How to make a Kete Whakairo - all natural

[@lvnthdreem2125]

At the age of 25, I learnt how to care for and cultivate harakeke to make kete whaikairo, I learnt the skill in one day and made one for each of my 6 sisters, then life happened, babies, work, travel so sadly, my kete skills came to an end. Today at 55, I have rekindled my passion for raranga making korowai and currently on my 8th one for my tuakana, eldest sister, and it feels like I never lost the art of raranga (weaving). Thanks to you and your lovely mahi, I will now rekindle my kete whakairo which I have missed all these years. Nga mihi nuunui ki a koe.. a huge thank you.

[@Flaxworx]

thank you for sharing this with me and your kind words!

[@heathersutton8343]

Kiaora.Very good to see, remember what I was taught at TWOA in Tauranga centre .Lots just came back to me.Kia Kaha everyone.

[@tekohaowairua9082]

I absolutely love your content and videos. Nga mihi nui for sharing your knowledge whaea x

[@margaretlove3991]

Thank you so much for your tutorials on weaving I’m a weaver of 30 plus years and love your way of weaving and the patterns you do I am going to make some of those beautiful kete Thank you

[@Flaxworx]

thank you Margaret! Glad I could be of help!

[@emamahuika1928]

Kia Ora I am a beginner and I just love watching your videos you have made this look so easy I can't wait to make another one 🥰

[@ConnieConner-b3u]

Thank you for sharing I'm actually going to give this a try 😁

[@charlesmeihana6890]

I love your work and respect your kaupapa totally ,, I love watching your videos

[@andreaselwood4800]

Many thanks, I find your delivery accessible + am giving this go!

[@Evet]

Thank you what a lovely demonstration.

[@marney68papua]

Thank you for showing how to close bottom

[@marney68papua]

Thankyou for sharing this kete weave , for me ,you simplified the taparua I tend to get a bit lost in my old age nga mihi

[@johnsonshakila1]

Thank you for the tutorial. Well explained. I can't wait to start my weaving. I have been weaving the basic patterns of weaving palm leaves. But your video has motivated me to try this new technique. Thank you once again

[@Flaxworx]

You are very welcome indeed Shakila! I do hope you find it useful.

[@amyamataiti6496]

Very clever and neat work i like the side weaving because I don’t know so I want to learn and how to start

[@skyricharde6629]

Amazing! Thank you so much for your generous sharing.

[@CadTrii234]

Thank you so much for posting this. I will try straight away.

[@annaprez6620]

Love the over lay bag

[@cyrilvedel5286]

j'adore la façon du tressage et aussi le panier. Mais je voudrais bien voir la finition du bas du panier et aussi celui du haut la visibilité du l'image est pas nette. merci

[@annaprez6620]

Hi my dear I love to watch your videos.

[@annegibson6877]

Nga mihi nui, whaea Riti, I have watched many of your videos and find them fascinating and very instructive, so appreciate your clear explanations and descriptions. I have a question about timeframes re the harakeke. Can you tell us more about this please? I think you mentioned the harakeke being used for this kete was harvested quite some time ago: how long between harvesting and weaving on this particular project? Was it weeks or months? Also, when did you form those strips which are each 6mm wide, from when you harvest and when you wove this? And when did you do the harpene on those? I am very much a beginner so am using harakeke that is only a few days old, at the most at this point, but I notice how quickly it goes dry and often becomes quite difficult to weave with. I have not tried to weave with harakeke which is dry and yellow like this, so look forward to hearing.

[@adabello6145]

Saludos desde tierrasVenezolanas, excelente cómo explicas la trama del tejido. He aprendido muchísimo, gracias, gracias

[@alexandrahowie5743]

Thank you so much for posting these amazing informative videos! I am super new to raranga but excited to learn and work up to big projects! Would you consider doing a video on how to treat flax for storing to use in the future and the boiling process etc? Thanks again :)

[@Flaxworx]

I have made a video on preparation (here on this channel) and two more on the subject for my subscribers in the Weavers Circle (its a paying subscriber space on my website www.flaxworx.co.nz) one of those videos is a recording of a zoom meeting the members I and I had on the subject.

[@aliasgarden5876]

Great skill very good video

[@elshelbyandzue-davies8341]

kia ora who was your kaiako?

[@Flaxworx]

My first kaiako was Ann Uerata for a 6 week evening class and then at the full time one year class I had two (well three as Ann helped out as well), Judy Robson-Dean, Te Orihau Te Tai and Ann Uerata

[@juanitasavage756]

Thank u 4 sharing 🥰🙋‍♀️

[@teaomihia2004]

Thank u for sharing u are great thank again arohanui kla koe ..

[@juanitasavage756]

Love watching ur vidz

[@rosiefriis4794]

Super helpful video! How many hours does a kete like this take?

[@Flaxworx]

Thank you! For me, only about 3-4 without the preparation of the fibres beforehand, but I have years of experience, when I started it would have taken me a day or so.

[@shanlynwebb]

Thank you 😊

[@Flaxworx]

You're welcome 😊

[@odetteclothildewala5882]

Très bon travail accompli felicitations

[@marie_mounier]

Hello, I would love to make kete whakairo but I can't find the material. do you know where I can buy some online ? I live in Paris and I can't find it

[@Flaxworx]

Not really, Normally a weaver would harvest their own and then prepare it in which way they find it bests for their own uses. Unlike willow weavers who can buy the material, it does not work like that with Harakeke. some have tried in the past but its too expensive for most people as a lot of time and effort goes into it and that is before postage and customs etc are added for overseas people. The only recommendation I can give you is to look around if you can find any plants that you may be able to harvest. I know there are loads in the UK, maybe it is the same in France? The other option would be to use a different material, perhaps Raupo (bullrush)? That should have the length at least and definitely grows in Europe.

[@marie_mounier]

@@Flaxworx Thank you so much for your reply, it is interesting. I am sure there are some plants in France but I don't know where. I will keep my eyes wide open. I hope to be able to try one day. Have a nice day, marie

[@EleanorGurnick]

Lovely thankyou

[@TukuReihana]

Tēnā koe whaea, am I able to purchase a kete? Although I’d love to learn kete whakairo, I would love to wear a kete everywhere I go as an everyday backpack, tōku kete matauranga🙏🏽

[@Flaxworx]

Kia Ora Tuku, I very rarely make kete these days as I am busy with Mahi Piupiu but the ones that I do make are in my online shop on flaxworx.co.nz - but there are usually many hobby weavers out there who may sell them even on trademe or fb marketplace and they will have theirs cheaper as I am a registered business and have a lot of overheads (and GST) that others dont...apologies

[@yvonneormsby9786]

Kia ora, your mahi is beautiful.

[@sandrinevl4408]

thank you for sharing your art. too bad your logo is sometimes in the wrong spot.

[@Flaxworx]

yes I know, it's like that on purpose actually ... I had someone screen grabbing from my yt feed and so I had to put it right over the middle. I do normally have no logo at all on my videos in our subscriber-only place (Weavers circle, more details on my website) though, as that is only for paying members so they are getting the "unobstructed" view (most times at least) and there are about 60 odd different videos and many projects are mentioned a number of times so one can cross-reference as well.

[@nathanmoore6167]

Kia Ora, I've been wondering how to make a handle for a while now, is there going to be a tutorial in the future or have you already made a demo?

[@Flaxworx]

Kia Ora Nathan, there are so many ways a handle can be made that I rather not show it. I was never shown either but was told by all of my kaiako to try different things and test what works for what type of kete etc and that seems to be the best approach as every person is different and has different preferences. Most weavers will start with a simple 3 or 4 plait handle though but I have seen all sorts over the years, even just "bought" ones that are fabric and are attached to kete. If you want some ideas, the Mahi Kete Book by Mick Pendergrast has some in there if I remember correctly and also the Fun with Flax book also from Mick.

[@roimatamassold4730]

Nga mihi nui ❤

[@amyamataiti6496]

That’s. not me i will get complicated I mean weaving into patterns I get lost don’t where to go i think it’s better I weave the normal plain bag

[@Flaxworx]

Yes, its not for beginner weavers indeed, that is why most of my videos are aimed at people who do already have some experience in this type of weaving and might pick it up easier. Ideally you have had some face to face tuition first - it helps:-)

[@renatamcstay]

kia ora