# Leaf Craft Glossary

Source: https://leafcraftpro.site/craft-glossary

Every term we use in our tutorials, defined once and properly. Bookmark this page — it makes the other guides much easier to follow.

Weaving has a vocabulary that is centuries old and, in places, genuinely confusing — partly because different regions use different words for the same thing. This is the glossary we use consistently across every tutorial on this site.

## Materials

| Term | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Spine | The stiff central rib running down the length of a palm leaf. Usually removed before weaving because it does not bend. |
| Leaflet | One of the narrow blades attached to the spine. Most weaving uses the leaflets, not the whole leaf. |
| Strip | A leaflet that has been split to a consistent width, typically 5 to 12 mm, ready for weaving. |
| Softening | Soaking or steaming strips so they bend without cracking. Fresh leaves need minutes; dried leaves need hours. |
| Sizing | Sorting strips by width and thickness so a single piece uses consistent material. |
| Curing | Letting a finished piece dry slowly in the shade so it holds its shape without becoming brittle. |

## Weaving structure

| Term | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Warp | The strips that stand upright and form the skeleton of the piece. |
| Weft | The strips woven horizontally through the warp. Also called the weaver. |
| Over-under weave | The basic pattern: each weft passes alternately over and under each warp. Also called plain weave. |
| Twill | A weave where the weft passes over two warps and under one, producing a diagonal pattern. |
| Tension | How tightly the weft is pulled. Even tension is the single biggest factor in whether a basket stays square. |
| Slope | The natural outward flare of a basket wall. A controlled slope keeps the rim wide and the base stable. |

## Finishing

| Term | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Rim lock | The final row, folded over the row below and tucked in, which stops the whole piece unravelling. |
| Tucking | Pushing a loose strip end back into the weave so it is hidden and held. |
| Paring | Trimming a tucked end flush so it does not snag. |
| Lashing | Binding a rim or handle with a separate cord for extra strength. |
| Handle wrap | Winding cord or soft leaf around a handle to make it comfortable to hold. |

> One term, two meanings: in the United States "weaver" usually means the horizontal strip, while in parts of Asia it refers to the person doing the weaving. We use it only for the strip.

**Put the vocabulary to work** The beginner guide walks through every one of these terms in practice.

[Read the beginner guide](https://leafcraftpro.site/palm-leaf-weaving-for-beginners)

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