Tīvaevae ta’ōrei ‘etu (patch work quilt with star pattern)

Tīvaevae ta‘orei (patchwork quilts) require careful mathematical planning. To make this elaborate pattern, Paree Ringiao threaded hundreds of diamond-shaped pieces of fabric onto a string, in a precise sequence. Then she pulled them off one by one and carefully stitched them together. Her mother-in-law helped her.

Some women plan their tīvaevae ta‘orei designs on woven pandanus mats, or graph paper. A few can create patterns from memory, seeing them in their mind’s eye as they arrange the pieces of fabric.