I like to Knit with unexpected materials. I’ve knitted with wire before and made some fun birdhouses, which held up well and have had many generations of bird families in them. (See posts here)

I found some Sisal at my local Stuff Mart, and bought 4 balls. Ended up casting on with size 8 needle and about 20 stitches to test it out, and the result was two very nice mats to sit plants on in our sun porch. My original plan was to make a door mat, but I decided I would start small. In the meantime I’ve found some cheap trays and am making inserts for them to set plants etc.. on.

The larger mat (above) is done on size US 13 needles and cast on 30 stitches and knit until it is long enough. The casting on it the hardest part of the process. Then I cast off and I did a row of single crochet all around to make it neater looking. I had though of crocheting an entire mat, but this proved to be too hard on my fingers.

Before soaking above, all wavy & stiff                   Drying after the soak, outside in the sun, pull it even.

Oh Yeah, one of the most important parts of knitting with sisal! After you have the size you want. Fill the sink up with warm water, and soak your mat for about 20 min. Then put it out in the sun to dry flat. It will be ripple free and all nice and flat!

These work out nice to set plants on, easy to wash and there is an air space between the pot and the surface. If it gets wet and moldy, no problem just scrub it out, and lay it out in the sun and your good as new.

Off to cast on with some jute now….and also knit a larger sisal door mat.