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!