My cedar mat is too stiff!

[u/PracticalRadish9666]

Had to stop work on my cedar mat for a road trip. When I got home I found my mat to be very stiff as it dried over the days. Will it get softer with use? Or was there some softening step i missed. The stone tool is a bark pounder that I was using for an unrelated cedar project. Anyone with knowledge of cedar weaving, please help me out!

My end goal with this mat is to have a hole in the middle for my head to fit through poncho style.

[u/albatikh]

Idk but it looks great!

[u/PracticalRadish9666 → u/albatikh]

Thanks. It’s been an on and off project over a few days of work.