Takro Bai Lan (Thai Palm-Leaf Takraw Ball) — Four 1½-Foot Young Lan-Leaf Strips Braided Four-Strand and Coiled into a Ball of 5-6 Layers, Kicked and Tossed

"To keep the ends from slipping out easily, thread them back and pull tight (if it is pulled too tight to thread the ends back, lead the way with something flat-tipped)." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0)

Cut 4 lan-leaf strips with even ends, about 1½ feet long, and pair them up, 2 pairs. Fold the heads on both, thread them to lock, and make both pairs the same way.

Lay the two pairs side by side, right over left, and weave all 4 strips across each other in a four-strand braid. Keep weaving back and forth and coil it into a ball of about 5-6 layers, adjusting the strips so the weave lines up with the strips already woven.

Thread in all 4 ends, then thread them back and pull tight so they do not slip out (if too tight to thread, lead the way with something flat-tipped). Trim the ends neatly.

Drawing of palm-leaf takraw balls (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0).

Toss it, or keep it up with your feet.

The palm-leaf takraw ball is a toy from nature; young lan leaves are woven into many everyday things. Beware of cuts from leaf edges. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ตะกร้อใบลาน" (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no strip width, and its step 11 says "trim the toddy-palm leaf" although the material is lan leaf. There is no listing for lan leaves, so they are named in the text.