How to weave a putiputi

Clean the flax with a cloth.

Measure 30 cm from the join and cut the butt off with a sharp knife.
Fold the flax in half long ways then strip off colour bands and spine.

Fold the flax blade at the join.
Divide each blade into 3 or 4 strips.
Hapine (stretch to soften) each of the strips of the flax (whenu) by stretching it against  a blunt knife.
Put flax on a table with shiny sides up.
Miss the first whenu then fold two and two down.

Hold the first whenu over, pressing hard to lie over his friends.

Leave the first 1 then pull the downs up and the ups down.

Turn the first whenu across his friends and weave.

Keep doing this till there is only one whenu left.

Turn the whole stem 90 degrees till all but one whenu is facing up.

Bring the last lonely whenu to see his friends, all the same way.

Miss the first two then fold down up down up like before.
Fold across his friends and weave like before.

Twist the flower over, holding the other whenu till they come out down by the stem.
Share half the whenu and tie  it around the stem in a  double knot.
Curl or shred the stamen if required.

Well done for making a Putiputi.

(Whenu = the strip of flax.)

By Lexie and Molly.