Links to flax weaving groups
30 August 2009Click here to visit an upgraded version of this blog post on my new website at alibrown.nz.
Do you meet in a flax weaving group that is open to new participants or visitors? If so, do add a comment on this blog post with the group’s location, contact details and perhaps any other information you think might be of interest. If there are enough groups, I’ll create a Flax weaving groups section on the new Links web page that I’ve just put up on this site. To show how I could create a link directly to a comment on a blog post, I’ve added a Flax weaving groups section to this draft Links page.
A number of weaving groups have placed orders for my book, and this has reminded me of how many weaving groups there are in New Zealand. Also, I often receive email queries about all kinds of flax-related questions — many more email queries than blog comments — from people who might be seeking information about weaving groups, or recommendations on tutors in different parts of the country, or enquiries about certain types of weaving that I might be able to supply. Sometimes I’m in a position to help and sometimes I’m not, so I thought it was time I put up a links page.
It was fun googling for links, and I came across a number of examples of flax weaving online that I hadn’t seen before, like the wall hanging by Jess Parone, pictured on the right, and the sculpture by Jan van de Klundert, pictured below. In the last few years, I’ve noticed that more and more examples of flax weaving have been going online. There is always something new.
It’s good to see the increasing interest and exposure of flax weaving, and I’ve also been surprised and pleased by the number of people from other countries who have bought my book. It seems that New Zealand flax is spreading all over the world. Also, I don’t know whether it is the same in other cities, but more and more new houses in Christchurch seem to have flax plants in their front garden.
Do add a comment below about your flax weaving group, or a query about weaving groups in a particular location, or any other comment about weaving groups that you might want to share.
© Alison Marion Brown 2009.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Are there any weaving groups in or near Newcastle, Australia? I would love to learn more about weaving and have someone to share with.
Thanks and congratulations on your excellent work.
Huia.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Hiya Ali, thanks so much for making your book available. It has proved a wonderful resource for many of my raranga friends. I attend a Raranga class at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Rotorua. Our tutor Gerry Karekare introduced our class to your book. A lot of us took advantage of your bulk buying discount, which is great for those of us penny pinchers. Since then I have also introduced your book to another weaving group I belong to at Taharangi Marae near Kuirau Park in Rotorua. I think your book is so popular because it is so easy to follow with clear instructions, photo’s, tips and ideas on what to do with your putiputi once you’ve woven them. Thanks again Ali, happy weaving to all. Felicity Champion, Ngongotaha.
September 9th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Hi Felicity
Thanks for your comments about the book. It’s good to see you and others are enjoying using it.
Is the group you belong to at Taharangi Marae open to new participants or visitors? If so, do you wish to add the contact details and perhaps any other information you think might be of interest?
October 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Kia ora Ali. What a fantastic site!! I was very glad to stumble across it. I did a beginner’s raranga evening class at UNITEC a few years ago and it sparked a passion within me. I have since gone on to explore non-traditional materials and hope to have an exhibition next year. Thanks for further inspiration. Jan
January 21st, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Hi Ali,
I’ve recently moved back to the U.S. after a year and a half in New Zealand. I’ve brought back your book and as much prepared flax as I could! I’m wondering if you have any contacts in the states for any weaving groups. I’d love to continue my passion for raranga here!
Thanks,
Mary
February 11th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Hi Ali,
I have just discovered your amazing website with the fantastic instructions. I am keen to find a good,local teacher and group to weave with in Nelson.I already meet with 1 or 2 people on a fortnightly basis, but need some tuition.
Do you have any contacts in this area please?
Thanks
Mary
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:50 am
Hi Mary Goshorn
Sorry Mary, but I don’t have any contacts with weaving groups in the USA. If you are a weaver in USA, let me know and I’ll pass your details onto Mary
Hi Mary Kroch
I do have a contact in the Golden Bay area - Maureen Harte.
If anyone knows of any weaving groups in Nelson, let me know and I’ll pass the information onto Mary.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I am going to live in Palmerston North.
I want to join a raranga group, can anyone help me as to where I may make contact please Maki
November 13th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Hiya Ali, thanks also , as another happy weaver has noted, so much for making your book available. It is indeed a wonderful resource for me and many of my raranga friends. I attend a Raranga class at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Manukau campus, Mangere Auckland Our tutors and other weavers noted introduced our class to your book and a lot of us took advantage of your bulk buying discount, which is great for those of us penny pinchers and dollar challenged students. Love the puti puti ! Thanks again Ali,
January 13th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Hi Ali How do you keep your weaving so tight
January 30th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Hi Roneta
To keep the weaving tight, it’s best to use flax that has partially dried out i.e. it’s not freshly cut and has had a lot of the moisture scraped out. I also tend to tension my weaving fairly tightly with every movement of the weaving. This means that every time I move a strip, I’m tensioning it at the same time.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:45 am
Link to flax weaving class in Onehunga Auckland
http://www.onehungacentre.org.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=49960&idDetails=169
there is a waiata class afterwards, so great exposure to Maori heritage
September 15th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Thanks, Christine. I’ve added this to my Links page.
March 31st, 2012 at 8:34 pm
I am looking for a flax weaving group/class in west auckland and a korowai making class in auckland..
June 17th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
hi i to am looking for a flax weaving group or course for korowai in the west auckland area too does anyone know of any going around here
September 5th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
ka rawe ou mahi
September 5th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
tēnā rawa atu koe, Ida
January 22nd, 2013 at 8:52 am
Kia ora Hamaina and Vanessa
We are weavers who meet together to weave one saturday per month in a little hall on Te Atatu Peninsula. Contact me on 09 826 1595 if you would like to know more.
February 7th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Hi Ali
I’m really amazed at your work and would like to weave myself. I was also wondering is there a age limit for being tutors?