Figure 22. Whole midrib commencement. a, section of coconut leaf, butt end to left, natural upper shiny surface uppermost: in this position, leaflets of both sides naturally directed toward right; leaflets on far side (1–3) retain their natural direction as dextral wefts, and those on near side (1′–3′) will have to provide sinistral crossing wefts; leaflets shown with leaflet midribs (5) running down middle line; part near leaf midrib (4) narrow but opens out away from leaf midrib, b, in plaiting, leaflets kept closed so that leaflet midribs (5) are on right or side to which leaflets naturally directed; first near leaflet on left (1′) used as first sinistral, bent across leaf midrib (4) to pass under first dextral (1), and thus directed towards the left to function as sinistral; bent direct, without any half-turn, so leaflet midrib (5) of sinistral (1′) still remains on right edge of weft. c, next near leaflet (2′) makes direct bend across leaf midrib, passes under next dextral (2), and if a check stroke is maintained, passes above next dextral (1); third sinistral (3′) crosses over leaf midrib, passes under opposite dextral (3), over next dextral (2), and under next (1); in this manner, by direct bends, near leaflets cross over leaf midrib, under opposite dextral leaflets, and subsequent interlacing depends on stroke used.