Zealana | Korora Hood Kit

Stylish, versatile, and warm, this hood will keep your ears toasty and your hair in place, while also fitting right in with next winter’s hottest accessory! Made from the amazing Zealana Rimu DK, featuring the unique brushtail possum fibre, you can be as sleek and warm as a… well, a penguin!

This pattern is knitted in the flat. The sample is made from

• main colour, R01 Natural
• contrast colour, R35 Ivory

Kororā is the Māori name for Little Penguin, a species of penguin native to New Zealand, also known as fairy penguins or blue penguins. Standing at around 25 cm tall and weighing about 1kg, these adorable creatures can be found exploring protected areas on the coasts of New Zealand reaching speeds up to 6 km/h in the water. The overall Kororā population has unfortunately been declining due to the threat of dogs cats, ferrets, stoats and other predators, deaths from road traffic as they travel inland to their nests, and being caught in nets. An increase in coastal development has also negatively impacted the Kororā population in New Zealand, as nesting sites are damaged or removed. However, in areas with predator control and other interventions, those populations are stabilising or even improving. The largest groups can be found on Motunau Island, Pohatu Bay, Banks Peninsula, and the Oamaru Blue Penguin colony, and we have been lucky to see them in person in the waters off Whangarei and Wellington. 

The worlds smallest penguins come ashore between May and June to prepare nests. They may waddle up to 1.5 km from the sea, and climb 300 m to find the perfect nest site, scrambling up steep and rocky hillsides to make their burrows. During this time they are very noisy and can be heard around the coast, and they have been known to nest under coastal houses! During the day, they may be spotted by boat in sheltered harbours and inlets if they are not out and about exploring, fishing and feeding.

The Kororā Hood has been beautifully created in Rimu DK with a beautiful contrast stitching, the perfect accessory to keep your head warm as you waddle around town.

What Comes With Kororā Hood Kit

Your kit will include

• 2 balls of Rimu DK in your choice of main colour
• 1 ball of Rimu DK in your choice of contrast colour
• PDF pattern

What You Need to Make Kororā Hood Kit

• straight or circular needles in your choice, in 3.25 mm and 4.00 mm – see our needles guide below!
• needles for seaming and weaving in ends
  • We recommend the Knitpro Wool Needles.
• scissors
  • See all our options here

If you need knitting needles, we have options in two brands!

• For Hiyahiya, you will need a cable and your choice of tip, available here:
  • Steel tips 5 inch
  • Steel tips 4 inch
  • Sharp Steel tips 5 inch
  • Bamboo tips 5 inch
  • Cable We recommend 60 or 80 cm for this pattern
• For Knitpro, you will need a cable and your choice of tip, available here:
  • • Symfonie tips (birch wood)
    • Zing tips (aluminium)
    • Cable We recommend 60 or 80 cm for this pattern
• For more information on circular needles, check out our blog post: The Ultimate Guide to Circular Needles.

Who Do We Recommend Kororā Hood Kit For?

This pattern is suitable for adventurous beginners, with the only tricky part being joining the seams to create the shape of the hood.

About Zealana

Woolyarns, the founder of Zealana, was the first company to spin possum yarns. They created the Zealana brand in order to showcase their ultra soft, light, warm and durable luxury hand knitting yarns. Their Performa series of yarns features machine washable possum blends.

Settlers brought the non-native possum to New Zealand in the 19th century for the purpose of building a fur industry. Then the possums devastated New Zealand’s bird population. When you buy Zealana yarns, you are helping manage the possum population in New Zealand, and helping prevent possum predation on New Zealand native birds. You’re also getting yarn made with a fibre that is breathable, warmer than either merino or cashmere, and luxuriously soft.