Learn to weave

Most people start their weaving journey because they like what others have achieved and want to try it themselves. That is certainly true for me. I started weaving in an Evening Class and immediately knew I was hooked. We prefer face-to-face learning, but that is not always possible. Books and online lessons have become great teaching tools for many people.

Whatever your learning path is, we are happy to help you. On our Facebook page, we sometimes post workshops held around New Zealand (if we find out about them). So follow us there as well.

Google is always your friend when it comes to searching for in-person classes or wananga. Most larger cities in Aotearoa/New Zealand will have some evening or weekend classes. Also, there is Te Wananga O Aotearoa. They offer a range of courses for all skill levels and goals at locations across the country. 

However, we at Flaxworx NZ have also created more advanced stand-alone video tutorials (and related content) that complement these and are available exclusively for members of our Weaver’s Circle. 

More information about the Weaver’s Circle can be found under the tab at the top of our website (next to the logo).

Just for fun and for non-weavers anywhere in the world, you can learn how to make more straightforward items with other materials, such as paper. For instance, learn how to make three different types of star decorations, called a Froebel Star or perhaps a Christmas Tree, or learn how to make a small square container with paper (or other flat material) on our YouTube channel.

We also recently discovered another great material, Kamihimo Craft Paper. We love how it lends itself to all kinds of creative endeavours, and we like working with it, as it requires no prior preparation. We are the only importer of this new craft material into Aotearoa/New Zealand and have also created some smaller online workshops on our YouTube Channel. You can purchase packs of the paper in our online shop, and we often share details about our creations on our Facebook Page or Instagram Channel.

In addition, the two videos below are examples of free videos on our YouTube channel. Please note that most of our videos are aimed at people with prior experience in weaving or basketry.

What is the Weavers Circle – Exclusive Learning space? Find the answer below:-)

Currently, we have published over 70 videos in the Members-only area, the Weaver’s Circle, which include:

• How to “read” or learn a pattern, Part 1 and 2
• How to weave a lid on a kete Whakairo
• How to make a “middle kete” or “split width” kete Whakairo
• How to weave a Kete Whakairo with the Rau Kumara and Niho Taniwha Pattern (1hr long)
• How to turn the sides on any flat project, e.g. how to make a placemat
• How to weave a Flat Base on a Kete Whakairo
• How to move on from the flat base and make a 3 (or four) segmented kete whakairo
• How to make a Kono with a zigzag finish (easy, can be made with paper as well)
• How to weave an oblong kono (Kono Roa) with a turning in the finish (easy, can be made with paper as well)
• How to weave a purse with paper (easy)
• How to “embed” common seashells such as Paua or Kina in Harakeke/NZ Flax
• How to make an A4 Folder
• How and why to boil harakeke
• Other native weaving fibres and their uses
• How to make a Paper Basket with Kamihimo Craft Paper
• How to dye with the new Basic Dye from Jacquard
• some baking videos as we all love cake…
• How to dye with RIT Dyemore Synthetic and how to dye a Piupiu (these are advertising-free videos of the same YouTube videos)

Teaser video – how to make a kete whakairo with the Rau Kumara Pattern (the full length video is inside the Weavers Circle)

How to make a square basket (kono) – there are 2 more video tutorials from a different angle inside the Weavers Circle and on YouTube

How to make a simple Flax Purse – there is another video of this but with paper inside the weavers circle and and older version also on YouTube