I is for Ika | Slow Stitching with Te Reo Māori | Stitch & Spindle with Waihipi

Join me for a meditative slow stitch session as we explore the letter "I" in our Te Reo Māori series. Today, we stitch "Ika" (fish) while sharing the powerful pūrākau (story) of how Māui fished up the North Island, Te Ika-a-Māui. In this video, we continue our journey of learning Te Reo Māori through the art of slow stitching. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced stitcher, this project is designed to help you find "Mauri Tau" (peace and presence) while connecting with Māori culture and storytelling. We'll cover: The meaning of "Ika" and its significance in Te Ao Māori. A storytelling session featuring Māui and his magical fishhook, Mairerangi. Slow stitching techniques for creating organic, fish-inspired textures. How to incorporate Te Reo Māori concepts into your creative practice. Subscribe for more slow stitch journeys:    / @stitchandspindlewithwaihipi   🧵 Watch the Te Reo Māori Playlist:    • Slow Stitch | Te Reo Māori  Alphabet   👩‍🎨 Follow my creative process on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/pnebw4b4 🧶Ravelry adventures: https://tinyurl.com/j9bfbk2r If this video brought you a moment of calm, you’re welcome to support my work via Ko-fi ☕️ https://ko-fi.com/waihipiforage0138 0:00 - Introduction to the project and "baby dragon" 0:23 - Planning the bag layout and marking the fabric 0:51 - Placing and pinning the eco-dyed fabric panels 1:55 - Today’s word: Ika (fish) and the story of Maui 2:21 - Using pomegranate-dyed vintage fabric 3:50 - Demonstrating the invisible base stitch 4:05 - Stitching the small fish using a detached chain stitch 8:00 - Creating the "fishbone skeleton" design with a fly stitch 10:44 - Couching the edges of the fly stitch for durability 11:37 - Ladder stitch and running stitch details 13:13 - Determining the orientation of the bag and the flap 13:47 - Pinning and outlining the large fish template (Ika) 14:07 - Story Time: The legend of Maui fishing up the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) 20:06 - Cutting around the applique fish outline 21:23 - Stitching details on the fish: fins and gills 24:00 - Upcoming workshop announcements (Auckland & Napier) 25:47 - Couching down the long fin stitches 27:02 - Defining the gills with a back stitch 27:47 - Finishing the eye with a running stitch 28:14 - Progress update and request for baby dragon name suggestions I'm looking forward to the name reveal in part two!