Resources
Pine Needles
Threads and Wire for Coiling Baskets
Tools Needed for Pine Needle Basketry
Gauges for Pine Needle Basketry
Buy Now →Fabric Dyes for Dyeing Pine Needles
Pine Needle Basket Sealing and Finishing
Beeswax Finishes
Books on Pine Needle Basketry
Pine Needle Basketry by Judy Mofield Mallow
Buy Now →Pine Needle Basketry on Textile Indie’s Youtube Channel
Tools and materials
Satisfying pine needle basket project {hyperlapse}
Gathering and cleaning pine needles for basketry
Cleaning Pine Needles
Materials:
- – Pine Needles
- – Dish soap
- – Water tub
- – Hot water
- – Towel
Bring water to a simmer on the stove or use very hot tap water.
Place pine needles in the water tub with a small dash of soap. Pour hot water over the pine needles and allow them to soak for 15 minutes to soften resins and release the dirt.
Swish the needles around slightly to knock off any bits of debris that are still stuck to the needles.
Remove the needles from the water bin and place on a towel.
Dump the dirty water outside. DO NOT dump down your drain. Resins may have released into the water and once chilled they will harden and can clog your drains.
Do a rinse by pouring hot water over the needles and rinsing away any soap residue and dirt.
If you are going to store the needles allow them to completely dry before storing them in a paper bag or a well-ventilated container.
To use right away soak for a total of an hour before beginning to work with the needles.
Dyeing pine needles with rit dyes
Pine needle mini basket tutorial
Basic Pine Needle Basketry Stitch
Where to Put Your Needle – Stitch Placement
Finishing a pine needle basket
Beeswax finishes
You can use melted beeswax as a pine needle basket finish. Or combine it with an equal amount of paraffin wax to make it more cost-effective.
My favorite way to finish a pine needle basket is to use a mixture that is also used for beeswax wraps (see a video on how to make beeswax wraps here)
For a full tutorial on how to finish a pine needle basket in this way see the video below.
The recipe includes beeswax, jojoba oil and pine resin.
You will combine all the ingredients in a glass jar. I like to use something recycled or designated for beeswax so that I don’t have to worry about it getting messy. I put this jar in a pot with two or three inches of water, creating a double-boiler affect. This gets heated slowly on the stove to heat the water which in turn heats the waxes and combines them. Stir thoroughly and make sure the pine resin has fully dissolved as it takes the longest to liquify.
Once liquid you can apply the mixture to your basket.
Recipe:
- Beeswax Pellets: 1.25oz
- Pine Resin: 0.35oz
- Jojoba Oil: 1 Tablespoon