Instructions for Weaving Pine Straw Baskets
Pine needle basket can be simple or complex. They use very few materials, and most of those can be gathered in the woods. The best type of pine needles to use are the needles from the long leaf pine tree, but any of them will work. Some pine needles are narrower, ad will require more needles to make a thick coil. The thread that you use will create your pattern, so you can use 1 color all the way through, or multiple colors to create a more patterned look.
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Things You'll Need
- Pine needles
- Long doll needle
- Thread
- Bucket
- Boiling water
- Leather gloves
Instructions
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1
Gather a enough pine needles to fill a large bucket.
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2
Pour boiling water over needles, and allow them soak for 30 to 45 minutes. This should kill any insects or larvae.
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3
Drain the water out of the needles.
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4
Pull the caps off of the ends of the pine needles with your fingers. If you get one that is tough, scrape with a dull knife blade to remove. Don’t separate the needles. It will make it easier to put your basket together if the ends are still connected.
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5
Cut a piece of thread about 2 yards long.
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6
Place 3 to 5 needles together to get about a 1/4 inch thick coil. Place the cap ends together on 1side.
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7
Wrap the end of the thread around the cap end of the pine needles, and tie a knot. It doesn’t matter what kind of knot, as long as, it is tight. Snip off the short piece of thread that is left over.
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8
Place a needle on the long end of the thread. Pull the thread through about 6 inches.
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9
Bend the cap end of the pine needles in towards the side of the pine needle to create a fish hook shaped end. Wrap the thread around from the cap around the pine needle and back to the cap. Bend the pine needle around itself a little more and stitch around the coil into the “U” of the fish hook shaped center.
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10
Continue working around the coil with the pine needle stitching often. When you get about half way down the pine needle, add one new pine needle section into the center of the pine needles. Add a new pine needle section about every inch. This should keep the coil even. Continue sewing each row into the row before it as you work around the basket. Keep the basket pressed flat. This will make the bottom. Keep working until you reach the width you want for your basket. If you need to add a thread, simply tie the new thread to the end of the old thread.
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11
Start the sides. Once the bottom is the correct width, gently lift the coil on top of the row before it, and stitch it into place. Continue working around the basket until the sides reach the height you want. When you reach the height you want, do not add any more sections of pine straw to the coil, and it will slowly taper to an end. Stitch this section just like you did the rest of the basket.
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12
Stitch to the end of the pine straw coil, and then stitch back 2 inches.
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13
Run the thread through the pine straw coil for an inch or 2. Pull it out, and snip off the end.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Some plants carry fungus that can cause infection if a needle runs through it, and breaks your skin. Wear a pair of leather gloves, and wash any cuts immediately.
References
- Photo Credit pine needles image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
