Te Aitarakihi Weaving wananga

What a great cultural centre and lovely people at Aitarakihi.  We had a very busy weekend doing a starter korowai. I think I tired everyone out but by the end most had completed their small piece and the rest only had a few rows to go.

Many thanks for your gifts towards my petrol, much appreciated. And many thanks to Jocelyn, Debs, and Vicky who helped teach and now they are set on their way to pass this skill on to others. Such patient and fun teachers. Go girls.

Big cloak 2nd week

I haven't seemed to have a lot of time to spend on this cloak this week but I am past the quarter mark. It seems to be going well and mistakes have been able to be incorporated into the pattern so they are no longer mistakes.

We had a good day at the Museum on Sunday with two new ladies who seemed to understand the technique quickly. I also had an email from a lady from Alexandra and we hope to hold a class there soon. 

So August dates are

Saturday 1st Ocean View 10am - 4 pm (I'll be there by 9:30)

Tuesday 4th Ocean View 9 - 12:30

Friday 7th to Sunday 9th Alexandra perhaps

Sunday 16th Otago Museum 2pm

Tuesday 18th ocean view 9 - 12:30

Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23 rd Timaru possibly

I see we have 5 weekends in August so if any other place in the south wants a weekend of weaving we could arrange it. Just email me robin.korowai@gmail.com soon. 

Big museum cloak

Last week I stated a new big cloak for a friend at the Museum.  It is huge. But I have been fooled other times by thinking something was big but it ended up smaller than I would have liked. However this time I think I have overdone it.   It is about 140 cm wide with about 800 thin whenu. I cast them on double but am working the taaniko in fine thread on single whenu. 800 makes a long row.  I think I'll do a mawhitiwhiti pattern up the side so if necessary I can fold it under so is not too wide.

It took 2 full days to draw up the taaniko pattern on the computer.  It is very deep and loosely inspired by one on display at the Museum.

The first row, as per normal, took a long time.  But now as the pattern is starting to emerge it is going a little quicker.  I find I can usually only manage a row at one sitting (or standing as I usually am) before I need to give my body a rest.

I hope to have the taaniko done in a month but already I have had a three day holiday and a off day today. But when I start the feathers I hope I will get along quicker.

July Saturday

We had a lovely day today for our usual 1 st Saturday of the month. About 8 people came including 3 from Invercargill and one new lady from Dunedin. Two ladies had finished their first pieces and they were well done.

So proud of them. Congratulations Paula and Donna.  They are very enthusiastic and are already on to their second and planning the next size up on their third.

And it was great to meet two new people just starting on the journey. 

This month there will be the usual Tuesdays at ocean view and the Sunday afternoon at the Museum,  then a beginner workshop at Aitarakihi marae in Timaru on the last weekend of the month.  If any other group wishes to organize a beginner workshop, the second weekend of the months (except July) seem to be free at the moment.