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Once Were Weavers celebrates the complexities of the Māori that colonization tried to erase. The name subverts the title of a brutal movie, “Once Were Warriors,” a story that displays the violent image of Māori culture and reduces it to this one view. Instead, this shawl rejoices in the depths of our culture which reveal us to be scientists, voyagers, navigators, warriors, gardeners, weavers, makers, artists.

The stitches used in this shawl represent and sometimes mimic traditional weaving techniques. Lace stitches and tassels imitate feathers, a common decoration for traditional Māori cloaks. A special combination of dropped and cable stitches approximates a cabling done in weaving, and you’ll marvel as these stitches come together in your hands.

Sitting easily on your shoulders, this three-quarter shawl will become the perfect partner for any occasion. Knit it up in linen yarn for warm days or wool for the cool nights of winter.

Download, select your yarn and cast on today for a beautiful meditation on the complexities of indigenous culture.

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

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!

🌱 Celebrate growth, strength, and peace with every stitch…

The Koru Cowl is a stunning stranded colorwork project inspired by Te Ao Māori, the Māori worldview that honors the deep connections between all living and non-living things. The unfurling motif comes from the koru, the spiral of a silver fern frond, symbolizing new life, growth, strength, and tranquility.

This cowl is a beautiful way to build your colorwork confidence. The nearly-symmetric motif provides a meditative rhythm, while long stretches of resting color give your hands and mind space to breathe. You’ll practice stranded knitting, master locking floats, and deepen your appreciation for how simple stitches can carry so much meaning.

Originally worked in soft, rustic Shetland wool from Harrisville Designs in fingering weight, the Koru Cowl is a joy to knit — warm and light, with crisp stitch definition that makes the motif shine.

🌿 Wrap yourself in a story of renewal and connection.

Cast on the Koru Cowl and let each round remind you of the beauty of growth and the peace of nature’s patterns.

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

Imagine strolling through the woods on a well-kept trail. A brook babbles somewhere near. Bright sunlight filters through the treetops, dancing across your face and scattering across the smooth path. Richly colored leaves fill the trees. A fresh cool breeze sweeps a few leaves from the branches and swirls them around you, sending goosebumps across your skin.

Thankfully, you brought along your most recent finished object, the light yet warm and cozy Mizu Shawlette.

This simple and sophisticated one-skein wonder project works up in sections of stockinette, divided by a fine line of slip stitches for textural and visual interest. At the edge, a delicate and airy lace pattern resembles water dripping off leaves after a summer storm.

Due to the simplicity of the design, the pattern works well with colorful and busy colorways and by using the slip stitches as a guiding point, can also be used with gradient yarns. However, it truly shines with semisolid or solid colorways. And you only need one 400 to 440-yard (350-420m) skein of fingering weight yarn, so this dreamy piece is perfect for that special skein you’ve been saving.

Cast on and continue dreaming with the Mizu Shawlette….

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.”
– Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, 1818

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

This shawl design was inspired by LA Bourgeois’s article for the Fibre Muse Quarterly Giver issue, “The Mourning Shawl”. When I asked LA what types of patterns make for an appropriate Mourning Shawl, she wrote, “My requirements for mourning shawls are that they include mostly simple knitting and can include up to three colors.” A Shield Against Grief was created to fit that description; with two simple stitch patterns that make it easy to adjust for different yarn weights or final measurements if you so desire. However, I recommend to knit it up as large as you can in heavier yarns, as so to wrap a loved one up in and bask in its warmth and comfort.

When words are inadequate to help someone’s pain, a handmade project filled with love, compassion and empathy can go a long way. As you are working on this project for someone special, infuse each stitch with the powerful intention of healing and light. Keep in your mind why and who you are knitting it for, and that energy will radiate into the fibres. The person receiving the gift will feel the intentions and blessings every time they wrap the shawl around them or run their fingers across the fabric.

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

Iraira is Māori for “variegated,” reflecting the usage of variegated yarn in this design. Two skeins of yarn are used: one in a solid color and one in a variegated color. This shawl is worked with increases and decreases to shape it into the asymmetrical triangular shape. There’s lots of garter stitch, but the pattern is kept interesting with the use of stripes and slip stitches at different points of the pattern. The shawl is bound off using the picot bind-off for a nice, subtle touch.

This pattern is perfect for the adventurous beginner knitter who has made a few projects, using various skills and techniques. Stitches include knit and slip stitches, as well as a k2tog decrease and a kfbf double increase.

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

When I think of the word winter, the Māori New Year Matariki immediately comes to mind. Winter in the Southern Hemisphere runs during the Northern’s summer months — June to August. Matariki refers to the cluster of stars (the Pleiades) that become visible during this time of year, heralding the New Year and giving a prediction of what the next 12 months will bring in terms of crops, weather and growth.

The Whetū Cowl (whetuu meaning star) features a lace star stitch motif in a fuzzy mohair yarn, on a backdrop of the night sky, twinkling with stars (the wool and mohair held together).

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

While the Festivus Hat embraces the whimsy of the winter season, its name here descends through my French roots to the Latin where Festivus means “pertaining to a feast, gay, lively, joyous.” As we move into these last months of the year, this festive embrace takes hold and we are reminded to begin preparing for the upcoming gifting season.
This design was inspired by one of the winter season’s most iconic images: the mistletoe. The cables and bobble stitches decorating the body of the hat are meant to mimic the leaves and berries of the plant. The result is a stylish cap, rich in texture and intricate details, while also keeping your head warm and cozy this winter.

And since it’s possible to knit up two hats using one skein of DK yarn (130-150 yards/120-140 meters), you can make one for yourself and one for a knit-worthy friend!

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

Nab the Festivus Hat pattern and cast on for a quick-knitted gift that celebrates the lively joy of the winter season!

The Whetū Hat (whetū meaning star) features a lace star stitch motif in a fuzzy mohair yarn, on a backdrop of the night sky, twinkling with stars (the wool and mohair held together). The combination of the wool and mohair makes for a truly warm and cozy winter hat and even in the lace sections with the mohair held double is enough to keep the chill out!

When I think of the word winter, the Māori New Year Matariki immediately comes to mind. Winter in the Southern Hemisphere runs during the Northern’s Summer months — June to August. Matariki refers to the cluster of stars (The Pleiades) that become visible during this time of year, heralding the New Year and giving a prediction of what the next 12 months will bring in terms of crops, weather and growth.

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