# Woven Palm Leaf Serving Tray Tutorial

> A shallow woven palm leaf serving tray with a raised rim and two handholds, sturdy enough for breakfast in bed. A two-hour project with real measurements.

Source: https://leafcraftpro.site/palm-leaf-tray
Published: 2025-11-05 · 10 min read · Intermediate · Palm Leaf Crafts

A tray is a shallow basket with a purpose. It needs a flat floor, a low wall you can grip, and enough rigidity that it does not bow when you pick it up loaded.

This one is an oval about 38 cm by 26 cm, with a rim raised 5 cm and two built-in handholds. Two hours, start to finish, and it carries a full breakfast without flexing.

The difference between a tray that works and one that spills your tea is stiffness. A flat weave on its own will bow under weight, so this design uses three things to fight that: a double-thick base, a rim that is woven rather than folded, and a final tight row that locks the whole edge. Do those three and the tray stays flat even when it is full. Skip the double base and it will sag in the middle within a week. Skip the tight top row and the rim will spread the first time you pick it up by one side, which is the most disappointing way for a two-hour project to end. If this is your first tray, weave it slightly smaller than you think you want: a small tray that sits flat is far more useful than a large one that sags in the middle.

**What You'll Need**

- 30-34 palm leaf strips, 2 cm wide and at least 70 cm long
- Sharp scissors
- A shallow bowl of water and a spray bottle
- A clothes peg or two
- A heavy book for pressing the base
- A ruler or tape measure

## Weaving the tray

**Step-by-step instructions**

1. **Weave the double base** — Weave a flat rectangular base 34 cm by 22 cm, then weave a second identical layer directly on top of it. Peg the layers together at the corners. The double thickness is what stops the tray bowing.
2. **Round the corners** — Trim the four corners of the base to a gentle curve before you turn the sides up. Square corners buckle when you bend the wall; curved ones fold cleanly.
3. **Turn up the wall** — Fold every upright up at the edge and crease it hard. Weave two tight rows around the base of the wall to lock the corners, checking the oval shape against the table.
4. **Build the rim** — Weave up to 5 cm of wall, keeping the rows level and packing them down every round. Press the tray flat on the table after every few rows to catch any twist early.
5. **Shape the handholds** — At each short end, leave a gap of 6 cm in the wall and weave the uprights across it as a flat bridge. This makes a solid, smooth handhold without extra material.
6. **Lock the top edge** — Weave one final tight row all the way around, then fold each upright over it and tuck the tip two rows down inside the wall. This last row carries the load, so make it the tightest of all.

![A shallow oval palm leaf tray with a woven rim and a flat handhold at each end](https://leafcraftpro.site/images/blog/palm-leaf-tray-1280.webp)

*Leave a 6 cm gap at each short end and weave a flat bridge across it for the handholds.*

| Part of the tray | Size | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Base | 34 x 22 cm, double thick | Stops the middle sagging under weight |
| Wall | 5 cm tall | Low enough to grip, high enough to stop spills |
| Handholds | 6 cm gap each end | Lets you carry it one-handed |
| Top row | Tightest row | Locks the rim and carries the load |

Let the tray dry flat, weighted, for three days before you trust it with anything hot. Lay it on a level surface, put a board across it and stack a few books on top. The leaf will set in the flat position, and once set it holds that shape for years. If you skip the pressing and let it dry standing up, the base will cup and your cups will wobble for the rest of the tray's life. A tray is one of the few palm leaf projects where the drying stage matters as much as the weaving, so treat those three days as part of the build, not an afterthought.

## Serving and care

A finished tray is best kept for dry things: toast, biscuits, a teapot, a few cups. It will happily carry a mug, but it should never carry a wet jug straight from the tap or a plate still hot from the oven, because heat softens the leaf and water gets into the weave. Wipe it after use with a dry cloth, and once a month rub a little beeswax into the surface with a soft rag. That thin coat keeps crumbs from working into the gaps and gives the tray a quiet sheen that looks far better than any varnish. Stored upright or flat, it will hold its shape for years.

**Helpful Tips**

- Weave the double base as two separate layers, not one thick weave. Two thin layers are stiffer and lighter than one heavy one.
- Check the oval against the table after every two rows. A twist is easy to fix early and impossible to fix late.
- Mist the uprights at the corners before folding. Dry corners crack exactly where the tray takes the most strain.
- If the rim feels soft when dry, add one more tight row just below it and press again.
- Weave the handholds slightly proud of the rim. They are easier to grip and they look deliberate.
- If you plan to serve hot drinks, line the tray with a thin cotton cloth. It protects the weave and it looks good.

**A tray takes time. Ours are ready now.** Each woven serving tray is pressed flat for three days and finished by hand before it ships.

[Shop serving trays](https://leafcraftpro.site/shop)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a palm leaf tray strong enough to carry a full breakfast?

Yes, if you weave a double-thick base and a tight locking top row. Those two things are what give it stiffness. A single-layer base will sag under a loaded teapot.

### How long does a woven serving tray take to make?

About two hours for the weaving, plus three days of pressing flat while it dries. Do not use it for hot items before it has fully set.

### Can I wash a palm leaf tray?

No. Wipe it with a barely damp cloth and dry it straight away. Never soak it or put it in water, and never put it in a dishwasher.

### How do I stop the tray base from bowing?

Weave two thin layers for the base rather than one thick one, round the corners before turning the wall up, and press the tray flat under weight for three days as it dries.

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