The MANA WĀHINE collection, six knitwear designs inspired by Aotearoa and Hawai’i, is the inaugural series from the AROHA | ALOHA project highlighting the works of modern indigenous makers.

Purchase the full collection; or, purchase the patterns individually here.

Āina literally translates into “land” in ‘Olelo Hawai’i. Its meaning goes so much deeper than just a single definition. The land is a relative—our eldest ancestor—the mountains and forests, rivers and oceans, all alive and breathing, existing outside of our limited human understanding of time and space. We are born from the land and we return to it when we die. ‘Āina sustains us and provides everything we need: nourishment, shelter, a deeper relationship to the experience and meaning of life. Indigenous cultures have always known that the health of the land is intrinsically tied to the health of the people.

We must respect this basic fact and return to the reverence once held for our living land, protecting it as we would our own flesh and blood, honoring those who came before us, and with blessings for the generations to come. Aloha ‘āina — love the land.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS
32 (37.25, 42.25, 47.5, 52.75, 57.75, 63, 68.25)” 81.5 (94.5, 107.5, 120.5, 134, 146.5, 160, 173.5) cm bust circumference
Shown in size 37.25” 94.5 cm

YARN
Approx 865 (965, 1100, 1215, 1385, 1550, 1730, 1945) yds 791 (882, 1006, 1111, 1266, 1417, 1582, 1779) m of Aran weight yarn
Shown in Doc Mason’s Wool 2019 (75% Clun Forest / 25% Romney/Shetland/Cheviot/Baby Doll/BFL/Alpaca, 210 yds 192 m per 4 oz 113g skein) in Natural 5(5,6,6,7,8,9,10)skeins

NEEDLES
Circular needles (and DPNs, unless using Magic Loop) in sizes:
A: US 10.5 / 6.5 mm
B:US10 / 6mm
C:US9 / 5.5mm
D:US8 / 5mm

GAUGE
15.5 sts and 20 rnds = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on needle B

NOTIONS
Stitch markers
Cable needle
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle