Craft Book: Magic Mats
1985 Leisure Time Publishing
16 pages

Placemats have come out of the kitchen closet to adorn your wall, doors and coffee tables with designs that will delight the eye. Make a gathering tie here or there, add lace, flowers, or ribbons, and you'll have a stunning design using one of the most innovative new craft materials. And they're so easy to work with!

Abaca placemats come largely from the Philippines, where the abaca plant is grown solely for its fiber. A relative of the banana plant, the abaca is harvested every three to eight months. Growers cut down the mature plants, but allow the roots to remain in the ground to generate new plants. Abaca fibers are strong yet flexible. They make excellent ropes because of their natural resistance to water sun and wind. And the abaca placemat is unsurpassed in its lightness and flexibility for craft uses.

Projects include: Sleigh, Wall Hanging, Cross, Small Angel, Scarecrow, Large Angel, Reindeer, Owl, Large Butterfly, Small Butterfly, Flower Basket, and Bells.