Weaving - Fetū Studio

THE CRAFT

Weaving.
My home within.

Sāmoan-Australian weaving traditions taught with care — teaching beginners, curious makers and those remembering who they are.

One Billion Stars

In 2012, I started teaching people to weave an eight-pointed star — a small, repeatable act carrying a big idea: safety, dignity, respect, and a stand against violence in all its forms.

What began in Naarm (Melbourne) after a local woman was raped and murdered, grew into a global movement with millions of stars woven by hands in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Hawai’i, Malaysia, Kenya, Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada and the USA, Barbados and Japan.

In 2018, as part of the Gold Cost Commonwealth Games Arts & Cultural Program, one million stars were displayed in Brisbane city – a collaboration between Maryann, the Office of Commonwealth Games, Museum of Brisbane and Lumen & Cloud. Smaller installations were created at the Gold Coast Athletes Village, Cairns, Townsville and the Brisbane Powerhouse Museum.

You can watch my star weaving free tutorial here.

The Beginners Course to Pacific Island Weaving. Pre-Sale Open Now.

Today, I’m investing in my Beginners Course to Pacific Island Weaving, my top 5 weaving techniques made simple for anyone to learn in the comfort of their own home. Pre-Sale is open til 20 November. What’s inside:

Life time access to 5 step-by-step tutorials, including any updates
Weaving Guide to print, includes stories of each technique and a section for writing your weaving thoughts and reflections.
The Weaving Club waitlist. An online community for weavers who want to gather – come for the weaving, stay for the creativity and connection.
BONUS tutorial: How to Weave a Celebration Ula / Graduation Lei

This has been an idea for a long time, and I’m excited to finally bring it to life and work on it over the next little while.

My hope is that if there’s someone, a Pasifika community member who is yearning to weave with a Samoan-Australian weaving artist, or a creative ally who wants to learn with respect and in solidarity, then you are welcome here.

These are my top 5 weaving techniques that I use in most of my weaving projects, breastplates and pubic art activations and I’m so excited to share in one place that’s accessible and available when you need.

Pre-Sale available til Friday 20 November, after that the course goes up to full price. Check out the link now for details.

Inside the Beginners Course to Pacific Island Weaving

1. 4 Strand Lei

Weaving with Love: We begin with the lei which is a symbol of love and welcome. Learn to weave a thick, full lei using 3cm florist ribbon. Once you’ve got the technique, experiment with different ribbon and leaves. Every lei you make will be a little different, and that’s part of the joy.

2. 4 Strand Plait

Finding your Rhythm: Plaiting teaches us to find our rhythm, one strand over another. This was one of the first techniques I taught myself over 20 years ago, from the frayed border of my mother’s old mat. Used across the Pacific for hats, mats and bags, it’s still my favourite plait.

3. Coiled Earrings

Connection to Land: Our materials come from the land, and weaving keeps us connected to it. Early in my practice, I turned scraps of lavalava material and raffia into woven earrings. This stitch is inspired by the weaving in our Pacific bags & fans and the blanket stitch I loved as a kid!

4. Coiled Basket

Holding Our Values: A basket can hold our treasures and stories. Now that you’ve got the feel for coiling, you’re ready to take it up a level. I’ll show you how to shape your bowl so it’s rounded or has sharper edges. The more we weave, the better we become.

5. Strap Basket

Bringing It All Together: This final basket brings together everything you’ve learned so far. With 24 straps, you’ll use all your fingers and hands, plus a few extra tools to hold everything in place. We’re starting simple, but you’ll be so proud when it’s done, and there are plenty of patterns and handles to explore later.