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Teacher - Karyn. karyn@motec.nz
A kono is a basket woven out of harakeke (New Zealand flax) and was traditionally used by Māori to serve food in.
Issue: I have always had a desire to learn to make a kono but have never quite got around to it until now. Now that I have made a kono I can honestly say that I am pretty pleased with my first effort and will certainly be going on to create more. I found the entire process to be quite therapeutic and (almost) relaxing. Yes I did have some frustrating moments when I was all fingers and thumbs but working through this was good for the sole.
My first kono - made from harakeke. "I found the harakeke great to work with and I totally enjoyed the whole process."
My second kono - made it from paper. "I found the paper quite flimsy and hard to work with."
Brief: To create a kono out of materials that you have in your bubble. It is a nice idea to give your first kono to someone, look at it as 'a little basket of love'.
To make...
a small gift for someone, given in love.
a small gift for someone, given in love.
E iti noa ana na te aroha
E iti noa ana na te aroha
Specifications
you can use any suitable materials you find at home, harakeke(flax), paper/coloured paper/calendars ( make sure it is stiff), a stiff fabric, light card...
you can use the links/photos that I have included to guide you through the process or
you can register at
This is an awesome site that have offered their kono weaving workshop for free during lockdown. (usually you pay a subscription). I found out of all the sites I viewed that this was the easiest to follow. It includes:
THE Most important Raranga class for beginners
Step-by-step video lessons
Expert teaching from Māori weaver, Veranoa Hetet
24/7 online access
(I cant recommend it highly enough - Veranoa the tutor is certainly very easy to follow and has such a lovely way with her as she takes you through the process.
Casting on for your kono
16 strips of paper (if using harakeke these are called whenu).
Make a cross with 2 strips.
Keep adding in your strips - going under and over.
Continue until you have 8 strips going in each direction.
Peg the corners to keep it firm. (you could use bobby pins or paper clips)
Turn your cast on base over.
You will work in groups of 4 - take the 1st and 3rd on left and fold up ( they will be the ones that are underneath)
Take strip 5 and pull to the left. Then fold down strips 1&3, and up strips 2&4.
Take strip 6 and fold over to the left. Then fold up strips 1&3 and down 2&4.
Repeat with strips 7 & 8 and then peg. Turn kono to the right and repeat for the next 3 sides.
I couldn't take photos of next step as too fiddly for me...but you need to work your way round the kono and even up the sides. Then it is time to cast off. You start this by choosing a V of 2 strips and folding them out under threading them under your weaving.
This shows the bottom of the kono.
The finished kono.
Good luck and I look forward to seeing your completed kono.
Remember I feel the best way to go through the entire process is to register for free with the
Send your photos to karyn@motec.nz
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