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Friday, July 29, 2016

Pine Needle Basket from a Pinchicks



6 years old is my first memory of my Great Aunt Eva and her Pine Needle Baskets.  Many years the baskets were displayed and used at home. 
My first attempts weaving Pine Needle Basket.
It's a coil method.

We moved many times when I was a child, the last I saw her basket was 1982.  My mom was proud of Aunt Eva's baskets and she said to me I wish I paid more attention, "All I know is that you have to use the really long pine needles".
The tree on center right gave her needles for this.
6 or more inches needs be.  Many times I came across these special pines and the needles broke in my hand and I wondered how she made these, until I found a basket on Pinterest and visiting the sight I found instructions.


After cleaning needles in hot soapy water, then rinse them and keep a small amount in  plastic with a wet paper towel.
If using clean dried needles, soak for 10 mins. this makes needles pliable.

A small tapestry needle, and a size 20 tatting thread for this first mini basket. One natural bundle of three needles is all it took the water makes the needles bendable and you start with encapsulating the ends like in tatting.
I used (shiny) raffia for next and split the raffia into smaller thread for these mini baskets.  

I am working on patterns and stitching here.
I did change and use a curved needle to go inwards here 

Finding a tiny branch for this ones handle was fun :)

adding more pine needles is done easier than you think. Just tuck in next bundle of needles when you start to work to the end of the last. 
like other basket weaving you have to keep needles moist when making the basket,

This is dedicated to Great Aunt Eva, angels knows, one day I might make one like hers, Love from Carollyn!


Look in on our other Pinchicks Pick of the month not sure they have posted yet and if you care to join us contact Suzanne :)

Suzannes Cards
Margarets Designer Cards
Tips Around The Home
Two Shuttles


36 comments:

  1. Super cute !!! And so dainty ! I can see how you got addicted to making them :-)

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  2. Fascinating! I've never seen this craft before. You have so many different talents.

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    1. Thank You, it is also a lot art and native Americans worked these type of basket!

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  3. I love your little baskets, great story too.

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  4. I love your little baskets, never seen anything like it and something gorgeous to keep little special things in or a few silk flower arrangement.
    Lovely to think you have managed to recreate something from your childhood. Like me and tatting.
    Hugs
    Margaret

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    1. Thanks, and I could have never made this with out the internet, like tatting these things may have been lost.

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  5. They are lovely! What nice memories from your aunt!

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    1. Yes, she was very old and we did not see her often at all it is one thing I was able to remember. Thank you :)

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  6. Your pine needle baskets are wonderful! I have a few around the house that I've purchased. I'm always amazed by hand-woven baskets.

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    1. I know what you mean I have bought books and attempted them with out success, I think it is the weaving of them and how useful they were long ago. thank you :)

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  7. Olá amiga!
    Ficou linda e delicada, a mine cesta.
    Com certeza,deve ter ficado como a de sua tia, maravilhosa.
    amei!!!!!!!!
    beijos

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  8. Pretty neat!!! :) I have never heard of them! I love your baskets!! :)

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    1. If you have, the most you see are larger ones and many styles too. I have even seen a purse and of course you need the trees in your area too. it was a native American thing I think too.

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  9. Gorgeous wee baskets. I love creating with nature, and I've woven a few baskets before, but not for ages, and not with pine needles! Wonderfully done. Does the basket maintain the pine scent?

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  10. Yes and love working with these needles very fun!

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  11. oh my word Great Aunt Eva would be so proud of you, well done. these are lovely and i'm going to collect some needles and try to make some. they are adorable.

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  12. Let me know if you need any more information it's really fun :)

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  13. Let me know if you need any more information it's really fun :)

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  14. Wow Carollyn I really love your little baskets! My mom too do this, but she use the branches of willow.
    Your baskets are very nice!
    have a good week
    sabrina

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    1. Oh I love the willow baskets and want to try that sometime :) I have to find a tree that no one would mind be borrowing the branches :)

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  15. I've never seen pine needle baskets before, but they make perfect sense! Sweet.

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    1. Thanks I wonder if you have long pine needles in Australia ?

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  16. Carollyn thank you for this post!
    Your baskets are very beautiful and I'm sure Aunt Eva is pride of you!
    letizia

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  17. Oh, these pine needle baskets are incredible! Beautiful photography, too.

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  18. Thanks Marilee I really liked making them and feel these have great potential :)

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  19. I once took a class where we took pine needles that were 3-4" long and fed them through a 1.5" chunk of drinking straw. The straw held the needles until we could fasten them and we kept feeding in more needles all the way around. We sewed with waxed cord. I still have my pencil cup and I'm still happy with it. My friend made a small dish and she threw it out right away.

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    1. Oh I did see this Straw thing and it looks like a great idea I will have to try on a larger project.

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  20. at the end I realised it`s soo small! :-D

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    1. Yes,I realize that there was no way to tell how big so I took it in the tree glad you noticed.

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