Muka is prepared fibre of New Zealand flax (Māori: harakeke). Prepared primarily by scraping, pounding and washing, it is a key material in Māori traditional textiles where it is usually used in tāniko or twined weaving.
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How do you make muka flax?
First she obtains the strong fibre (muka) from a flax leaf by scraping it with a sharp shell. Once the muka has been softened by pounding, she weaves it with feathers into a cloak. The combination of muka and feathers creates a warm fabric.
How do you soften muka?
scraping the outer flesh from the leaves with a mussel shell. rolling, soaking, and beating the fibre. hand-rubbing it several times to soften the threads for weaving.
How do you extract fiber from flaxseed?
Scutching. In this process, the fiber is extracted by breaking the woody stalk of the plant into pieces called shives, without harming the flax fiber. This used to be a labor-intensive process done by hand. Today, everything is done with scutchers, machines that break the stalk and separate the shives mechanically.
What is Muka used for?
Muka is prepared fibre of New Zealand flax (Māori: harakeke). Prepared primarily by scraping, pounding and washing, it is a key material in Māori traditional textiles where it is usually used in tāniko or twined weaving.
What is the difference between Korowai and Kakahu?
Korowai is the name of a muka [flax fibre] cloak with hukahuka adornment [tassels], while kākahu is the Māori word for clothing, however in reference to a cloak it’s more commonly used when describing a full feather cloak.
What did Māori use flax for?
Clothing, mats, plates, baskets, ropes, bird snares, lashings, fishing lines and nets were all made from flax leaves. Floats or rafts were made out of bundles of dried flower stalks. The abundant nectar from flax flowers was used to sweeten food and beverages.
Why do you boil flax?
Boiling the strips
The main advantage of boiling is that it will drive off some of the moisture inside the flax cells. This will shrink the cells, and shrink the strip width.
How did Māori make rope?
If you take a sharp shell and scrape it along a flax leaf, you will remove the green flesh and be left with strong, white fibres called muka. Māori spun muka into thread and used it to weave warm clothes and make ropes, fishing nets and many other things.
What is a Muka tie?
Muka is a harakeke (flax) fibre tie that is used by many whanau to secure the umbilical cord after birth. This policy relates to the use of muka fibre only, and no other fibre.
What is a Korowai cloak?
The Korowai is a traditional woven Maori cloak. The Korowai is worn as mantle of prestige and honour. The name Korowai is symbolic of leadership, and includes the obligation to care for the people and environment.
What is flax Fibre used for?
The best grades of flax are used for linen fabrics such as damasks, lace and sheeting. Coarser grades are used for the manufacture of twine and rope. Flax fiber is also a raw material for the high quality paper industry for use in printed banknotes and rolling paper for cigarettes.
Which type of fiber is flax?
Flax is a bast fiber also known as skin fiber. These fibers are collected from skin or bast surrounding the stem of the plant source. They have higher tensile strength than other fibers. These are used for durable yarns, fabric, packaging etc.
Where is fiber flax grown?
Fiber flax is grown primarily in Europe and Asia. Its fiber is used to make fine linen cloth. Fiber flax varieties are very tall, with few branches and low seed production. Seed flax is short, highly branched and selected for high seed production.
What do we say Muka in English?
muka n pl. (literary) Agony, torment, ordeal.
What did Māori use Kowhai for?
Kowhai is said to symbolise personal growth and helps people to move on from the past with a renewed sense of adventure. The bark of the tree can be used in a bath to help with bruising and has long been used by Māori to help with broken bones as well as itching, shingles, dandruff and gonorrhoea.
How do Māori use Manuka?
Mānuka is abundant throughout New Zealand, from lowland to subalpine areas. Captain Cook used this plant to make tea, as he liked the bitter taste – hence its other common name, tea-tree. An infusion of the bark is used externally and internally as a sedative. It was also used for scalds and burns.
Can anyone wear a Korowai?
“There are lots of different kinds of cloaks, but the korowai is the one with the highest prestige.” Traditionally, it would be awarded only to people from the upper echelons of Maori society, or given as a gift to people from outside the community if they were thought to be of equally high standing.
Can you buy your own Korowai?
We deliver Korowai Maori Cloaks from our Gift Shop in Whangarei throughout New Zealand and World wide. We love to help you choose the perfect Korowai for yourself or as a gift.
When can you wear a Korowai?
graduation day
It is worn as a mantle of prestige and honor. Everyone has different reasons for wearing Korowai on their graduation day whether it be, a sense of identity, a graduation acknowledgement, a congratulatory gift, a connection to our NZ heritage or family tradition.
Is flax poisonous?
Flax seed and its oil are generally recognized as safe for human consumption. Like many common foods, flax contains small amounts of cyanogenic glycoside, which is nontoxic when consumed in typical amounts, but may be toxic when consumed in large quantities as with staple foods such as cassava.