Weaving mats is an activity done at a Craft and Care facility that brings elderly people together. Participants weave using various materials like cotton and wool to create unique mats. Weaving can be done individually or in a group, and involves different tools, patterns, and techniques. It is a craft that promotes a sense of belonging and community while creating finished products that are sold or used at home.

1. Weaving Mats
Doing, Being, Belong, Become

2. Description
 The following slides are illustrating the
occupation of Weaving mats. Some pictures
were taken at Craft and Care facility where
elderly come together to create crafts and
spend time with one another. I chose to
show weaving as a craft because it is a way
for people to do, be, become, belong.
Weaving is one among many crafts we do to
bring people together by helping showing
other people how to do it. It brings a sense
of being part of something and belong to a
group or society.

3. Coffee time
Weaving is a way to bring people together. This is two
elderly woman having a coffee at Craft & Care before they
begin weaving.

4. Space
The space for undertaking weaving is set up

5. Materials
There are many materials used to weave such as cotton and wool.
At craft and care, they were on a tight budget and made use of the
free off-cuts an underwear company sends them. Crafts don’t need
to be expensive.

6. You can weave with many different materials

7. Equipment
The equipment is set up to begin weaving

8. There's many different ways and tools used to weave

9. Begin!
Participants then begin to create their own weaving mats.
There are different colours to make each one unique and
you own.

10. Groups
Can be done in groups.

11. Or on your own

12. Patterns
Many different patterns to choose from

13. Breaks
It is wise to have breaks while weaving, there is a lot of
concentration needed to get each weave on the mat
correct.

14. Cultures
There are many different ways to weave and every culture
has their own unique way of doing so.

15. Technology
Modern technology now enables weaving to be done in a
matter of seconds. But this can take away the belonging
people gain to what they achieve as the end product.

16. Finishing!
This participant has created a unique and individual woven
mat and she has become apart of a group while doing so.

17. This participant is excited to have finished a woollen mat.

18. The finished
product
On the far right you will see the woven mats which are
sold on to fellow crafters or visitors to the site. They can
also be gifted or used in your own home.

19. Purposes
This is a flax weave and is being used as a door mat.

20. This one is being used as a placemat on a dinner table.

21. References
 Some photos taken with permission from participants of Craft & Care, Forest
lake road, taken by Grace Bell. (Slides: 3,4,7,8,9,13,16,17,18)
 (Slide 12) http://cyclop-scenery.blogspot.co.nz/2009_09_01_archive.html
 (Slide 6) http://www.gnaana.com/blog/2010/07/mat-weaving-diy-paper-placemat/
 (Slide 14) http://www.traderscity.com/board/products-1/offers-to-sell-and-
export-1/bamboo-mats-weave-panel-sheet-plaiting-board-weaving-plywood-
veneer-116561/
 (Slide 6) http://howwemontessori.typepad.com/how-we-
montessori/2011/07/circular-weaving-using-a-cardboard-frame.html
 (Slide 10) http://easywebsite.net/Vietnam.html
 (Slide 11) http://www.wietelworld.com/Borneo/tom_ann_Borneo.htm
 (slide 15) http://www.shm-mall.com/368_wamatex_weaving_machines.htm
 (Slide 19)
http://www.flaxworx.co.nz/index.php?pr=Other_woven_treasures&curPhoto=4
&curAlbum=#album
 (Slide 20) http://www.summerandwinterweaving.com/