How to Weave a Unique Pine Needle Basket

Athlyn Green is an avid crafter. She enjoys sharing what she's learned with readers.

How I Wove My First Pine Needle Basket

My mother lived in a small home out in the woods, and she started gathering long pine needles near her cabin. She soon learned the craft of basket weaving with them and created a number of striking pieces. She lined some with fabric, added lids to others, and used acorns as lid knobs.

As soon as I saw her unique baskets, I was captivated by the method and knew that I would try my hand at it one day. I've chronicled my efforts here so that others who are interested in making their own baskets can see the process and avoid a problem I encountered.

Making my first pine needle basket was easier in some ways than I expected, but it also presented challenges I didn't anticipate. Follow along with me as I make my first pine needle basket, and read on for basket-making tips and tricks.

What You'll Need

• Thread: You will have to decide what type of thread to use when sewing your basket. Many basket makers use artificial sinew thread, which comes in a wonderful variety of colors. Raffia or any sturdy thread can also be used. I decided to use light-green mercerized crochet cotton because it is stiff and the color matched the pine needles.
• Needle: Your needle should have a good-sized eye for easy threading.
• Scissors: Keep a pair of scissors handy for this project.
• Pine Needles: These should be gathered prior to starting your basket. I used needles that were about 5–7 inches in length. They weren't as long as I hoped they'd be, but they still did the trick.

Before You Begin

• Coiling Methods: You can use different methods to form your basket bottom and sides. I've included a video below because it's easier to see how it's done.
• Stitch: You will also have to decide on a stitch, or, as I did with this basket, use a number of stitches to get a feel for things. It doesn't hurt to experiment so that you find a stitch to your liking. It's not just pine needles that contribute to the look of a basket! The type of stitch you choose also plays a role in how your finished basket looks. A stitch is not just a stitch. As your basket grows, something interesting happens.
• Books: It's a good idea to pick up at least one instructional reference book. Books offer step-by-step instructions, which make the whole learning process much easier. Once you've tried your hand at fashioning a basket of pine needles, you'll likely want to create another. You may want to experiment with different stitches because these form such interesting-looking patterns on the outside of your basket. Look for a book that includes a number of different stitches to choose from.

Trial Basket Tips

• Your first pine needle basket should really be a hands-on trial run that helps you develop a feel for basket making. Instead of feeling pressure to produce a usable basket, play with it and have fun.
• Don't expect stellar results with your first basket. View it as your learning curve so that when you make your first real basket, you will avoid problems that are hard to foresee (as I discovered). We might try something or read about how to do something, but hands-on experience teaches us what books can't always cover.
• I thought it was easy to pick a stitch from free tutorials online. What I didn't anticipate was how the basket was going to look as the rows grew.
• Experiment with different stitches and different widths of gathered needles, and try using different materials to stitch your basket together. This way, when you move on to your second basket, you will have a better idea of what you like and what you don't.

Tips for Working With Pine Needles

• 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.

Step 1: Start With the Bottom of the Basket

I selected a pencil-sized bundle of needles, gently bent them, and started sewing them together in a coil to form the bottom of my basket. As I went along, I added more pine needles and continued sewing. I decided on the size of the bottom and then started up my sides.

• You will make a coil and sew it as you go.
• You will also have to decide the thickness of the needle bundle you'll work with.

Step 2: Form the Sides of the Basket

When I wanted to form my basket side, I simply moved my pine needles inwards. This made it so that instead of adding to the row in the round (the coil), I worked them up gradually until they were on top of the previous row.

Tip About Needle "Tips"

I removed the pine needle knobs for my first basket but found that doing this made my fingernails very sore. When I started on my second basket, I opted to leave the tips on and simply made sure that they were placed on the inside of my basket.

I found that "tips-on" pine needles made sewing easier because I could sew around them, and they actually helped to secure the thread.

At this stage, I was feeling very proud of my first attempt. I was thinking that this was actually a breeze and thought I was going along well.

My Basket Developed a "Wobble"

I was pleased with how my basket was progressing. It didn't look overly amateurish, and my beading added a nice touch. As I was congratulating myself and feeling somewhat smug (I mean, how lovely are beads?), I noticed my basket looking wobbly and starting to become misshapen.

I was "in for a penny, in for a pound," however, so I unwisely decided to continue on. Mistake! I should have stopped because it only got worse. When I finished, I stared at it in disbelief. What had gone wrong?

What Was Happening to the Sides?

Honestly, I felt that if I blew on it, my basket would fall over. "Fluid" sides were not what I'd had in mind when I started. My poor little basket looked somewhat inebriated. I'll admit to feeling highly frustrated at this point. I felt my beadwork had gone to waste on an eyesore. Ugh!

Step 3: How to Stabilize the Basket

As you can see from the pictures above, my basket did indeed look like a real pine needle basket. However, this first basket reminded me that if I wanted to get into this seriously, I needed more skills at my disposal.

I looked online for free stitch tutorials and went from there, but you get what you pay for. Having invested nothing before I started resulted in a misshapen basket that really wasn't what I was hoping for. Lesson learned.

Tip: To address this issue, sew into the row underneath your current row and not just under your thread. After my basket fiasco, I did this for the lid and it looked much better and was far sturdier. The difference is visually obvious.

Step 4: How to Add Beads

Beads can be easily added when making pine needle baskets. Work until you reach the part of your basket where you want beads to appear. Simply slip a bead over your needle and work a stitch to secure it in place. Continue adding beads as desired.

While I added beads to the basket as I went along, I decided to add beads to my finished lid by sewing them on afterward. I found it difficult to get my beaded hearts even, so I plan on sewing on a darker thread to outline the hearts for better definition.

How I Straightened My Little Basket

I couldn't bear to throw out my misshapen basket, so I stuffed it full of potpourri. I had to be firm with that naughty basket and cram in the potpourri to plump out the caved side, but that potpourri prevented me from pitching the basket into the trash. My transformed basket now lives happily on my sideboard. When guests see it, they have no idea that it's "shored up from the inside." So all's well that ends well.

Step 5: How to Protect Your Finished Basket

Pine needle baskets can be sealed with beeswax, paraffin, or shellac spray. This last step is optional but can protect the needles and extend their natural life.

Step 6: How to Use the Baskets

What can you use your baskets for? These baskets make unique-looking scented soap containers and as such, are attractive items for the home bathroom.

Many crafters choose to line their baskets with fabric. A velvet-lined basket can look truly special.

Some choose to make much larger baskets and, because of their size, can be used to hold any number of items.

First, Pick the Right Needles!

I hope you've enjoyed this sojourn into the world of basket making and that you are inspired to try your hand at it. If you are ready to begin your first "learning" pine needle basket, please learn how to choose and use the best pine needles for basket making. Enjoy!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2008 Athlyn Green

Comments

Judy Starr on July 22, 2020:

This video is very poorly made. It needs more verbal instructions combined with camera closeups. Her hands actually are hiding what she is doing. It sounds like she is holding her breath. This should be a relaxing activity. Relax! Enjoy the process!

sara on June 18, 2020:

thank you! what a excellent article to read. i picked up a book on grass basket weaving when it mentioned using other materials such a pine. my google search landed me here. i do adore that lopsided basket though how lovely with the beads.

cheers!

Glory Corbett on November 23, 2019:

I have trouble making my side come IN as I go up. I don't want my basket to get bigger and bigger. Do you have any suggestions?

gloryC444@yahoo.com

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on November 06, 2017:

Hi Peggy, yes, my second basket was so much better. I've written another article so that readers can see the second basket.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on September 11, 2017:

How interesting! I think that your first try at making a pine needle basket was good. I can well imagine that you only got more proficient with the second and third one. They are certainly pretty. It is amazing what can be made using natural ingredients.

Donna Herron from USA on April 17, 2017:

I've just started taking basket making classes. Although my teacher makes reed baskets, I'd love to try making pine needle baskets. I thought these baskets were very difficult to make, but your hub makes it seem possible (with time and patience) to learn this technique. I really love your later baskets using the natural elements and additional decoration. Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to checking out some of your links and resources.

SEXYLADYDEE from Upstate NY on March 28, 2013:

Love this! I have always been curious about the process and your hub has made me see I can do more research and find a class. Thank you so much. Nancy, the woman in the videos is a riot. But she opens us up to a variety of crafts. Dee

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on March 25, 2013:

Hi Simone,

If you like the green color, try picking your needles while still green and drying them quickly to preserve some of the natural green color. Sealing our finished basket might help, as well. See info. I've added about protecting your finished basket.

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on March 25, 2013:

Hi Basket Novice,

These weren't my videos, merely included to help people to get a feel for the process. I believe there may have been other videos in this series, so you could check YouTube.

As for the sides, you work your basket bottom to the desired size and then instead of continuing your spiral, you place your needles inward and on top of the row, this helps your basket to form sides.

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on March 25, 2013:

Hi Dolores,

Yes, I was dissatisfied with my uneven basket but very happy with the lid, and this so easily corrected by sewing into the row underneath. Now, I had read that in the instructions but didn't pay heed. I should have.

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on March 25, 2013:

Those pine needles baskets are so cool. And the difference in your first attempt and the lid is huge. The lid looks great so you must be a fast learner. I'd love to try this!

Simone L on May 05, 2012:

Is there something you can spray or put on the baskets to keep the green color? My first 2 baskets are drying out.

ugina from Bhutan on March 17, 2012:

Love this hub. will definitely try it . Great work. thanks for posting this hub.

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on February 18, 2012:

Hi Shelia,

I wish I had access to Ponderosa or Long Needle Pine needles.

SheliaKay from Marietta, Ohio..... but born and raised in Northern Ohio on Lake Erie on February 17, 2012:

Very helpful hub. I have been trying to weave one of these and believe me it's a lot harder then it looks. I have a whole back yard full of pine needles but unfortunately they are the small 4" long ones which makes it more challenging but I am determined to master this one way or another. The larger needles do look so much prettier.

brennawelker on November 01, 2011:

Cool baskets. They are ideal home decoration. Thanks for the idea.

basket novice on October 29, 2011:

On the videos it would have been helpful to state the size and type of "sewing" needle that was used. Also if the camera person had filmed directly behind the teacher you would have been able to see what she was doing better. The teacher flashed examples too quickly and it was all a blur. Too much going on. Make a video with a teacher and not a class. Less confusion and noise and the camera could be still in one place on the teacher's hands. I get the gist of the basket making, but I also felt confused. There was no mention of when and how to make the sides of the basket turn up after the base was done. Was there a 3rd video that wasn't here?

Laura Wilson Ellis Shaw on September 14, 2011:

While in Asheville, NC I stopped in the Folk Arts Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway and saw a pine needle tray created by Bessie Mae Hembree Mcdonald and fell in love with what you can create with a simple material. I now have to learn this beautiful artform.

Sandra Akins from Georgia, United States on March 02, 2011:

I love pine needle baskets and have a great book on how to do it. I also live in an area where timber companies grow pine trees and so I have access to lots of beautiful clean pine needles to incorporate into baskets :o) This is a really nice hub, and very informative on the subject.

craftybegonia from Southwestern, United States on February 16, 2011:

Beautiful work!

colordelics on October 10, 2010:

I can't wait to try this. Now I know what to do with all those pine needles we have, lol. Thank you for the great hub! smiles

Teresa Schultz from East London, in South Africa on July 09, 2010:

Your pine needle baskets are beautiful. Well done. In South Africa (and probably elsewhere too) people quite often use river reeds or wild long dry grasses in a similar way. They're longer than pine needles. Although the baskets look so beautiful, I don't think I would try to make one. I don't have the patience!

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on January 09, 2010:

Hi Carla,

My second basket is turning out well and I will get busy and include pictures. This one is going to be much larger and I plan to use it to hold craft stuff.

Carla on January 07, 2010:

I love your style and the direction are very well written. I enjoyed watching the video..........that was so great!

prism on October 24, 2009:

I love the look of pine needle baskets. I wish I had learn to make them when I lived in New England and had access to plenty of pine needles. Don't have many pines where I live now. :( Great instructions! Thanks!

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on July 05, 2008:

Hi Again Stephanie,

Well my first basket is finished. I'm going to start another larger basket, now that I feel more confident with my stitches and coiling methods.

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on May 18, 2008:

Hi Stephanie,

I would love to include a picture of your basket on this Hub, if you would care to send it my way. I find all the different styles so interesting.

I learned much from doing this first basket. I will be making a lid, topped by and a small pine cone or an acorn, as time permits.

I plan on making more baskets as time goes by.

Stephanie Haile on May 17, 2008:

These are beautiful! I made one when we lived in Minnesota a few years ago. They are brilliant, thank you so much for putting this fun hub up! :)