What you’ll need

The finished mat is approximately 410mm x 760mm.

5.5m of H3 pine (45mm wide x 20mm deep). You need to make 23 x 200mm length pieces and 8 x 60mm length pieces. Ruler, pencil Saw Sandpaper 6mm diameter drill bit and drill (electric or hand) General purpose outdoor wood primer/undercoat Test pots in four colours of your choice (I used Resene True Blue, Wan White, Devoted and Santas Grey). 3m of 5mm thick nylon cord Lighter

Steps

1 Mark the wood into the required lengths using a ruler and pencil, then cut with a mitre saw, circular saw or even a regular handsaw. Give the ends a really good sand to remove splinters and rough edges. 2 On the centre of one thin (20mm) side of each long block, mark a cross 30mm in from each end (see diagram point A). On the short blocks, mark a cross in the centre of one thin edge (see diagram point B). These show the locations for drilling the holes. To drill, clamp the block between scrap pieces of wood (to hold it steady and avoid damage), then drill the holes using a 6mm drill bit. Note: You need to be as precise as possible when drilling, as there’s not much margin for error. Take your time and go straight. 3 Sand around the holes. A good tip is to poke a pencil or similar through the holes to remove any debri. 4 Give each block a coat of primer/ undercoat. Leave to dry. 5 When dry, lay out all the pieces in the finished design, allowing 80mm gaps between each piece on the horizontal rows. The smaller, 60mm length pieces go on the outside ends (see diagram below). It is now easy to work out what colour to paint each block. Lightly pencil the name of the required colour on the blocks so you can remember what paint to use. This design requires two small pieces in each of the four colours, six large pieces in three of the colours and five large pieces in one of the colours. Apply two coats of colour to each block – be careful not to fill the holes with paint as this will restrict the cord from threading through. Allow plenty of time to dry thoroughly between coats. 6 When dry, lay the pieces out again in the final design. Thread nylon cord through the holes, leaving plenty of length at each end so you can tie a knot. Twisting the cord as you go makes it a little easier and less likely to catch. 7 Tie a simple knot at each end as tightly as you can and as close to the wood as possible. Apply the flame of a lighter to the knot to melt it slightly – this will prevent it fraying and coming undone. Now you can place your handcrafted masterpiece at the door to welcome – and impress – your visitors.

“TIP: To make a non-slip surface, add a little sand to the paint. ”