Hiya Xavier, Thank you! Yes when I started making these videos I made them mostly for people who have been to classes here before in NZ. If may help you to look up two others on my channel - both on how to make a flax Kono - which is the base of the hat in essence. The Powerpoint one also has the lock off (or cast off/finish) on it as step by step that might help you a little. Any further questions feels free to contact me on flaxworx@gmail.com. Happy to help.

I would rather not make them too big as that requires a very long harakeke, and they also tend to be a bit too soft/droopey if they are too big.

for a wider brim you can always add another row or two or more of add-ins to make it wider but you will need very long whenu (strips) to start with or you might run out of length. A good friend of mine made a large sombrero type hat once with a very, very wide brim....

Kia ORa, I'm not sure which red one you mean, but we have 5 (or 6) Potae videos inside the Weavers circle - our subscriber-only space on our website (flaxworx.co.nz). Some tutorials are way too time-consuming and complex to put on KZfaq, so we created over 80 there, from kete to potato to pikau and even piupiu...

Kei the pai whaia I found your vid😅 nga mihi.

Kia Ora Francesca, you need to head over to my website (www.flaxworx.co.nz) and there is a section that says "Weavers Circle" and that is where you can sign up. But I do encourage everybody to watch the FAQ there as well as that explains a lot about where to find things etc. Also here on youtube is a video that explains some of that as well - if you search on my channel "weavers circle"

Hiya Nancy, no I do not (though they might work as the length is there) - this one can be done with all sorts of material so I cant see why not. There are other ways of making a hat of course but that one is one of the easier ones to learn and is based on the " Kono" start and it can be manipulated to have a more round finish at the top too.

+kelly papara I do have a facebook page (flaxworx) but in terms of lock off's - ideally you learn your first few things in weaving with a tutor - who will also teach you tikanga and a load of other things - these video's are not for beginner weavers but meant to help with additional knowledge - and a lock off in particular is something that most learn on their first lesson when they start off in weaving so I don't go into detail in the videos for that reason. However - if you don't have a tutor close to you (or you may be overseas) try Mick Pendergrast's book - how to weave a kete ( I think that is the title) - loads of little tricks and tips in that one

Me too!

Thanks for your comment. It's meant to be for people who have already woven one or two hats before so know how the brim is done - at the time that was what I got asked for by friends and they had some experience already. All weaving (well our way of weaving) should be learnt first face to face perhaps at a course and my video's are aimed at people who have some experience already. However there is a weaver in NZ who does very clear and step by step video instructions and you can sign up to her classes - it's called Maori Weaving with Veranoa Hetet - on fb - she is very good and does online classes.

Kia Ora Tyler, you harvest it yourself here in NZ at least... it is part of the process of Maori weaving in fact - we look after the plants as well. there are two videos on my channel about harvesting and preparing flax that may help. I have seen flax grow in other countries too as it has been moved there as exotic plants but its usually not the same quality. However most things I demonstrate can be done with other materials as well - like Pandanus etc.

Thanks, there are I don't know how many ways of making potae - most are just a trial and error thing that people do - basically you can shape most potae (even the one shown) into different shapes - the true round one is not that easy - there are the "island style" ones with the big hole in the top that are round but most maori style hats start of more or less as a rectangle or square and get shaped into form - there are a few nice hats in Mick Pendergrasts Books as well.

+Flaxworx Is it possible to use the Pikau starting ( to get the circle shape) to make the crown with a hole in the top??

Sorry but as I said earlier - I am not sure how to make a round one - I have seen some - made with kuta rather than nz flax recently (and started life as the one that I show here but are shaped to look round) but the ones that I know made with flax are usually more square than round - though that all depends on how they can be manipulated - it's all a trial and error. The island style ones that are round have a big hole in the top ( I may make another video showing those when I get a moment) and then there are the ones with some "points" at the top that could almost be considered to be round but most perfectly round potae have a different cultural and regional heritage - meaning they are made in different countries and from other materials...

+Pharyn Himiona depends on the size of the head.. and the size of the whenu as well - it's a bit of a trial and error this - I would start by adding 4 more to this one - so perhaps 28 whenu - and then up it if needed - so 32 and so on...

Kia ora, So sorry. this video builds on others I made before so usually when I dont show something or just go fast over it it means its shown in another or I assume the person watching has already some weaving experience from elsewhere. All my videos are meant to be for weavers who have had lessons before or some experience and to them showing them every tiny detail makes no sense. They have taken off now I know but they where never meant to be complete step by step instructions - just refreshers. I highly recommend to do a class with a tutor face to face - or alternatively a actual online class - like the Hetet Weaving school (paying classes).to get all the details

@@Flaxworx thanks

Kia Ora Robyn, sadly I am a bit pressed for time for the past year and a bit due to other commitments and it does take a bit of plannign and two people to make these. i had planned on making one but never got around to it. However - there are some open top potae videos already on youtube - albeit with palm leaf but the technique is the same. Also on fb there is a group Raranga Toi Whenua and a lovely man on there has made that very same potae in a series of videos if you become a member there you are able to access them.

Hole in top potae

thanks! it's kind hard to stop the talking in old videos...this one is from 2013... you can always turn the sound off though. Sorry that I can't change this now...

its not meant to be for absolute beginners sorry. This type of hat is based on the Kono that is a easier weaving project and then it is just a matter of adding extra whenu for the brim... I have more potae video tutorials on my membership site but they are not free like the youtube ones sorry.

@@Flaxworx ok, im just referring to the fast speed of the vid, came too fast, before I could see the pattern. I dont think you have to be a professional, lololollol. have a great day keep shining

@@Zuvuuya you can alter the playback speed on youtube, the sound might not work with that version but the video itself will be slower and No, one does not have to be a professional:-)

@@Flaxworx cool I will look for that thanks