Pine Needle Baskets?

[wicahpi]

I was just wondering if anyone out there has done any basket weaving with pine needles, and what kind of pine needles are the best to work with?

[NancyJo]

You might check with someone at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Talequah, OK. They have done demonstrations on pine needle baskets there in the past.

[Singing Otter]

I haven't ever tried but I'd like to one day. These are the ones I've seen used though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2361457618&category=3087

[Sweet Syilx]

We use lodge pole pine needles when we weave our baskets. I particularly enjoy making baskets when I have the time. It is very stress relieving. If you have any questions, send me a pm.

R.

[Blackbear]

This sounds like a question for Tara

[Tara]

Re: Pine Needle Baskets?

Wicapi,

You can use just about any kind of pine needle for basketry, most basket makers use the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) which only grows in the southern states. The problem with the shorter needles growing to the north is that you are constantly adding needles to your coiling bundle, and baskets tend to have a ragged finished appearance.

I have a short article and basic instructions on coiled and pine needle baskets starting at the url

http://nativetech.org/basketry

A good resource for 'coilers' would be The Pine Needle Group! They have a website at

http://pineneedlegroup.tripod.com

Hope that helps!
Tara

[Blackbear]

THANKS..I saved that link for myself considering I'm surrounded by blue spruce!!! I might try it while I"m camping next summer!!

[Tara]

Bear. I wouldn't try using any needles smaller than 3". I think spruce needles would be pretty short? Spruce does have great roots for sewing and lashing though. They grow for yards just under the ground surface, pull up a few runners, peel off the bark and split it down to any width. Works beautifully with bark containers.