Muka Sampler

A woven sample of kākahu (cloak) fabric.

This sampler was woven by weaver Matthew McIntyre Wilson (Ngā Māhanga, Taranaki) using whatu aho rua (two pair weft twining) technique with natural and tānekaha dyed muka (New Zealand flax fibre) threads. This piece is bordered by two different examples of fine braiding.

Matthew decided to weave this sample to explore the techniques he had seen used in kākahu and taonga Māori held in museum collections. This work is about learning and is an exercise in technique execution. The intent is that other makers and weavers can learn from this piece much like he learnt from the study of objects.