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SWREW-PINE MAT WEAWING |
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Single layer mat weaving - Malayalarn : Arippa, Nerpa, Kaitholappa
Harvested green leaves of Pandanus veitchii when subjected to dethroning by tearing
off leaf margins and midribs will leave two halves each with a width of 0.8-1.3 cm.
Green stripes of leaves will be wound continuously one after one to give rolls of 50
to 80 cm diameter. These rolls, apparently giving hexagonal shape, will be spreaded
for sundrying to bring moisture percentage of roughly 3. Dried rolls, will then be
decoiled to re-wind it reversing the sides. Rolls thus obtained called ‘Thazha’ - round,
coiled with nearly 200-250 splits, weighing around 1 Kg can be stocked for many years
in dry atmosphere. Generally these curing processes are carried out during summer seasons for better quality.
From the rolls it would be very easy to stretch splits for direct weaving. Art of mat making
begins and continues by criss cross weaving of strips of dried leaves alternately arranged
in opposite directions till the required measures are obtained. Care will be taken while weaving
to strengthen the edges. A woven mat will have the alternately criss crossed stripes linearly
arranged across corner to corner and not against widthwise or lengthwise.
Due to very low margin fetched, farm women do not give any pain to maintain uniformity in measures.
Rough assessments during weaving, always result in mats of irregular edges. Technologies and
standardized processes will have to be adopted.
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| Uses |
| Mats are generally used as bedding pad either spreaded on floors or even on cots.
Specially woven mats of smaller sizes are used as childrens bed spread. For sundrying of
paddy; rice, spices, condiments etc, these mats are used. Even for storing various materials
inside rooms, these mats can be used. Moreover these mats can be used as packing materials, wall
panels, etc. In community feasts, the mats are used for stacking food materials. Mats will be spreaded
for seating audience in public entertainments performed in rural areas. |
| Marketing |
| A peculiar system of marketing prevails in the area. Intermediaries approaches the rural
farm women, and collects the mats offering rock bottom prices, say Rs. 30/- per mat.
Taking the materials to far away places like Badagara, Thallassery etc. these people sell it
directly or by engaging local traders. According to demand, a portion of the collected mats
will be sold to traders in local markets of Thrissur District's eastern part. However,
the consumers value will generally be above Rs. 60/- mat; benefiting more to intermediaries than producers.
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| Double layer fine mats |
| These are modified mats made out of cured leaves of Pandanus amaryllifolius. In the state,
this type of mats are now made in Thazhava, Karunagappally area of Kollam District alone.
The very name of a place ‘Thazhava’ indicates wide spread production of' ‘Thazhappa’ -
the malayalam name of the mat.
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| Curing |
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Green leaves after dethroning and splitting into convenient widths will be
boiled in clean water for 30 minutes, for getting bleached. Immediately on taking out
of boiled water, the splits will be spreaded in shade overnight to get dried. Completely
dried splits will become pure white, devoid of chlorophyll and may be with scrolled edges.
except rough blli1dling, no other measures will be adopted for stocking them. Just before
putting the splits for weaving, these dried splits will be very mildly soaked using wet
gummy bag pieces or rough clothes. This is done to stretch the scrolled edges.
Weaving is as in the case of single layer mats. The only difference is
that the mats will be with unfinished borders and edges. Two separate layers of mats will be woven
to complete one Double layer mat. Upper mat will be with superior quality splits cured out
of younger leaves and the lower one will be not so much finer. With these unfinished
mats, Farm women's role ends. They sell it, taking these to local markets - called Kuthirapanthy; Manappally markets at an
average rate of Rs. 40/- to Rs. 60/- for a pair.
Those who purchase these pair of mats cannot be designated as pure traders,
because they will have to complete the mat by tying the pairs giving correct measures
and colourful hardened edges. Hence these people can only be designated as artisan traders.
A finishing touch by rubbing the mats with crouches will leave a glazing appearance.
Double layer mats generally fetch Rs. 160/- to 180/- per mat. Quality of mats lies on the
whiteness obtained and number of splits contained in an unit area. The more the number
of splits in an unit area, the better the quality
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| Uses |
| Due to the presence of a slight cushioning effect, mats are preferred for bedding
substituting rubber or even cotton beds. For laying children, on floors or even on cots,
these mats are generally used. Various decoratives and fancy purposes gets completed using these mats.
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| Marketing |
| These mats, production of which stands confined in Thazhava,
Karunagapally area, are marketed throughout the state and in neighbouring states.
Production always do not meet the demand. Generally better marketing avenues are the local
religious festival gatherings occur frequently in rural area |
| Fancy articles curios etc |
| Fancy articles like hat, hand bag, table mats, wall panels, toys etc. will be made out
of mats, woven with bleached splits of tender leaves, in 60-65 cm wide mats.
Embroidery works will add decorative value. Colouring of splits used for fancy work is
possible immediately after bleaching, with the help of organic colours and chemicals.
For making these materials mechanical support is possible to a very great extent. |
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