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The Nuku Beanie is a collaboration between Francoise of Aroha Knits and Qiane of the Nuku Podcast. Qiane reached out to me to ask me if I was interested in designing a beanie for her to help raise funds for her work. Her goal for her podcast is to interview 100 kick-ass Indigenous wāhine in Aotearoa “who are doing things differently” and then publish a book.

All revenue made from this beanie was directly put towards the Nuku Podcast Boosted fundraiser. Now that the fundraiser is over, future sales of the Nuku Beanie have been sent as koha to the podcast.

The development of the motif was created by the collaborative efforts between Francoise and Qiane. The motif utilizes the nihoniho (teeth), a symbol of strength and resilience. The horizontal zigzagging of the nihoniho is a reference to the aramoana motif, ocean pathways, illustrating the diverse journeys we have all undertaken.

Use the code TPoF-PoTW-Nukweb at checkout on Ravelry to receive 60% off the pattern this weekend, exclusively for Indie Untangled subscribers!

Whakairo, the respected art of Maori wood carving, resonates with me because, while it is a work of art, the carvings also tell a story. The patience and diligence of these wood-carvers in honing their skill amazes. The results honor their heritage as stories and lessons embed themselves in these carvings for future generations.

Knitting, like whakairo, requires patience and diligence. I use knitting, specifically knitwear design, to honour my heritage and carry the stories, values, and lessons of my people forward. I wanted to create a piece to pay tribute to this art form, which I was able to recreate the feel through the usage of twisted stitches and cables for a fabric rich in texture.

The Whakairo top is the sibling pattern to the Whakairo cowl. I loved working with the rich textured stitch pattern (originally created by Hitomi Shida) so much, exploration in another form was necessary.

This top is worked bottom-up and in the round until the armhole separation, where each side is worked flat. The drop-shoulder, boxy fit with minimal shaping only at the armholes, makes it really easy to make adjustments as you please.

Download the Whakairo top and dive into the deep textures to create a piece that will serve your wardrobe for many years to come.

Use the code TPoF-PoTW-whasbe at checkout on Ravelry to receive 60% off the pattern this weekend, exclusively for Indie Untangled subscribers!