The sacred Zia sun symbol represented on this pot holder originated with the Zia Indian people of Zia Pueblo (over 600 years old), in New Mexico. In 1925 the Zia symbol was appropriated by the state of New Mexico as its official state insignia, and placed on its state flag. Unfortunately, the Zia tribe was not consulted in this matter, so legal issues are still being worked out between the state and the tribe, even to this day.

This Zia pot holder is one of a set of two; the other is a road runner pot holder. The road runner is New Mexico’s state bird. I knitted them as a gift for a dear friend whose birthday is coming up the end of this month.

I used cast-on and cast-off techniques that I learned from Sue Gregori’s pot holder designs.