Designing a pattern
I got a little ahead of myself last week. Before picking colors or fabric, step 1 was: What is this tivaevae going to be about?
I wanted a design that connected the Cook Islands (my father’s birthplace), Aotearoa New Zealand (my birthplace), and San Diego (my home). My own personal Pacific triangle, if you will.
I also wanted the pattern to be simple and relatively easy to sew. There’s a good chance I’d end up taking an extended break if the sewing became too frustrating. Know thyself, right?
Palm trees linked by the ocean are an elegant solution to both points.
Melodie Turori
Melodie is the director and producer of Spirit of Tivaevae. Born in New Zealand to a Cook Islander father and American mother, Melodie was raised in the United States. Her family background gives her a unique perspective on being a Pacific Islander raised outside the culture.
