What kind of thread do you use for a pine needle basket?
Nettle, hemp, and linen thread are generally very strong with hemp and linen being the strongest of the three. These threads can be waxed by pulling them over a piece of beeswax. After waxing they pull through the layers of pine needles easier and with less drag.
Can you make a pine needle basket with short needles?
Needles from the long-leaf pine tree are almost always used in basket making. The short-leaf pines produce a needle that may be up to 6 inches long, but these needles are quite skinny. However, if this is what you have available in your “backyard,” you may use them; it will only take more time and patience.
How do you preserve pine needle baskets?
Another way to preserve them is to give them a Glycerin Bath which renders them very flexible and preserves them well. I know some people add the RITT Dye to the Glycerin Bath too. Roast pine needles in the oven making sure glycerin and water mixture doesn’t deplete, turn and check often, add more water if necessary.
How long do pine needles need to be to make baskets?
A Word About Pine Needles Needles from the long-leaf pine tree are almost always used in basket making. The average length of the long leaf needles is 6 inches to 15 inches.
How do you dry pine needles quickly?
Dry the needles in the sun on a large towel or other cloth if you’re going for a bleached look. If you want the needles to retain their color, dry them in the shade on a large cloth. This process may take a while, so check the needles every day until they’re as dry as the dead needles that have fallen from the tree.
How do you soak pine needles?
Gather your pine needles and place them in a large pan. With an adult to help you, pour about a pint of boiling water over the needles. Let them sit in the water for 10 minutes to soften, then using tongs, place the needles on paper towels to let them drain and dry.
What can you make from pine needles?
The needles make excellent fire starters, flavoring for teas and vinegars, grill smoke to season meats, air fresheners, and, of course, mulch. They have many medicinal properties as well. Collecting pine needles and processing them correctly can help you harness any of these natural properties.
What do you do with wet pine needles?
Note: When not working on your basket, wrap the wet pine needles in a damp paper towel. Put the pine needles and your incomplete basket in a Ziploc bag and store in the refrigerator. The pine needles will be fine as long as you work on your basket daily. However, if you neglect your project for over a week, the needles and your basket will mold.
How do you make a basket out of pine needles?
As the coil gets short, add new clusters of two or three pine needles under the last stitch, then sew them in as you turn the coil. Keep the coin even thickness as you weave the basket. Once the base of the pine needle basket is the right size, start to turn the coil up to form the basket sides.
What’s the best way to stitch pine needles?
Make sure that you pull your stitches as tight as you can because when the pine needles dry they will shrink. Whenever the plastic straw is in your way to make a stitch, slide it farther down the pine needles that you are adding. Whenever there is room to add more pine needles into the end of the straw, do so.
Do you need to soak weaving needles before weaving?
Each time you plan on weaving in needles, soak them first so they are pliable. Your needles won’t go moldy if you leave them in water for a couple of days. If you decide to remove the knobs, cut them to spare your hands. I learned a painful lesson by removing them manually.