You're Never Too Old To Learn A New Skill

I have always loved crafting! From the first needle my mother put into my hand at a very young age until today I have done some sort of craft. It's a nightly ritual that I will have a needle or hook in my hand and will be turning some raw material into a beautiful creation while watching TV. My husband asks me if there is something wrong if I am not creating.

So, when a friend recently asked me if I wanted to learn how to make pine needle baskets I gave her a resounding. "Yes!" I had been introduced to pine needle baskets a few years ago while visiting a craft show. I thought they were beautiful and immediately wanted one!

My friend and I took a 2 day class where we discovered that creating a pine needle coiled basket takes a lot of sewing skill and little to no weaving skill. Since that lesson I have created 10 baskets and am busily creating more! The only thing stopping me is a lack of reasonably priced and easily accessible basket bases and pine needles. They are plentiful at the club meetings in Florida, but are difficult to find in New York so I am finding that I am getting very resourceful.

Pine needle coiling is actually an ancient Native American art. Some believe that it is a lost art; however, the women at the Artful Basket  and Creative Coilers Clubs in The Villages, Florida are working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen!

Pine needle baskets are made with very long dried pine needles that have been washed and baked in a water and glycerin solution. The needles are grouped and held together by a gauge. A variety of stitches can be used to hold the needles and rows together. Sweet grass can also be used in making these baskets. The beauty of pine needle coiling is that there are no rules. You can use any material available and any stitches you can come up with to create an original basket.

These pine needles are drying after their bath.

Using a needle, gauge, chord, and pine needles, intricate baskets are created. Pine needles, pottery, or other types of bases can be used to start the basket.

Once the basket is finished it is time to check for stray needles or threads. Once these have been trimmed the baskets are sealed with polyurethane. They are then ready for use!

Below are photos of some of the baskets that I have made. Because of the nature of the pine needles and the centers they are not completely symmetrical which adds to their appeal.

These beautiful baskets are currently available at craft shows. As I build an inventory I will offer some of them in my Etsy shop. Prices range from $15.00 - $175.00.

Upcoming Events

We are looking forward to several new shows for August. 

August 5 & 19 - a limited supply of Cruisin' Creations will be available at the Castleton-On-Hudson Farmers Market. Stop by Main Street from 4-7!

August 11 - we are looking forward to exhibiting at Speculator again this summer! It is always a great time and a show that has anything you can possibly need handcrafted by very talented artisans!

Keep checking back to our blog as new shows are being added!

Until Next Time...

Diane