Cloak

A rectangular cloak (kaitaka patea) made from New Zealand Flax fibre with a decorative border (taniko) on three sides. This garment was made by finger-weaving or twining without the use of a loom. The main technique used is double-pair twining, which forms the wefts (aho). There are also four rows of single-pair twining at the bottom next to the taniko border. The cloak is very finely twined with 11 warps (whenu) per cm and wefts 8mm apart. The warps continue into the bottom taniko border, and the neck edge has warps folded over in a roll in light and dark threads. The taniko edges are folded over, with the raw edges of the warps at the back. There are four grouped extra wefts (aho poka) on each side at the shoulder area, three each side of the hip and three each side at the bottom to provide shaping. Also two twisted cords (light and dark) along all the side edges. The bottom taniko border is deeper than the side borders and has patterns in zig-zags and diamonds. Patterns on the side taniko borders are triangular. The surface of the taniko is raised in places giving a sculptured effect.