Thank you! Much appreciated!

⁰

You are so welcome!

It's not grass - it's NZ Flax or as we know it Harakeke or Korari - and endemic plant that has strong fibres and so the first Europeans called it Flax (after the plant that grows over there). I've also made a video on how to harvest - that shows the plant.

Flaxworx Ok and what's the name of that video?

Kimberly Johnson all my video's can be found under my chanel name - flaxworx - this particular one is how to harvest and clean your flax bush. I hope this helps. Happy weaving!

Thanks Madeline, yes not something for first timers indeed but this can also be made with other materials (I have seen it done with old newspaper even). It's a lovely refresher - or rather that is what it was intended for when I put it up.

Thank you my friend! This is one of the things I teach in my workshops in Europe and tell the students to use the videos as a refresher...

+Kara Kokko Thanks Kara

yeah! That is exactly what I made them for - people who are stuck but in theory know a little:-) Thanks!

you are very welcome! I am glad I could be of some help!

Thanks for your kind words!

Ah thank you. It kinda is simple, once one knows how to make it...practice makes perfect:-) I actually make these with other materials too and have a class on Udemy in great detail and from a different angle on how to make one of these with paper:-)

Ahh thanks a lot for that Joey!

you are welcome - you are the target audience:-)

You are welcome!

Lmao

Thank you - Danke

+Shivani Kalra thanks!

+Karen Langdon thanks - it's meant to be for people who have had some kind of lesson before with a tutor - and usually the lock off is the first thing one learns in a lesson so that is why I don't go into much detail here. There is a good book out there from the late Mick Pendergrast Te Mahi Kete that has step by step instructions on one type of lock off in it though.

Hi I think I need a video or book showing a slow lock down too.I ama slow learner.

Thanks! You are welcome. you may want to check out the even more detailed power point on the purse on this channel too.

+Michael Cheung Hi Michael, yes they do shrink a little - in particular when used green but also depending on the type of flax - or in your case palm leaf - but you could try and boil your palm leaves that should help with the shrinking (a little bit) - and also if you top and tail them (as you should anyway) this can help with the odd shape of your leaves - though they will sill be a bit wonky that can't be helped. Another great thing to do with palm leaves is hat's - I think there is a youtube video somewhere about a island style hat made of palm leaves - try that one.

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you! yes, you are totally correct! This is one of my oldest and earliest videos (2014), made at a time when making videos for weaving was not such a thing actually and I have since made this one 3 times more from different angles and one even with paper... and in those, it is clearer and better lighting too:-) You may want to search through the videos in this channel - one of the "newer" videos is a copy of a powerpoint so it can be stopped at any stage as well

Kia Ora Carmen, that is a very complex question actually. I do weave smaller (and sometimes larger) projects "green" but they still need to be softened first (see my other videos on harvesting and preparing). Some people weave them really fresh and others don't it is really a preference thing. I personally also boil/dry leaves and then re-hydrate them, that way I can prepare them when the weather is nice and store them and then use them when it's not so good for harvesting. That is all for NZ flax/Phormium Tenax though. If you are using Cattail for instance the preparation is different again...So my recommendation would be to try different methods each time and see what works best for you.

Hi Shirley, perhaps next time - but really they have only been made to refresh peoples memories and in one on one class we sit opposite each other most of the times (not always of course) - and that seems to work best - perhaps I should put a note at the start of the video that it is not meant to be a beginners guide to anything weaving but really refreshers.

@@Flaxworx Dont worry about that guy pfff

thats all good! My name is Rita Baker, I am also on fb (flaxworxNz) and have a website (www.flaxworx.co.nz) that also has a subscriber space with around 80 videos (no ads etc and is more complex) - but that one cost $15 (New Zealand $) a month wheras all the videos here are free (but fewer of them and with ads) .

Helen Morgan thank you

Zira Caetano

Kia Ora, no I dont think so. Whariki take a long time just for one person and a lot of space that I do not have at my place - If we do make one as a group maybe I can perhaps video the process but even then it takes 3 days (minus preparation and harvest) - its not something that lends itself to a video really... even if I shorten the important bits like the hono but its not something that is easy to film... so sorry!

Kia Ora Starr, ah yes, getting an ara is not easy... it is hard for me to help you though from a distance. have you looked at the other two videos of the same subject? One is with paper and the other is more of a power point? Maybe I say something in those that is helpful. Otherwise, my number one tip is: Count the numbers. I am guessing you already made the corners? Are you sure the corners are in the same place each time (as that is usually the reason why people don't get an ara).. You can mark the spot where the corners need to be with bobby pins BEFORE you make them that should help already. There can be other reasons two but its really hard for me to pinpoint your problem without seeing it in person.

If you still having issues after lookign at the other two videos, message me on messenger perhaps or through my FB page (flaxworx.co.nz) and maye we can work it out that way make sure you take some photos from all angles as that will help me. I am away for the next two days but after that I am happy to help you out

@@Flaxworx You are so kind! I have watched those, but I'm going to go back and watch them again. I'm getting to the point where I think maybe I should walk away and come back to it after a few days :) It looks SO SIMPLE!! and I'm hoping that if I take a break and come back to it, maybe the light bulb will come on!!! Thanks for getting back to me and for being so helpful. I really do appreciate it, and I won't give up.

@@starrwhite9483 I know that feeling just to well trust me! Sounds like a good idea. As I said, if you still stuck, get in touch with me directly and I hope I can help you then!

Nithya Dancer It is NZ flax (phormium tenax) - most people just call it flax. captain cook named it flax as the fibers produced out of it are used much in the same way. maori call it harakeke or korari and it is indeed a different plant to european flax which is of the linum family.

Hi there, a course would teach you so much more than just how to make things...Mahi Raranga is also about Maori culture, traditions & spirituality...and you can't learn that through my videos or from a book... In terms of recycling the off cuts..composting is the best way. do not throw back under the bush as this gives harmful insects a nice breeding ground. also do not put them into household rubbish or burn them. As I said..Tikanga is very important here & best to learn that in a course. But I think you will be able to work this one out just fine without it.

auto translater - I hope I understand your question correctly - yes you can increase the number of strips - but they will have to be longer too.

I think you can make this with any material that has a strip form - even plastic or wood - I have seen the same kinda shape made from paper and beech tree ... so yes I would think it is possible - give it a try:-)

in australia you can use dianella, lomandra, palm leaves, pandanus (hala), etc...

+kiwimum13 thanks! yes someone else suggested that - at the time that was the way I thought my friend - sitting opposite (the way I learned too) - so never thought of any other angle - plus this is not for absolute beginners but people who have woven already so should only be a help in that process but I see where you coming from. Sadly I have not much time to re-do the video any time soon so will have to leave it for now but I keep note of all the suggestions and will eventually get around to it. Thanks!

I've never looked ova sumones shoulder to learn something... There's nothing wrong with this video... U learn something from looking ahead of u... And as this Weaver has pointed out kanohi ki te kanohi is how she was taught and it makes perfect sense... Thank you for the video love it

Joshua Silbery-Martin I am not sure what you mean by that so sorry.

When cutting the flax from the bush, how many should I take ?

Joshua Silbery-Martin that depends on the length and width of the leaves. I normally harvest / clean a whole bush which is lots but I think you may get away with around 20 or 30 leaves max.

Kia Ora, thank you! My video's are meant to help people to remember things they may have learnt in actual weaving courses - they are refreshers - so ideally if you have been through a weaving class you should know how to lock off and the actions in the video are just for a short refresher - not a actual step by step guide - that can't really be taught from a video unfortunately. I took my a few attempts when I first started - and is really best be done with a tutor right there to correct one when things go wrong. I am sorry - I know what you are saying but honestly I don't think it would make a big difference - the other thing you could try is the book by Mick Pendergrast "Te Mahi Kete" that has actual step by step instructions on how to do almost everything. So sorry but really it's best to attend a class - I started with a evening class once a week - that would be best.

Kia Ora, you are correct, and I do karakia not only before weaving but also before harvesting, of course, and at the end of my day, just the way I was taught, but since YT is also watched by many people all over the world, I refer to the karakia only in one of my videos here (the harvesting one) and, of course, on my website which also has more details on me and my taane (we both "run" Flaxworx) if you like to check it out. I am guessing you are asking everybody who has videos up about this as well, or just me?

Kia Ora Monique, if you check out the other videos - there is one that is a powerpoint of the same projects with each step in a different angle and that should help you a lot - when I first made them I made them the way I was taught (sitting opposite) and these were never meant to be true step by step tutorials but have taken on a life of their own... so the powerpoint / video has the angle you want... and the easier step by step

Good question - that depends on a lot of factors - firstly the variety of flax itself - the location where it grows and the time when it is harvested (e.g. if it has rained a lot before harvesting the plant acts like a sponge and collects water that will need to evaporate), also the processing - green strips take longer to dry and shrink more than boiled ones and any that have been processed before and dried and re-moistend and then used will shrink even less. So sadly there is not one answer for your question - basically some shrink more than others

William Van diyeverywhere.com/2016/09/08/what-you-need-to-know-about-growing-root-vegetables/?src=interxpromo&ro=2&et=syn&eid=59220&pid=59220&syn=glp&t=mxp

William Van 0

Landon Crawford not that I know..would be highly unusual as anything to do with this art starts with taking care of the plant, harvesting, preparing etc. its not just the weaving thats important in mahi raranga- however there are some people who can't go and harvest for various (usually health or age) reasons and they might get helpfrom friends and relatives with the harvesting and preparing.

Landon Crawford depending where in the world you are it may be worth while looking for a experienced weaver to take you under his/her wing and show you how to clean/harvest harakeke - provided it grows where you are...every weaver has their own almost unique way to prep and it shows in the final product...

Thank you Tere, yes I know all those things already. The video is quite old and back then this was the best we could do. It was never meant to be a full tutorial - there are paying courses for that out there, it was meant to help some friends initially to get some hints - it took off from there. Those initial friends wanted it that way with the angle as that was the way they learned, sitting opposite the tutor. Of course, now we would do things differently but I tell people usually to find the Hetet school of weaving and take a class there that also includes all the things I left out on purpose. Apologies if this is not exactly the way you would like it now but I can't re-make it at the moment either - so it is what it is.

For me so easy after I'm 12 years old😁😁

Thank you! Sorry I dont do classes...only a little help for people who need a refresher or inspiration here on KZfaq

okay thank you so much for inspiration

the same way just with smaller strips, I know many people who make them as earrings etc.

Sorry to hear that! My video's are meant to be refreshers really - most people have maybe attended a evening or weekend weaving class at some stage and have forgotten certain aspects of some pieces they made and these video's help with that. It is hard to learn of a video or a book - I would always encourage people to learn first hand in a class or at a wananga of some kind.

Lyn Phillips as you would have read in most of my other video descriptions it says NZ Flax (well I am based in NZ and we don't say the NZ part - only Flax here the people know what it is) - that is it's English name or of course yes Harakeke or Korari (here in the North) but NOT hemp at all and Not related to any other plants on the planet - least of all Mexico! It's endemic to New Zealand - botanical name is Phormium Tenax - there is also Phormium Cookianum of course - also endemic to NZ. Historically it was falsely named flax (yes just flax) by Captain Cooks botanist as the use of the fibers is similar to that European plant of the Linus family (where one can make Linen out of among other things). I work with this plant on a daily basis and make a living of it - I surely know it a lot....

yes, it is. I am explaining that on the top here in the description of the video. However one can also use other materials the shape is more or less universal to many weaving cultures.

@@Flaxworx Nice, It turns white right?

@@Flaxworx Iv'e got some in back yard. Big one.

@@barristanselmy2758 depending on the variety - it can go from brown, yellow to cream and white

I have created two more videos that are clearer if you find this one too confusing. They are here on my channel, One is even made with paper so can be done anywhere, no need for NZ Flax:-)

its a very old one... back then YT was also very new and if you look at old videos from that time, none was perfect. This one was made as a bit of fun...there have been more in this channel, one even with paper...

Morena Ruth so sorry you did not see the actual description underneath the video (as also show above now), it says right at the top of the description of the video it is a refresher and for people who have woven before and already know how to weave - so I did say it - but of course you need to read it. Also if you cared to look there is a second detailed step by step video about this as a power point on my channel that actually does show the end . So I am sorry to say but before you accuse me for not teaching you everything perhaps have a closer look. Also if you really keen there are classes online (paying ones of course) that will teach not only the purse but other things too. The Hetet School of Weaving would be the best place for that. I have always clearly stated that these videos are not for beginners and people should try and find a tutor that takes them under their wing or do a actual online class that also starts with these relatively easy pieces. So I am sorry I do feel a bit offended right now by your comment.