diameter making each figure with twice as many straws as
in the first.
In ticug mats of natural straw, this design may be done in the
following colors:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, or 16. (12 and 16 should not be used
on sabutan.)
No. 14, with a solid diamond and outer border line in No. 3.
No. 3, 6, 9, or 10, with outer border line extending to edge of mat.
Design B.
In Design B, the mat should be 56 inches in diameter. In each sixteenth
of the mat, as in Design A, three units can be spaced. Note the unit
marked off in the design and use only this unit; weave its two outer
solid parts first, with the irregularities of space occurring in the
open part of the unit. [35]
Mats woven for this design should be 56 or 112 inches in diameter. In
mats of the latter size the numbers of straws are all doubled.
In mats of natural straw, the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 10, 15, or 16. (16 should not be used on sabutan.)
Circular Fish Design.
This design calls for the division of a circular mat into sixths or
twelfths, according to the size of the mat. The diameters of mats for
this design may be, 244 (about 4 feet); 304 (5 feet); 335 (6 feet);
and 366 straws (7 feet). To divide a circle into sixths, mark off
the circumference into distances equal to 1/2 of the diameter.
In a mat of 244 straws diameter, make the outside border line one
inch from the edges of the mat. About 9 inches inside of the outer
border line, weave another border line one-half inch wide. Midway
between these two border lines, measure and mark the space for the
center fish, making it 30 counts long, 20 on the left and 10 on the
right of the dividing line.
Measure spaces on the other five dividing lines to locate the central
fish of each group. After weaving these central fish, go back to the
first group, estimate and mark the place for the upper fish and the
lower fish, and weave them, making each of the same size and proportion
as the central fish, as shown in the design.
In mat 304, as noted above, the border lines and all the fish are
the same size as in mat 244.
In mat 335 all measurements are the same as in the above mats,
except that the circle is divided into twelfths instead of sixths,
making twice as many groups of fish.
In mat 366 the outer border line is 2 inches from the edge of the mat
instead of 1 inch and is 1 1/2 inches thick. The other measurements
are the same as in mat 335.
In mats of natural straw, the following colors may be used: No. 2,
3, 6, 10, 12, or 15. (12 should not be used on sabutan.)
Gecko Design.
Mats woven for this design should be of the following diameters: 304
(5 feet); 335 (6 feet); 366 straws (7 feet).
Divide the circle into sixths, then into twelfths. Weave a border
band on the edge of the mat 3/4 inch wide. This band is not in the
design but will come outside, and reach to the circumference line in
the design. Down one of the twelve dividing lines, inside the border
band, measure off 3 1/2 inches and weave a gecko, half on one side
and half on the other side of the line, extending the tail about 5
1/2 inches toward the center of the mat. Weave the two on each side
of this gecko, and the four above it. Now space and weave the other
five groups. Each group contains seven figures.
The only difference in the larger mats will be in the spacing between
the tails. The groups should be spaced the same as before.
In ticug mats of natural straw, the following colors may be used:
No. 1 with band of No. 3.
No. 1 with band of No. 9.
No. 12 with band of No. 15. (No. 3 should not be used on sabutan.)
No. (singly) 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, or 15.
Geometric Design F.
The distance from A (the corner of the mat) to B is 12 straws;
from B to C is 2;
from C to D is 18;
from D to E is 29;
from D to H is 16;
from H to I is 32;
from E to F is 19; and
from F to G is 5.
Count from A to B. Weave from B to C and on around the entire mat.
Count from C to D and weave corner D H J E L. Weave all of the four
corner designs exactly like D H J E L. Count from E to F and weave
the two inner border lines around the entire mat.
Now count from H to I and mark similar points across one side. Weave
from H to I. Weave from I to the next point (32 counts distant) the
exact design between H and I. Weave at each point marked. Complete
all four sides in a similar manner.
Mats woven for this design should be made in the following sizes:
310 by 534--from A to B is 34 straws;
266 by 394--from A to B is 22;
512 by 704--from A to B is 12;
320 by 512--from A to B is 12 (double count);
320 by 576--from A to B is 12 (double count).
In the last two sizes make the design twice as large as the count;
that is, A B should be 24, B C should be 4, C D should be 36, etc.
In mats of natural color straw, the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, or 16, each alone. (12 and 16 should not
be used on sabutan.)
Geometric Design V.
The distance from the corner of the mat A to B is 22 straws;
from B to C is 12;
from C to D is 4;
from D to F is 2;
from D to E is 15;
from F to G is 15;
from L to M is 14;
from C to N is 38;
from N to O is 12;
from F to P is 20; and
from P to Q is 25.
Count from A to B. At B weave the corner double square and continue
on at FD to GE. Now weave the double square G H J E. Next weave the
double squares in all four corners of the mat.
Now count from P to Q and mark. In the same way mark all the centers of
the squares along the outer border line from corner to corner. Weave
these squares, then the lines joining them. Weave down from L to M
and continue the design on the inner border line, making double lines
like L M as the weaving progresses.
Mats woven for this design should be of the following sizes:
228 by 378--from A to B is 22 straws;
253 by 403--from A to B is 22 straws;
311 by 536--from A to B is 30 straws;
536 by 686--from A to B is 30 straws.
In straw mats of natural color, the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 10, or 15.
Geometric Design X.
The distance from A (corner of mat) to B is 22 straws (counting the
fold at A);
from B to C is 8;
from C to D is 5;
from D to E is 4;
from E to F is 20;
from F to G is 4;
from G to H is 3;
from H to I is 6; and
from J to L is 52.
Count from A to B and weave border line around the entire mat. Count
from B to C and weave C D and over to J, back to H, over to K and back
to C. Weave inner part of corner design. Weave inner border line at
I entirely around the mat. Weave all four corner designs. Mark off J
L, and L M, and M N, etc., until the corner is reached, making L M,
M N, etc., each equal to J L. Weave all designs on side now spaced
off. Space off and mark each side of the mat, before weaving. Weave
all sides, completing the mat.
Mats woven for this design should be in the following sizes:
269 by 425;
321 by 529;
425 by 685;
165 by 425.
In mats of uncolored straw, the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 16. (12 and 16 should not be used on
sabutan.)
Geometric Design Z.
The distance from the corner A to B is 12 straws;
from B to C is 3;
from C to D is 16;
from D to E is 8;
from E to F is 26;
from F to G is 17;
from G to H is 4;
from D to K is 17;
from K to L is 12;
from L to M is 17; and
from I to J is 29.
Count down from A to B and weave the border lines B C around the
entire mat. Count from C to D and weave the outer square of the corner
figure. Complete the corner figure to I and N. Count from F to G and
weave G H around the entire mat. Complete all four corner designs.
Count from I to J and mark. From J count a distance equal to I J
and mark. Make similar marks until the corner is reached. Weave the
design I L M J between all these marks. Space off each side of the
mat in the same way and finish the design on all sides.
Mats woven for this design should be of the following sizes:
309 by 541--from A to B is 12 straws;
319 by 551--from A to B is 22 straws;
280 by 454--from A to B is 12 straws;
551 by 696--from A to B is 22 straws.
On mats of uncolored straw, the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 15, or 16. (16 should not be used on sabutan.)
No. 14 for border lines and the four large spots in the side of each
square; No. 3 for the remainder of the design.
No. 12 with spots and border lines of No. 3.
Large Banca Design. [36]
Distance from corner A to B is 41 straws;
from B to C, 2;
from B to G, 31;
from G to S, 5;
from C to D, 35;
from D to E, 2; and
from D to F, 10.
Begin weaving at letter B and weave the outer border line around the
entire mat. Next weave the inside border line beginning at D.
After finishing the border lines, weave all four corner designs.
Count from C to H, 9 straws;
from H to I, 5;
from I to J, 27;
from J to K, 5;
from L to M, 6; and
from N to O, 8.
Now weave from O to P. From P to Q is 4 straws, and from P to R is
7 straws.
Mats woven for this design should be:
239 by 425;
301 by 487;
301 by 549;
555 by 741.
In the last mat, 555 by 741, G to S is 8 instead of 5.
On ticug mats of natural straw this design may be embroidered in the
following colors:
No. 2, 3, 6, or 15, solid.
No. 14 with border lines of No. 15 (except on sabutan).
No. 14 with border lines of No. 9.
Chick Design.
The distance from A to B is 50 straws (count first fold);
from B to C is 21;
from C to D is 6;
from D to E is 19;
from E to F is 7;
from F to G is 18;
from H to I is 5; and
from G to J is 54.
Count down from corner A to B and weave the corner design. Now weave
all four corner designs. Begin at F and weave the inner border line
entirely around the mat.
Count from F to G and weave the design above G. Count from H to I and
weave the second design. Now count from G to J and weave the figure
above J exactly like the figure above G.
Mats woven for this design should be 254 by 416, 308 by 524, 416
by 524, or 590 by 806 straws. The last mat has a change in margin,
and the distance from A to B is 58 straws.
This mat may be embroidered in the following colors:
No. 3, 6, 10, or 15.
Orchid Design.
The distance from the corner A to B is 13 straws;
from B to C, 2;
from C to D, 19;
from D to E, 35;
from E to F, 17;
from C to F, 71;
from F to G, 2;
from G to H, 19;
from M to N, 6;
from F to M, 67;
from M to K, 13; and
from K to J, 19.
Begin weaving at B and weave the outside border line around the entire
mat. Next count from C to F and weave the inside border line. Now
weave all four corner designs. Count from F to M, then up to K,
and weave from K to J. [37]
To find the position of the next design count 81 straws beyond L
along the inner border line, and then up the same distance as L K.
Mats woven for this design should be 301 by 544; 220 by 382; 301 by
463; and 550 by 712 straws. In mat 550 by 712, A B is 17 straws.
In mats of natural color straw, the following colors may be used in
the designs:
No. 2, 3, 6, or 15 solid.
No. 3 with flowers of No. 1 and border lines of No. 9 except on
sabutan.
No. 12 with flowers of No. 7 and border lines of No. 15.
Woman Carrying Clothes Design.
The distance from A to B is 29 straws;
from B to C is 2;
from C to D is 36;
from I to J is 3;
from B to E is 11;
from E to K is 9;
from E to F is 21;
from F to G is 3; and
from G to H is 10.
Count from A, the corner of the mat, to B. At B begin to weave the
border line. Weave first to E, then entirely around the mat.
Now count from C to D and weave the inner border line entirely around
the mat. Next, weave in the four corner designs. Count from E to F,
then down to G. From G to H is 10 straws. Now weave the first two
designs on the side and then the next two, and so on.
Mats woven for this design should be 300 by 392; 304 by 534; 254 by
346; or 568 by 706.
On all of these mats the design will look better if twice the size
of the pattern. Therefore all the above distances will be double,
or as follows:
A to B, 58 straws;
B to C, 4;
B to E, 22;
E to F, 42;
C to D, 72 straws;
I to J, 6;
E to K, 18;
F to G, 6.
In mat 304 by 534, E to K is 20 and A to B is 51 (already double). In
mat 568 by 706, from A (corner of mat) to B is 39, making E to K 14
straws (already doubled).
This design in ticug straw will work up well in No. 5 solid; in No. 4
solid; in No. 3 solid; in No. 5 with No. 2 as inner and outer border
line, or with No. 1 as inner and outer border line.
This design on sabutan straw may be made in No. 1 solid; in No. 2
solid; in No. 5 solid; in No. 6 solid; in No. 2 with No. 1 for border
lines; in No. 4 with No. 1 for border lines; or in No. 5 with No. 1
for border lines.
This design will work up well in the following colors: No. 2, 3, 6,
or 15.
Lavandera Design.
The distance from A to B is 15 straws;
from B to C is 4;
from C to D is 40;
from D to E is 21;
from E to F is 3;
from F to G is 4;
from G to H is 3;
from D to I is 12;
from I to J is 13;
from I to K is 18;
from K to O is 5;
from O to L is 2;
from L to M is 26; and
from M to N is 28.
Count down from A to B and mark B and C. Place similar marks at the
three other corners of the mat. Weave the border line around the
entire mat, touching the marked points. Count from C to G, mark,
and do the same in the other three corners.
Weave G H around the mat, touching the marked points at the
corners. Count from C to D and over to I, and weave I J. Weave the
whole figure just started, and the figure facing it, including the
ground line beneath. Weave the other corners in a similar manner.
At K count to O, back to L, over to M, and weave the figure beneath
M. Mark off L M and M N. Now continue marking alternately across
the side spaces equal to L M and M N, making the last space equal to
L M. Weave the figure between these marks and continue marking and
weaving in the same way on the other sides.
Mats woven for this design should be made:
237 by 399;
345 by 507;
690 by 1014 (units double size);
453 by 615.
In ticug mats of natural straw the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 15, or 16, solid. (16 should not be used on
sabutan.)
Man with Bow and Arrow Design.
The distance from A to B is 20 straws;
from B to C is 2;
from C to D is 30;
from D to E is 17;
from E to F is 66;
from F to G is 3;
from G to H is 11 1/2;
from H to I is 9;
from J to K is 17;
from I to L is 33; and
from L to M is 14 1/2.
Count from A to B. At B weave the border band around the entire
mat. Count from C to F (113) and weave the inner border line around
the entire mat. Now weave all four corner designs. Count from G to
H and up to I, and weave the two figures.
To place the next two figures, which are exactly like the two just
woven, count out from J, 17 straws, and repeat from K which is the
tip of the arrow of the first figure, just made.
Mats woven for this design should be:
345 by 501, 9 straws;
505 by 739, 11;
739 by 1051, 11.
In mats 505 by 739, and 739 by 1051, from A to B is 24 straws.
This design in tikug may be worked up in the following colors on
natural color straw:
Solid, No. 2, 3, 6, 10, or 15.
Casa Design.
The distance from the corner A to B is 22 straws;
from B to C is 33;
from C to D is 24; and
from F to G is 17.
Count down from A to B and weave border line around the entire
mat. Now count from B to D and from D to E, 3 1/2 straws, and commence
weaving the inner border line. When completed, weave in all four corner
designs. Count from F to G and weave in the next design, and so on. Let
H I, the steps, be on the left of every casa except the corner ones.
Mats woven for this design should be 254 by 407 straws; 271 by 424;
304 by 542 (double); 406 by 542 (double); or 576 by 712. In the last
three of these, 304 by 542, 406 by 542, and 576 by 712, the counts
should all be doubled, the designs being twice the size of those in the
first two mats; that is, from A to B will be 44, B to C, 66, and so on.
Tikug mats in natural straw may be embroidered in the following colors:
No. 14 for casa, No. 12 for tree, No. 15 for border lines except
on sabutan;
No. 3 for casa, No. 15 for tree, No. 8 for border lines; and Nos. 2,
3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, or 16, solid;
No. 16 should not be used on sabutan.
Chicken Vender Design.
The distance from the corner A to B is 15 straws, counting the corner
fold as 1. All counts in this design are woven double.
Therefore from A to B is 30;
from B to C is 17 by 2 or 34;
from C to D is 44;
from E to G is 16;
from F to H is 14;
from B to D is 78;
from G to I is 24; and
from J to K is 30.
Notice that the space on the right of the corner is one less than
the space on the left; this will occur on the right and left of
each corner. Count down from corner A to B and weave a line entirely
around the mat. Count from B to D and weave the inner border line. Now
weave the basket in each corner. Then weave from G to I and J to K,
and so on.
Mats woven for this design should be:
332 (7) by 512 (12)--from A to B is 30 straws;
260 (5) by 404 (9)--from A to B is 30;
260 (5) by 476 (11)--from A to B is 30; or
512 by 692 (17)--from A to B is 30.
On tikug mats of natural color this design may be embroidered in the
following colors:
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, or 16. (16 should not be used on sabutan).
No. 14 with a single straw outline and solid border lines of No. 9,
8, or 3.
No. 14 with outlines of No. 3 and baskets and hats of No. 1, except
on sabutan.
Carabao, Cart, and Driver Design.
The distance from A to B is 32 straws, but it must be woven twice
that size, making A B equal 64.
All the sizes given below are double the count on the drawings:
from A to B is 64;
from B to C is 40;
from C to D is 18;
from D to E is 6;
from D to F is 8;
from A to D is 122;
from B to I is 30; and
from G to H is 16.
Count from the corner A to B and weave B C. Count from A to D and
mark off D. Count from C to D and test the count. From each corner
of the mat make a count similar to A D and mark. Weave the border
line, commencing at D, around the entire mat, touching the marks at
the corners. Weave design B C, and a similar design in each remaining
corner. Count from B to I and weave design I J. At J count 2 and weave
another design like I J facing I J. The space between the backs of
the carts, not shown on this diagram, is 6.
Mats woven for this design should be in the following sizes:
258 by 396;
258 by 534;
396 by 534;
534 by 672; or
672 by 810.
In tikug mats of natural color straw the following colors may be used:
Singly, No. 2, 3, 6, 10, or 15; and No. 3 with border line of No. 9.
Rooster Design.
The distance from the corner A to B is 13 by 2 or 26 (counts in this
design are all double);
from B to C is 28 by 2 or 56;
from C to D is 5 by 2 or 10;
from D to E is 26 by 2 or 52;
from E to F is 3 by 2 or 6;
from E to O is 3;
from O to G is 11;
from H to J is 11;
from G to H is 56 by 2 or 112.
Count from A to B in all four corners and mark B in each corner. Join
all the B's by a double border line. At the first B, count down
to C and over to D and weave D E. Count from E to O and up to G and
mark. Mark H, counting from G. Mark J, counting from H. Mark all points
similar to H and J on this side of the mat, counting back from the
corner a space equal to G B. Now weave all designs on this side of the
mat. Mark off spaces on each side of the mat before weaving that side.
Mats woven for this design should be 202 by 538; 314 by 538; or 426
by 650.
In tikug mats of natural color straw the following colors may be used:
No. 2, 3, 6, 10, 15, or 16. (16 should not be used on sabutan.)
No. 3, cock; No. 14, comb, (three squares from I to C and two above
M); No. 1, legs and feet; No. 15, grass and other border line. (On
sabutan use No. 14 instead of No. 1 for legs and feet).
Carabao Head Design.
The distance from A to B is 25 straws;
from B to C is 3;
from C to D is 23;
from D to E is 3;
from E to F is 4;
from F to G is 11;
from G to H is 31;
from F to I is 22;
from H to J is 3;
from I to K is 37;
from L to M is 11;
from I to N is 12;
from N to O is 12 1/2; and
from I to P is 7.
Count from the corner A to B and mark. Count the same number in from
every corner and mark. At B weave the border line the thickness
of B C around the entire mat, intersecting the marks at the other
three corners.
Count C D and weave the corner design D G. Count from G to H and
mark. Count from B to H and see if the mark is correct. Mark off B H
in the other three corners and weave the border line H J around the
entire mat. Now weave the other three corner designs. Count from F
to I and mark. Count from I to K and mark.
From K on, mark off distances like I K along this side of the mat
until the last point is reached. The remaining space to the point
similar to F will equal I F. Now weave the intervening designs,
and complete the mat.
Mats woven for this design should be of the following sizes:
319 by 541;
257 by 405;
490 by 712; or
393 by 541.
In tikug mats of natural color straw the following colors may be used:
No. 3, carabao and all border lines; No. 15, grasses.
No. 2, 3, 6, 9, or 15.
Fishtail Palm Design.
This is an "all over" design. The unit counts are as follows:
from A to B is 33 straws;
from B to C is 11;
from C to D is 22;
from E to F is 35;
from E to G is 5.
From the corner of the mat, A, on the long edge, count down to B. At
B count in to C. Mark C O D E F and weave the design. From D count
44, and a point similar to C will be reached. Weave the same pattern
again. From F count 55, and a point similar to E will be reached. Weave
the same pattern again.
Measuring as at the first corner A, mark off spaces and weave all
three other corner designs. Weave all intervening designs, first
between corners on the sides of the mat, then on the interior.
Mats woven for this design should be:
374 by 520;
506 by 700;
572 by 790;
638 by 880.
In tikug mats of natural straw, the following colors may be used
separately, not in combination:
No. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, or 15.
NOTES
[1] Banig, petate, ikamen, dase.
[2] Meaning coarse stuff.
[3] Bayones, bayong, canastro, banyot.
[4] The Bureau of Education has taken steps to procure a series of dyes
suited to each one of the mat straws and other important fibers used
in household industries and industrial instruction in the Philippines.
[5] A tint is a paler or less intense tone than the standard color. A
shade is a darker, more intense tone of the standard color.
[6] Bulletin No. 33 of the Bureau of Education, entitled "Philippine
Hats."
[7] This office is indebted to Mr. E. D. Merrill, Botanist, Bureau of
Science, Manila, P. I., for placing at its disposal an unpublished
manuscript on the Flora of Manila. Information from the following
sources is also acknowledged:
Engler and Prantl: Das Pflanzenreich.
Hooker's Flora of British India, 1894.
Blanco's Flora de Filipinas, 1877.
The sugar and alcohol produced by the palms are discussed by
Dr. H. D. Gibbs in the Journal of Science, Manila, Vol. VI, Sec. A,
No. 3. Hats are also discussed by Mr. C. B. Robinson in the same
Journal, Vol. VI, Sec. C, No. 2.
[8] Buri (in most localities), buli or búle, silag, ebus.
[9] It is probable that some of the double Moro mats which will be
described under the heading "Pandan Straws" are woven from buri straw.
[10] Due to the efforts of Elmer D. Merrill and A. D. E. Elmer,
Botanists of Manila, aided by Prof. Martelli, of Florence, Italy,
our knowledge of Philippine pandans has been greatly broadened. It is
hoped that interested persons into whose hands this paper may come will
help to extend it by sending specimens of pandans for identification
to the Bureau of Education, Manila. Such specimens should consist of
the ripe fruit and of at least two full-grown leaves from which no
spines or tips have been removed, and which have been cut as close
as possible to the stem.
[11] Bulletin No. 33, Bureau of Education. Journal of Science, Manila,
Vol. VI, Sec. C, No. 2.
[12] To settle, if possible, the question of whether sabutan flowers
and fruits, inquiries and investigations on the ground were made
in Tanay and Pililla by a representative of the General Office of
the Bureau of Education. The people interviewed in these towns were
positive in their statements that they had never seen the fruit of
this pandan though they did remember seeing the flower. Every possible
effort was made to get accurate, reliable information. An old man was
engaged as guide and a male inflorescence of sabutan was found in a
patch located on a hillside, under the shade of trees and surrounded by
considerable underbrush. The patch, according to the statement of the
old man was older than he could remember; the age of the guide was,
perhaps, between sixty and seventy years. The flowers were odorous
and covered with small brown insects almost hiding the inflorescence.
[13] Plain double pandan mats, the material of which resembles sabutan,
are imported from Singapore and sold by Chinese storekeepers in
Manila in large quantities. They are roughly made and the fact that
they are double permits the unfinished edges to be turned under and
sewed down with coarse red cotton twine. They sell for a little less
than the plain, single, Tanay sabutan mats with finished edges.
[14] It is very difficult to obtain definite information with exact
figures. These statements were made by a woman expert in weaving mats,
and owing to the frank answers to the questions put, her information
seems more reliable than that of the usual weaver interviewed. Other
persons state that from two to six leaves are taken from a plant
every month.
[15] Three liters equal 1 ganta.