Bill's Weka cloak

I started Bill's weka cloak before my surgery.  The weka feathers had been gifted to him from some whanau on the Chathams.  I find weka very wasteful with lots of feathers that can't be used, so it takes a lot of sorting through.  However I got a lot of bundles made despite my sore arm.
Surgery in May put me out of action for a few months.  However I kept myself sane by doing embroidery with my left hand.

But as my arm improved I was able to work on it again and finally by the end of October I finished his cloak.

I was unable to handle the big cloak when I was able to go back to weaving group so I took along this other project.  It is a bag to hold a small casket.  I started on the bottom using an under and over weaving technique working row by row.

Now I am looking forward to the next thing on my list.  Another Arapaki I think.

2018 was a very busy year.  Lots of kakahu got made and lots of things were learned and used.

A peacock arapaki made early in the year.

A small arapaki in which I learned how to do the taaniko within the cloak.  I used this technique on Paula's cloak.  Much of my learning is trial and error which is why I often do a trial piece first before something important.

 This arapaki was an extension of a small cloak I had made years ago. The extension process helped me with the Hargest cloak. Unfortunately I haven't got a finished photo of this one.

Paula's cloak.

Bill's pukeko cloak finished in August

The Hargest Cloak

In August I tore a tendon in my right shoulder but this wasn't diagnosed till the end of the year.  It wasn't till 2019 that surgery was decided upon and booked in for the end of May.  Meantime I had a little time to finish a few orders.

Another Peacock cloak

Harriet's cloak.  This was great fun because Harriet and I had a real collaboration on this.  We had some professional photos taken.