Kia ora! Thank you so much. I am a weaver and love mahi raranga but sometimes cant get with others or cant remember things - nga mihi nui ki a koe! tino pai to mahi!
I just came across your video! Just in time as I need to make a backpack for my school hike, it has to be made out of completely natural materials! Will see how it goes, thanks! :DD
Tena koe, I made my 1st ever Pikau using your tutorial as a guide. It didn't turn out so great lol but I got better with more experience after all the trial and error 😊 nga mihi
Hi Ezra, that really depends on your harakeke - some only need to see the boiling water (so to speak) and others will need up to 5 min - I have a feel for it when I do it and it works out most time. I don't time it but others say about 2-3 minutes is ok - however I do put a bit of biodegradable dish washing liquid in as well - just a dash - makes it nice and soft and easier to bleach.. if that is what you want.
thank you Valerie, it is totally up to you - the numbers are only an example really - any multiples of 4, 6 or even 8 will do - a whole backpack or just a band as this one - be creative:-) I make the numbers up as I go really - as long as the general pattern and corresponding numbers work - in this case - multiples of 4 - so you could use 16 or 20 or 28... whatever takes your fancy:-) Enjoy!
Hi Louana - I do show both on two videos - the pikau one on this one and the kete on the Kete Whakairo - though I have not shown a whiri kete one - but that would be similar to the start of the wahakura - the bottom of a pikau is the last thing before the handles and it's just a whiri in both directions - and the kete whakairo is at the start.
Thanks! I am not sure but I do know that some of our kete and hats are made with pacific pandanus - your lau hala is similar as far as I know but I have no experience with it. Give it a try - and let me know:-)
Kia ora. just as a matter of curiosity, you used 104 whenu you said. How many of that were coloured whenu? Also what was the pattern you used. It's very effective. I prepared my whenu awhile ago with the intention of doing a backpack and I have to say again this is sooo helpful.
Sorry, I have not included that on purpose as I am a firm believer of learning face to face. These videos are meant as refreshers and the lock if the one thing one learns almost like the first lesson from a tutor. However, there are books out there that explain it in a step by step fashion - Ali Brown (google her) has some amazing ones out and also some of the Mick Pendergrast ones. Handles, on the other hand, are different - my tutor told us to try and experiment and work out what works for each type of basket and that is how I have been teaching that part every since... that is the part where one makes this his or her own.. not just a copy..
Hi there, I work generally with two different width for all my works - a "normal one" that is 12mm and a narrow one that is 6mm (mainly for Kete Whakairo) - these are 12mm and I used boiled and dried and then re-moistend flax. If you have never woven before this is not as easy as I make it look though - this is really for people who have woven before and know the basics - sorry! But I have seen beginners do it in two days.. so give it a go..
Hi, everytime i boil my flax than leave it to dry it starts to curl in abit, how do i stop that and how can i get the flax that vibrant dyed colour? Love, love your work by the way. Thanks i'm only a beginner at this but would love all the advice i can get.
Kia ora i sooo love your mahi.. I was going to ask if you could do a trutorial for your patters ... That would be much appreciated :) kia ora flax work
Thank you. They are not my patterns at all. I get them out of Mick Pendergrasts Raranga Whakairo book. Its out of print but most libraries will have it. Thats how I learnt them and I havent tried all of them yet....
for this instance I used 24 (12 each) but any number will do (multiples of 4 or 6 or even 8 for this pattern) - sometimes I make a whole backpack with two or three colours - up to you really - the sky is the limit - the pattern is broken step - you find it in the raranaga wahairo book by Mick Pendergrast - a must have for any weaver really
Hi Julie, thank you! Yes I do - on my own website - link should be above but here it is again www.flaxworx.co.nz - two back backpacks in stock right now
Kia Ora - ah good question! Until just recently I used RIT Liquid dye, as these are textile dyes that have a nice deep colour saturation and last long - however - the manufacturer in the US changed the ingredients and now they don't take any longer to the flax - so we can't use them any longer (which is not good at all!). I have been searching for some good alternatives but apart from Teri Dyes (they are NZ made in the South Island and specifically formulated for Harakeke) there are none. Teri has many nice colour options - some of which are really "out there" like their purple or turquoise - however they tend to fade rather quickly - so I tell all my customers to keep the item out of direct sunlight if possible. Other options of course are natural (traditional) dyes - there are plenty of options there but I use them generally only for muka. Every now and then there are workshops around the country in regards to those - use of barks, berries and minerals etc... So if you in NZ - contact Teri Dyes that is what I would suggest.
Kia Ora Eruiti, that totally depends on what size you want to make and how you prepare your harakeke (what width whenu). I have seen some very fine examples that were woven with 5-6mm whenu and others with well over 1.5cm so it's hard to say and even I don't have a set number as they tend to dry differently depending on what cultivar I am using. I usually start off at a minimum of around 80 whenu but can go up to well over 120.Its really a preference thing and also it depends on the weaver, how tight or loose he/she weaves etc..
Hi, How much for a backpack such as the one you made in this video? Do you do classes in making these types of bags? Even after watching the video I still feel lost lol
Fresh Impact Co. Thanks. these videos are essentially for people who already know how to weave, they are just a additional help to a personal class - on that note no I don't teach classes but I do sell them - more info on that on www.flaxworx.co.nz - most things are made to order and true one offs
No, that is best to learn with someone while doing it - its not that difficult but same as boiling one needs to actually be there and feel it and see it - hard to do in a video...but there are wanaga's around where dyeing is shown and people can do it - the next one coming up in Kawhia in early January with Nga Hua o Te Rito - I have the panui for that one on my fb page (flaxworx)
Chey Bartlett Kia Ora, that one is in the Kete Whakairo pattern book as a broken step pattern I think - has no ata per se as the pattern keeps changing hence a few rows of Tami tahi at the start and the end.
Either or is possible but keep in mind if you do dye it after it has already been boiled and dried once, the harakeke might not like it. Some varieties do not like to be boiled or just very briefly or they literally fall apart so double boiling is not a good idea but others tolerate it. Its really a preference and experience thing.
Kia Ora Leslie, I cant honestly remember - I do change them all the time - I sometimes just do a band of color next all in one direction. Its how I feel and how many colors I have sitting here left over from other projects. I do try to have even numbers usually if I want to do specific patterns but even that sometimes does not work out as I want to use every whenu I may have. So just be creative and develop your own style I'd say. That way you are ready to deal with for all eventualities (and there are lots...). Happy weaving
have a look at my How to prepare Harakeke videos as to the muka ends and yes I mostly used boiled harakeke that I prepare sometimes months ahead and then re-moisten when needed.
oh - my husband just noticed that I did not fully answer your question - I always comb the ends before boiling (it is shown in the preparation video though).
Whaea Pare ehm, I am not sure what you mean but either you use it green or boiled (and possibly dried and stored for later use) and thats called natural or you can dye it and then its dyed - and yes any color goes really in that department. and yes you can either dye it from green or when its already dried (but processed otherwise). I hope this is the answer you are looking for?
Depending on how you dye it, it can last a long time. I have found a resource that actually could last forever WELL longer then most traditional dyes. And yess it is pissible
+Jordan Claridge ah yes - you are not the first to suggest that - I need to find the time for some more tutorials for sure - and also get the person behind the camera on board too but once the busy summer season has gone I might be able to do this for you.
hm... biodegradable not disposable - does not really matter what type you use - for the outcome - I only use the biodegradable stuff because I use the water after to water some of my plants in the garden..really any will do - some people even use sunlight soap..
Hi, everytime i boil my flax than leave it to dry it starts to curl in abit, how do i stop that and how can i get the flax that vibrant dyed colour? Love, love your work by the way. Thanks i'm only a beginner at this but would love all the advice i can get.
Hi there, could be many different reasons - the type of harakeke, the way you hapine (assuming you do that? - if not they will definitely curl up into piupiu strips...) and even for how long you boil them. Bottom line is there are many factors and sometimes that is just the way the natural resource reacts.. should open up again with a slight hapine after re-moistening though
Thank you so much...love your videos....I am a weaver and its always good to see other ways of doing raranga....again thank you ....
Kia ora! Thank you so much. I am a weaver and love mahi raranga but sometimes cant get with others or cant remember things - nga mihi nui ki a koe! tino pai to mahi!
I would love to learn this under you your Soo calming
I just came across your video! Just in time as I need to make a backpack for my school hike, it has to be made out of completely natural materials! Will see how it goes, thanks! :DD
I follow you on Facebook too!! I rewatch these over and over.... Nga mihi
Ah thank you!
Beautiful mahi☝💜🔥
You have amazing talent young lady ... cheers from a fellow country person ..
Thank you Mark!
Tena koe, I made my 1st ever Pikau using your tutorial as a guide. It didn't turn out so great lol but I got better with more experience after all the trial and error 😊 nga mihi
Hi Ezra, that really depends on your harakeke - some only need to see the boiling water (so to speak) and others will need up to 5 min - I have a feel for it when I do it and it works out most time. I don't time it but others say about 2-3 minutes is ok - however I do put a bit of biodegradable dish washing liquid in as well - just a dash - makes it nice and soft and easier to bleach.. if that is what you want.
thank you Valerie, it is totally up to you - the numbers are only an example really - any multiples of 4, 6 or even 8 will do - a whole backpack or just a band as this one - be creative:-) I make the numbers up as I go really - as long as the general pattern and corresponding numbers work - in this case - multiples of 4 - so you could use 16 or 20 or 28... whatever takes your fancy:-) Enjoy!
Hi Louana - I do show both on two videos - the pikau one on this one and the kete on the Kete Whakairo - though I have not shown a whiri kete one - but that would be similar to the start of the wahakura - the bottom of a pikau is the last thing before the handles and it's just a whiri in both directions - and the kete whakairo is at the start.
Beautiful work & I love your tutorial. Wonder if I can try to make the backpack with lau hala?
Thanks! I am not sure but I do know that some of our kete and hats are made with pacific pandanus - your lau hala is similar as far as I know but I have no experience with it. Give it a try - and let me know:-)
Amazing work lady. Beautiful!!!
This is beautiful. Well done
Thanks!
kia ora love the pikau..will be giving this a go...just a patai...for the 80 whenu do you still apply 24 coloured?
cheers...
You are very welcome - another striking pattern you might want to try on a backpack is Koeaea - pattern 11 in the Mick Pendergrast pattern book:-)
Thank you so much
Kia ora. just as a matter of curiosity, you used 104 whenu you said. How many of that were coloured whenu? Also what was the pattern you used. It's very effective. I prepared my whenu awhile ago with the intention of doing a backpack and I have to say again this is sooo helpful.
Would like to see how you did the handles and the lock section ~ I’m learning!
Sorry, I have not included that on purpose as I am a firm believer of learning face to face. These videos are meant as refreshers and the lock if the one thing one learns almost like the first lesson from a tutor. However, there are books out there that explain it in a step by step fashion - Ali Brown (google her) has some amazing ones out and also some of the Mick Pendergrast ones. Handles, on the other hand, are different - my tutor told us to try and experiment and work out what works for each type of basket and that is how I have been teaching that part every since... that is the part where one makes this his or her own.. not just a copy..
How thick is each strip? is it better with dried flax? Also is it easy for a beginner to make? thanks!
Kia ora i was wondering if you could tell me how long you boil your harakeke ?
Hi there, I work generally with two different width for all my works - a "normal one" that is 12mm and a narrow one that is 6mm (mainly for Kete Whakairo) - these are 12mm and I used boiled and dried and then re-moistend flax. If you have never woven before this is not as easy as I make it look though - this is really for people who have woven before and know the basics - sorry! But I have seen beginners do it in two days.. so give it a go..
Hi, everytime i boil my flax than leave it to dry it starts to curl in abit, how do i stop that and how can i get the flax that vibrant dyed colour? Love, love your work by the way. Thanks i'm only a beginner at this but would love all the advice i can get.
Kia ora i sooo love your mahi.. I was going to ask if you could do a trutorial for your patters ... That would be much appreciated :) kia ora flax work
Thank you. They are not my patterns at all. I get them out of Mick Pendergrasts Raranga Whakairo book. Its out of print but most libraries will have it. Thats how I learnt them and I havent tried all of them yet....
for this instance I used 24 (12 each) but any number will do (multiples of 4 or 6 or even 8 for this pattern) - sometimes I make a whole backpack with two or three colours - up to you really - the sky is the limit - the pattern is broken step - you find it in the raranaga wahairo book by Mick Pendergrast - a must have for any weaver really
Hi love your mahi awesome .My question is do you sell any of your pieces ie: Backpack
Hi Julie, thank you! Yes I do - on my own website - link should be above but here it is again www.flaxworx.co.nz - two back backpacks in stock right now
Cheers! I have that book so will give it a go.
Kia Ora whaea I was just wondering what dye do you use to dye your harakeke ?
Kia Ora - ah good question! Until just recently I used RIT Liquid dye, as these are textile dyes that have a nice deep colour saturation and last long - however - the manufacturer in the US changed the ingredients and now they don't take any longer to the flax - so we can't use them any longer (which is not good at all!). I have been searching for some good alternatives but apart from Teri Dyes (they are NZ made in the South Island and specifically formulated for Harakeke) there are none.
Teri has many nice colour options - some of which are really "out there" like their purple or turquoise - however they tend to fade rather quickly - so I tell all my customers to keep the item out of direct sunlight if possible.
Other options of course are natural (traditional) dyes - there are plenty of options there but I use them generally only for muka. Every now and then there are workshops around the country in regards to those - use of barks, berries and minerals etc...
So if you in NZ - contact Teri Dyes that is what I would suggest.
Cool thanks for that I have used teri dyes and that's a shame about rit dye thanks for your response
Pretty bag! Thanks for showing.
And just another question.. How did you whiri the bottoms together.. And ka pai tira ur mahi love it :)
Thanks - it's shown right at the beginning - or do you mean how it's joined? That is shown at 4.57
Thank you all for the nice comments!!
Kiaora Awesome love your mahi ;)
How much harakeke do you need??? To make a descent size Pikau...
Kia Ora Eruiti, that totally depends on what size you want to make and how you prepare your harakeke (what width whenu). I have seen some very fine examples that were woven with 5-6mm whenu and others with well over 1.5cm so it's hard to say and even I don't have a set number as they tend to dry differently depending on what cultivar I am using. I usually start off at a minimum of around 80 whenu but can go up to well over 120.Its really a preference thing and also it depends on the weaver, how tight or loose he/she weaves etc..
@@Flaxworx thank you so much for the advice
Do u still boil harakeke if you're not dyeing it?
I always do yes. They tend to store better then.
We need this for our project!
oh my gosh my mind is blown!!
Hi there could you tell me what brand of disposable dish washing liquid you use thanks
Hi,
How much for a backpack such as the one you made in this video? Do you do classes in making these types of bags? Even after watching the video I still feel lost lol
Fresh Impact Co. Thanks. these videos are essentially for people who already know how to weave, they are just a additional help to a personal class - on that note no I don't teach classes but I do sell them - more info on that on www.flaxworx.co.nz - most things are made to order and true one offs
i love what you do!
Thank you Charlotte!
Also do you make putiputi first then dye it, or dye the harakeke then make? Thank you
depends... you can do both - some people do not dye them at all they spray them with spray paint ...
love your mahi
+donella gray Thanks!
amazing, love it and it looks solid as.
Merci pour cette confection de panier
Hi, is there a tutorial on dying the flax? Thank you
No, that is best to learn with someone while doing it - its not that difficult but same as boiling one needs to actually be there and feel it and see it - hard to do in a video...but there are wanaga's around where dyeing is shown and people can do it - the next one coming up in Kawhia in early January with Nga Hua o Te Rito - I have the panui for that one on my fb page (flaxworx)
This is awesome!! Thanks heaps!
Thanks! You are welcome:-)
Kiaora could you please tell me what the pattern is. Is it over two under two? Etc how many Ara do you go up etc thank you in advance
Chey Bartlett Kia Ora, that one is in the Kete Whakairo pattern book as a broken step pattern I think - has no ata per se as the pattern keeps changing hence a few rows of Tami tahi at the start and the end.
Thank you. I have some patterns from the book thank you I'll give it a go
What is the sequence for this pattern please?
its Whakatutu and Taki Rua
Is this harakeke already dry?.... can we dye the flax fresh....?
Either or is possible but keep in mind if you do dye it after it has already been boiled and dried once, the harakeke might not like it. Some varieties do not like to be boiled or just very briefly or they literally fall apart so double boiling is not a good idea but others tolerate it. Its really a preference and experience thing.
@@Flaxworx omg thanks for your reply, love your work gonna try make pikau.
Hello how did u color them? Does the color last?
The whenu get dyed beforehand (see my videos on dyeing) and it depends on the type of dye and uses how long the colour will last.
Kia ora can now weave a pikau
The pikau how many coloured whenu did you use please.
Kia Ora Leslie, I cant honestly remember - I do change them all the time - I sometimes just do a band of color next all in one direction. Its how I feel and how many colors I have sitting here left over from other projects. I do try to have even numbers usually if I want to do specific patterns but even that sometimes does not work out as I want to use every whenu I may have. So just be creative and develop your own style I'd say. That way you are ready to deal with for all eventualities (and there are lots...). Happy weaving
Did you boil your pieces for this? If so, did you comb the muka ends before or after the boiling process?
have a look at my How to prepare Harakeke videos as to the muka ends and yes I mostly used boiled harakeke that I prepare sometimes months ahead and then re-moisten when needed.
oh - my husband just noticed that I did not fully answer your question - I always comb the ends before boiling (it is shown in the preparation video though).
I'm so happy to see that I'm not the only one that uses dishwashing liquid LOL
Hi. Can natural coloured flax be dyed
Whaea Pare ehm, I am not sure what you mean but either you use it green or boiled (and possibly dried and stored for later use) and thats called natural or you can dye it and then its dyed - and yes any color goes really in that department. and yes you can either dye it from green or when its already dried (but processed otherwise). I hope this is the answer you are looking for?
thank you for that
Ok ill have a look thank you :) love your work btw
Fabulous 🙂
How long does the die last. Red die pref
Depending on how you dye it, it can last a long time. I have found a resource that actually could last forever WELL longer then most traditional dyes. And yess it is pissible
Wow, really cool
Thanks!
HI CAN YOU SHOW ME THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THE BOTTOM OF EITHER A BACKPACK OR KETE PLEASE M8
you can get the dishwashing stuff at at most supermarkets in nz - usually at the bottom shelf for some reason...
kool thank you...
plzzzzz can you do a flat bottom kete tutorial
plzzzzzzzzzzźzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
+Jordan Claridge ah yes - you are not the first to suggest that - I need to find the time for some more tutorials for sure - and also get the person behind the camera on board too but once the busy summer season has gone I might be able to do this for you.
+Flaxworx thank you so much i have bean wanting to make one for a while but didn't know how.
Nga Mihi Wharaurarahi !
Ka mau te wehi e hoa.
Kia Ora!
hm... biodegradable not disposable - does not really matter what type you use - for the outcome - I only use the biodegradable stuff because I use the water after to water some of my plants in the garden..really any will do - some people even use sunlight soap..
Bravo madame je veut apprendre felicitation merci
Ataahua Mahi tuahine
Kia Ora, Do you ever sell it cause I would buy it
Miharo koe,
I must have read it wrong it thought it said pikachu 🤣
0bravo madame
Hi, everytime i boil my flax than leave it to dry it starts to curl in abit, how do i stop that and how can i get the flax that vibrant dyed colour? Love, love your work by the way. Thanks i'm only a beginner at this but would love all the advice i can get.
Hi there, could be many different reasons - the type of harakeke, the way you hapine (assuming you do that? - if not they will definitely curl up into piupiu strips...) and even for how long you boil them. Bottom line is there are many factors and sometimes that is just the way the natural resource reacts.. should open up again with a slight hapine after re-moistening though