Flax Flowers

Theo, Louis and Salvador taught some room 9 pupils how to create a flax flower today. They were great leaders, giving clear instructions and supporting the pupils along the way. They have kindly offered to run a lunch time flax flower club every Friday so that others can learn.

 

We had heard that there were some Maori Tikianga (protocol) that we needed to follow when using flax, so we did some research on the internet. The Flaxworks website gave us lots of important information. We learnt that when using flax for weaving, we should:

1. Say a Karakia before cutting the flax.

2. Cut the flax with a slanting action so the water doesn’t settle in the cutting area and rot the flax bush.

3. Cut the outer pieces of flax as they are stronger and best for weaving. The middle shoots of the flax should be left intact as this is where the new growth begins.
4. Give the first weaved craft away - this provides good feelings of success to the weaver and the acceptance of his/her creative expression acknowledged.

5. Return all remaining and unwanted flax back to the original flax bush.

How to make flax flowers - written by Theo Keenan

Step 1: Get a piece of fresh flax and strip it into 2 pieces.

Do this in the middle of the flax and do it half way down the flax.

Step 2:Strip it now into 4 pieces on each side.

It's your choice of doing more but don't do it less than 4.

Step 3:Start to fold the last strip on either side doesn't matter much.

After you fold it with the other strips go under,over,under and over.

Step 4:Do this until you have 1 strip left.

With the last strip fold it over so it goes over the first one in the other bunch.

Step 5:Continue until you have only 10cm of flax left.

Once you get to the 10cm mark you fold it and tie it and your flax flower is done!