Links to sections of this page:
- All posts — listed in most-recent-first order
- Blog posts about flax weaving techniques and projects
- Posts about my books
- Posts about huis, groups and workshops
All posts — listed in most-recent-first order
- November 2023: Robyn Kahukiwa and weaving taniwha
- July 2023: Meeting Te Rā — The Sail
- June 2023: Three sets of books gifted
- April 2023: Celebrating the sales of over 10,000 copies of my books on New Zealand flax weaving
- Dec 2022: Weaving a simple star
- Aug 2021: A full upgrade of my flax weaving website
- 7 Dec 2020: “Fun and Functional Flax Weaving” book
- 13 Jul 2020: Even diagonal weaving — or finding the ara
- 27 May 2020: A second set of project instructions translated into te reo Māori
- 30 Oct 2019: Weavers’ National Hui 2019
- 14 Sep 2019: Translating this site into te reo Māori
- 29 Mar 2019: Weaving an open-weave basket
- 25 Oct 2018: Weaving a sun visor hat
- 30 May 2018: Weaving jewellery
- 25 Mar 2018: Earning an income from your craft
- 6 Mar 2018: Weaving a water bottle cover
- 16 Jan 2018: Weaving in Rarotonga
- 19 Dec 2016: Weaving a flax planter
- 31 Aug 2016: Flax weaving for charity
- 19 Mar 2016: Weaving Baskets, Backpacks, Boxes and Other Projects
- 25 Jun 2015: Flax weaving for gifts
- 1 Apr 2015: Weaving a remembrance poppy
- 1 Apr 2015: Camp Quality weaving workshop
- 11 Jul 2014: Country Life interview on flax weaving
- 6 July 2014: Basket weaving of Vietnam
- 8 Dec 2013: Flax weavers and their weaving
- 9 Nov 2013: National gathering for flax weavers
- 29 Jul 2013: Netted flax flowers
- 5 Nov 2012: Flax weaving on a marae
- 9 May 2012: Being creative with fibre
- 25 Feb 2012: Using flax for foliage
- 13 Dec 2011: Making flax paper
- 8 Aug 2011: Weaving a flax fantail
- 5 Feb 2011: Beachcombing for flaxworks
- 9 Dec 2010: Flax weaving for Christmas
- 21 Nov 2010: Flax butt handles
- 22 Sep 2010: Weaving in Norfolk Island
- 31 May 2010: Weaving a rounded six-plait cord
- 27 Feb 2010: Where does this bag come from?
- 16 Jan 2010: Flax on the brain
- 17 Dec 2009: Flax angel with flaxen hair
- 30 Aug 2009: Links to flax weaving groups
- 30 Aug 2009: Growing and weaving pīngao
- 23 Feb 2009: Weaving Flowers from New Zealand Flax
- 21 Dec 2008: Making a flax angel
- 31 Oct 2008: Weaving a three-dimensional star
- 9 Jul 2008: Weaving a four-plait cord
- 26 May 2008: The fibre in flax
- 14 Apr 2008: The wax on flax
- 14 Jan 2008: Finishing the top edge of a basket
- 17 Dec 2007: Weaving a flax star
- 12 Nov 2007: Bands for the boys (and girls)
- 28 Sep 2007: Taking flaxworks overseas
- 30 Jul 2007: Weaving a flax belt
- 14 Jul 2007: Simple designs for dyed flax
- 15 Jun 2007 An article in the Christchurch Star
- 2 Jun 2007: Harvesting the lace from lacebark
- 7 May 2007: Experimenting with dyeing flax fibre
- 24 Apr 2007: Flowers for OSCAR
Blog posts about flax weaving techniques and projects
- Bands for the boys (and girls)Instructions on how to weave a simple flax wristband which is a popular item to weave for young people.
- Weaving a simple starHow to weave a simple star with one strip.
- Weaving a star to use in gift wrappingInstructions for making a flat star, used here as a decoration on wrapped gifts, plus other ideas on using flax while wrapping gifts.
- Weaving a three-dimensional starInstructions for making a three-dimensional star, following on from instructions on making the flat star.
- Making a flax angelMaking a flax angel using variegated flax to give texture to the wings, and including a sea-smoothed shell ring as the halo.
- Flax angel with flaxen hairInstructions for making a flax angel with long golden hair, a halo and feathery wings.
- Weaving a remembrance poppyI have regularly been asked about weaving flax poppies, and this post includes ideas for two different poppies.
- Weaving a four-plait cordColoured illustrations showing the steps for weaving a four plait cord, using both strips of flax and flax fibre.
- Weaving jewelleryHow to weave pendants using the curved four-plait and a cord using the rounded four-plait, with links to instructions for both.
- Weaving a rounded six-plait cordIllustrated instructions for making a rounded six-plait cord suitable for jewellery and other uses.
- Using flax for foliageUsing the different qualities of flax, including shredded flax, to create foliage for floral arrangements.
- Flax butt handlesSaving the base ends of flax leaves used for weaving, shaping the ends and using them for basket handles.
- The fibre in flaxVarious ways flax fibre has been used throughout history and a demonstration of how to extract the fibres.
- The wax on flaxA discussion on the way different flaxes look when they are dried and a discussion on dyeing flax.
- Simple designs for dyed flaxInformation about dyeing green flax strips and ideas for ways of using dyed strips
- Experimenting with dyeing flax fibreDyeing flax fibre, mixing colours and the different way fibres dye compared to flax strips.
- Flax weaving for ChristmasUsing overlaid strips of coloured flax to make a festive pattern, a reader’s wreath and an idea for a wreath made from woven stars.
- Beachcombing for flaxworksIdeas for creatively adding found objects, such as driftwood and shells, into your weaving.
- Flax weaving for giftsSeveral ideas on using flax containers and baskets both as wrappings for gifts and as gifts in their own right.
- Weaving a flax planterSuggestions on how to use the waikawa style of basket to weave a flax planter for planting seedlings.
- Even diagonal weaving — or finding the araHow to find a straight row of weaving — the ara — to ensure that the weaving is even and straight.
- Finishing the top edge of a basketInstructions for weaving a simple straight edge which gives a finish that keeps the pattern of the weave intact.
- Weaving an open-weave basketGuidance on weaving an open-weave basket, with illustrations that show, using arrows, the correct placement of strips. Suitable for experienced weavers.
- Weaving a water bottle coverInformation on weaving a water bottle cover starting with a hexagonal weave base and finishing with a plaited cord top.
- Weaving a flax fantailInformation about weaving a fantail, as well as information on netted flax and including a link to illustrated instructions.
- Weaving a flax beltHow to weave a simple flax belt, using a bangle for the buckle and including instructions for the fastening.
- Weaving a sun visor hatInformation on weaving a visor-style hat, using my book ‘Weaving Baskets, Backpacks, Boxes and Other Projects‘ for guidance
- Growing and weaving pīngaoInformation on growing pingao, a native coastal plant, and on weaving with it. Includes illustrations of a kete woven with pīngao.
- Harvesting the lace from lacebarkHow to harvest lacebark from the lacebark tree, or hoheria, in a sustainable way.
- Being creative with fibreA review of different presenters’ ideas on being creative with fibre and my thoughts on using flax and flax fibre in creative ways.
Posts about my books
- “Fun and Functional Flax Weaving” bookAnnouncing the publication of my book “Fun and Functional Flax Weaving”, with information on how to purchase the book.
- Weaving Baskets, Backpacks, Boxes and Other ProjectsInformation about my book on weaving flax baskets, backpacks and boxes and other projects, and how to purchase the book.
- Netted flax flowersAnnouncing the third edition of my book Weaving Flowers from New Zealand Flax, which includes netted-flax flower designs.
- Weaving Flowers from New Zealand FlaxAnnouncing the first edition of my book Weaving Flowers from New Zealand Flax. It’s now in its fourth edition.
- Weaving a flax planterSuggestions on how to use the style of basket that is in my book “Weaving a Large Container from New Zealand Flax”.