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Weaving can be used to create mats, tarps, blankets, and more in a survival situation. All about weaving, mats, and looms in the wilderness.

A Native American Navajo woman weaving with a loom

About survival weaving

Weaving takes yarns or threads and forms them as fabric or cloth. The process differs from knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. All elements of rope work incorporate weaving or interlocking of strands by passing over and under each other.  On a smaller scale, weaving can be used in the wild to create mats, tarps, blankets, and more. 

The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft, woof, or filling. . The method in which these threads are interwoven affects the characteristics of the cloth.

In general, weaving involves using a loom to interlace two sets of threads at right angles to each other: the warp which runs longitudinally and the weft (older woof) that crosses it. One warp thread is called an end and one weft thread is called a pick. The warp threads are held taut and in parallel to each other, typically in a loom.

How to weave a sword mat using a homemade loom

A sword mat is a mat of closely woven yarns. It was used as a cushion when two wooden spars came into contact with one another. It uses thin rope for the warp and twine, or “marlin” for the weft. A flat stick called a “sword” is used in the weaving process, hence the name sword mat.

Follow the steps below to weave a sword mat using a homemade loom.

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Step 1: Begin with four thin but sturdy bars.  Fix two of the bars parallel to each other, as far apart as the length of the matting required.  These two bars will form the end of our loom.  Tie one end of the rope to the end of a bar (see bottom left in the diagram above) and then wind the rope around the bars, sliding the rope under a bar, back to the first bar, under that bar, back to the second bar, and so on.  This wound rope is called the “warp”.

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Step 2: Lay the other two bars across the “warp” ropes and connect the first bar (A) to every odd-numbered strand and the second bar (B) to every even-numbered strand.  Connect them with a small loop, one that easily slides, so that you can lift the bar and thereby lift all the strands that the bar is looped onto.

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Step 3: Lift up the first bar (A), thereby lifting every alternate strand.

Step 4: In the space between the lifted strands (odd-numbered strands) and the strands not lifted (even-numbered strands), pass a second rope.  This rope is called the “weft”.

Step 5: Take a flat piece of wood, beveled on one side if possible. and run it through the same space between the lifted strands and behind the “weft”.  This piece of wood is called the “sword”.  Use the sword to press the “weft” firmly to the end of the frame.

Step 6: Drop the first bar (A) and lift the second bar (B) thereby lifting the even-numbered strands.

Step 7: As in step 4, wrap the “weft” line around the first rope, then pass the “weft” back into the space between the two sets of strands and press to the end of the frame with the “sword”.

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Step 8: Continue in this fashion until you reach the end of the warp (frame).

Here’s another picture of a loom construction using the same principles.

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How to weave an oval mat

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This weaving pattern is fairly complex and will be explained using the labeled diagrams below.  When completed, this pattern provides an oval shaped mat or covering.

Step 1: Lay the ropes in three loops.

Step 2: Carry end I over end II, under the bight “A”, over “B”, under “C”, over “D”, under “E”, over “F”, under “G”, over “H”, under itself and over “A” (see diagram above).  The final runs of rope will look like this.

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Step 3: Run the rope taking I back along the path of II or by taking II back along the path of I.  You can make this run as many times as you’d like as you are now running the rope in an “infinite” loop.  In this picture it has only been run once.

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Step 4: Tuck any loose ends under strands to secure them.

How to weave a square mat

Use this pattern to construct a square shaped mat.  The pattern is complex so follow the diagram below and the directions, step by step, until you master the pattern.

Step 1: In the middle of the rope, make the loops as shown.  Ensure there is plenty of rope on both ends.

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Step 2: Pass bight “A” over “B” and under “C”.  Make sure that point “D” stays outside of the loop as shown.  Make a loop on end I and pass it under end II.  Pass bight “E” (make sure “F” is kept out of this loop) over “D”, under “B”, over “C”, and under “A”.

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Step 3: Form a similar loop on end II (which will now be to the left of end I), pass it under I and similarly pass its uppermost bight only through the design alternately over and under crossing strands.

Step 4: Repeat this operation of passing a loop under one end, and a bight up through the design, using the two ends alternately, until the mat is the desired size.

Step 5: Finish by passing an end, which has not been doubled into a loop, to the right under the other end and up through the middle of the design, over and under, until it emerges at the top.

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Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

A Native American Navajo woman weaving with a loom via Wikimedia Commons by William Pennington with usage type - Public Domain. 1904-1932

Featured Image Credit

A Native American Navajo woman weaving with a loom via Wikimedia Commons by William Pennington with usage type - Public Domain. 1904-1932

 

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