Making a putiputi

This putiputi (flower) is very simple and is made using one flax blade. Learn how to make a putiputi by following the step by step photos and instructions. Click on the photos to see an enlarged version of the images.

The flax blade is green and glossy on one side. The underside has a white-ish sheen. You'll also notice that the blade has two halves joined in the middle by a hard brown spine which runs down to a stiff butt at the base of the blade. It will also have a thin dark strip along each outer edge. Making a putiputi

Preparing the blade

Fold the flax blade in half. The glossy green side of the blade should be on the inside. This may cause it to split down the middle but this is okay.

Making a putiputi
Using your thumbnail, make a small incision a few millimetres from the outside edge of your flax. You should go through both layers of your folded blade. Making a putiputi
Pulling on the edge will make a larger hole. Making a putiputi
Eventually this hole will should run the length of the blade. Pull the edge all the way off and discard. Repeat this process on the other side of your blade (at the fold). The aim is to be rid of the hard brown-coloured spine of the blade and the dark strip on the outer edges. Making a putiputi
You should now have one blade separated into two strips. These strips will come together towards the bottom of the blade. Below this point the leaf will be harder and less flexible. This will be the stalk of our putiputi. Making a putiputi
Fold the left-hand strip as shown. Making a putiputi
It should look like this. Making a putiputi
Now fold the second strip as shown.(Making this putiputi will always require you to alternate the strips that you fold so if you find yourself folding the same strip twice then you have gone wrong somewhere!) Making a putiputi Making a putiputi
After your second fold your flax should look like this. Making a putiputi
Fold the first strip again as shown. Making a putiputi
It should look like this. Making a putiputi
Now take this same strip and bring it forward so that it sits in front of your main stem. You may have to bend or manipulate your flax a little to get it to do this. Making a putiputi
It should now look something like this. Making a putiputi
Fold the second strip again as shown. Making a putiputi
Make sure that you feed this strip through so that it sits in front. Making a putiputi Making a putiputi
It should look like this.(It may help at this point to start turning the putiputi so that you have a better hold on it.) Making a putiputi
Fold the first strip again as shown.(Try and make your folds sharp and tight as the flax will shrink as it dries and will loosen a bit.) Making a putiputi Making a putiputi
It should look like this. Making a putiputi
Fold the second strip again as shown. Making a putiputi
It should look like this. Making a putiputi
Fold the first strip again as shown. Making a putiputi
Continue working your way around the putiputi with alternating folds creating "petals" as you go. Making a putiputi
Depending on the length of your flax blade you may work your way around three or four times. Making a putiputi
As you fold the leaf you have left will get shorter and shorter. Making a putiputi
Keep folding until you run out of leaf to fold. There is no need to secure the ends as the folds will keep them in place.Congratulations! You've made a flax putiputi. Making a putiputi
It is traditional to give away the first putiputi that you make. You will find that the second one that you make will be nicer anyway! Making a putiputi

WARNING - After handling harakeke/flax make sure that you wash your hands! If you ingest flax you may become sick!

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