Māwhitiwhiti Shawl - Free Knitting Pattern
The Kaakahu Shawls are a collection of free knitting patterns inspired by my experiences with traditional Māori weaving. This mini collection includes the Whatu Shawl and the Māwhitiwhiti Shawl—two versatile designs that highlight the connection between weaving and knitting.
In late 2020, I took an online class with Aho America to create my first ornamental kākahu (traditional Māori cloaks). As I learned the techniques, I noticed striking similarities between the weaving stitches and knitting stitches. This sparked the idea to translate these weaving techniques into knitting patterns, resulting in this unique collection.
Māwhitiwhiti means "to cross over". It's similar to cable stitches, which I initially used to achieve the look of māwhitiwhiti. However, I discovered that the actual stitch is created by combining drop stitches and cabling. I call this stitch the whetū, or the star.
These shawls are perfect for knitters who:
Enjoy mindful, meditative projects: The rhythmic, repetitive stitch patterns encourage a calming flow as you knit.
Love culturally inspired designs: The patterns celebrate traditional Māori weaving techniques, weaving history and meaning into every stitch.
Appreciate learning through making: With techniques inspired by weaving translated into knitting, these shawls offer a creative challenge that expands your skills.
Want a versatile, thoughtful project: The one-skein design makes these shawls perfect for gifting or creating something meaningful without a big time or yarn commitment.
The Kaakahu Shawls invite you to explore the connection between craft traditions, to create with intention, and to carry forward a story of artistry and heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the meditative simplicity of the design, the chance to learn something new, or the opportunity to create a meaningful gift, these shawls are for you.
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How to Knit the Whetū Stitch
Pattern Information
Yarn
Fingering/4-ply
Camellia Fiber Company White Tweed Sock (84% Merino, 16% Donegal Nep: 437 Yards; 400m/100g).
Maawhitiwhiti Shawl: 1 skein in Chicory
Needles
US 3/3.25 mm and US 5/3.75 mm size or size needed to obtain gauge.
24 in./60 cm circular needle
Gauge
30 sts and 36 rows = 4 in./10 cm in St. st using US 5/3.75 mm after blocking.
Gauge is not crucial to these projects, but varying gauges can have an effect on final measurements and yardages.
Notions
Darning/tapestry needle
4 Stitch Markers
US H-8/5mm crochet hook
2 cable needles (optional)
Abbreviations
BO: bind off
CO: cast on inc’d: increased
k: knit
k2tog: right leaning dec; knit 2 together
kfb: knit 1 front and back kwise: as if to knit
LH: left-hand
M1L: make 1 left; with left needle, lift the yarn between the needles from the front, knit into the back of this loop
p: purl
p2tog: right leaning dec; purl 2 together
pfb: purl 1 front and back
p tbl: purl 1 through back loop
pwise: as if to purl
rep(s): repeat(s)
RH: right-hand
RS: right side
sl: slip 1
ssk: left leaning dec; slip, slip, knit together
st(s): stitch(es)
tbl: through back loop(s)
WS: wrong side
wyib: with yarn in back
wyif: with yarn in front
Pattern Instructions
Construction
The Maawhitiwhiti shawl is a bottom-up crescent shawl. It starts with a drop-stitch border and then moves to the body, which is knit using an altered form of short rows. Finally, fringe is added at the bottom.
Casting On
CO 312 sts using the long-tail cast-on.
Set-Up Row 1 (WS): Sl pwise wyif, p all sts.
Border
Work Maawhitiwhiti Stitch Rows [1-4] once.
Note: The Drop-Stitch Cable pattern on Row 3 can be worked without a cable needle.
Row 1: Sl pwise wyif, p all sts.
Row 2: Sl pwise wyif, *insert needle into next st pwise and yarn over 3 times around needle, then purl that stitch, drawing the 3 wraps through the st (this counts as one st on next row); rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 3: Switch to smaller needle, Sl wyib, *Sl 5 sts wyib, dropping all extra wraps to create 5 long sts on the right-hand needle. Then work a 1/3/1 Left Cable: Slip the next stitch to the 1st cable needle and place at the front of work, slip the next 3 stitches to the 2nd cable needle and place at the back of work, k1, k3 from back cable needle, then k1 from front cable needle. Rep from * for each group of 5 sts until last st, k1.
Row 4: Sl wyib, k all sts. Switch to larger needle once the row is completed.
Work Stockinette Stitch Rows [1-2] 4 times (8 rows worked).
Row 1: Sl wyib, k all sts.
Row 2: Sl pwise wyif, p all sts.
Rep Steps [1-2] 3 more times (36 rows worked).
Work Maawhitiwhiti Stitch Rows [1-4] once more.
Work Stockinette Stitch Rows [1-2] once.
Short Row Section
Sl wyib, k161, turn.
P12, turn.
K to 1 st before turning point, ssk, k4, turn.
P to 1 st before turning point, p2tog, p4, turn.
Rep last two rows until all sts have been worked.
You will have decreased 60 sts. 252 sts remain.
BO.
Block shawl first before adding fringe.
Adding the Fringe
Materials Needed
C2 yarn
US H-8/5 mm crochet hook
Cardboard (8 in./20 cm tall)
Steps to Add Fringe
Wrap the C2 yarn around the cardboard 50-70 times.
Cut the yarn at the bottom.
Position the shawl:
Ensure the right side (RS) is facing you.
Place the bind-off (BO) edge near you.
Insert the crochet hook:
Place the hook through the stitch where you want to add the fringe.
Lay the midpoint of 3 pieces of fringe over the hook.
Pull through the fabric.
Wrap the tails of the fringe over the hook and pull through the loop.
Tighten the fringe gently to secure.
Keep the fringes about 3 in./7.5 cm apart.
Continue adding fringe until you cover the edge of the shawl.
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