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The Coming of the Maori

Bias Wefts

Bias Wefts

Another remarkable development was the insertion of short weft rows termed aho poka during the process of weaving to form slight bulges in the parts of the cloak that fitted over the shoulders and the buttocks (91, p. 104). The cloaks were worn with the middle of the neck border over the left shoulder and the shoulder and buttock bulges or poka fitted over the corresponding protuberances of the body and brought the two side
Fig. 34. Bias wefts.

Fig. 34. Bias wefts.

edges neatly together on the right side when the outer ends of the neck border were tied over the right shoulder (Fig. 34). Without the poka bulges, the lower corners of the garment diverge considerably when worn. I heard an expert weaver say of a badly made cloak without bias wefts, "It hangs like a blanket."