Happy solstice to you and Beryl. Your posts are a solstice gift in themselves let alone with added basket tutorial wormholes🤣. Enjoy the turn of the wheel and the return of the light. Brightest blessings to you both.
From one soggy PNW creator to another, thank you for this generous tutorial. I'm inspired to take miserable damp walk in the garden looking for basket materials. I'll think of you.
Thank you for the download! My grandmother used to make pine needle baskets - she didn’t live long enough for me to learn her skill. I will be trying this at some point (when we have plants again that are not quite so snow-retted…) Your posts have reminded me to give this a try.
Well, step one will be acquiring the long-needled pine needles she used, which are not native to where I live. I have no idea where she got them. And none of her baskets have survived for me to copy. But I will figure it out! If I do, I will share!
I think I have those trees where I live, in Western Washington. When the skies are done trying to wash us away with a 500 year flood, I’ll go out and see if I can find some and send them to you.
Kelly - that’s so sweet! But I am pretty sure that I can get those pine needles from my family in North Carolina, who visit regularly. I may see if they can bring them at Christmas next week. Stay safe during the flooding - and thank you!
Amazingly, al the rain isn't even stopping at your house Kelly, but has been (and will continue to be) madly dumping here too. Right now though, it's crazy high winds. I'm typing now assuming I'll lose power before long....
I can’t believe we didn’t lose power last night tbh. The winds were INSANE! Half of Lewis County (WA) is down. The outage map looks like a crime scene 😔
All I know of working with pine needles is that they are coiled, and that they often are built around a pre-existing circle, sometimes filled with needle woven lace. Perhaps because the needles, even soaked, don't like to be bent as sharply as necessary to get those first coils?
That’s good to know - thank you! I will do a bit of research. I live in a crafty area, so there may be someone locally who can guide me. But that makes sense.
I've made them. I learned to start with green needles which are bendy. I've only used raffia for sewing them, but I'd like to find some local fiber to make cordage. Our milkweed is sparse and a different variety. I might try willow come spring.
Happy Solstice to you and Beryl. And do use the poles...my hiking was in New England, a bit rockier than your trails, so almost a necessity, but a steadying accompaniment on most walks anywhere.
It's actually pretty rocky in parts of these trails too--another spot for a glacial dump long ago, so I"m glad for your thoughts. I used the poles yesterday and it felt surprisingly natural. So on I go!
Sarah: Thanks so much... I was wondering just the other day exactly how you were starting your baskets. I have made many baskets myself, and your starting technique looks great. I like that book about nature and baskets, also....
Happy solstice to you and Beryl. Thank you so much for the tutorial, too. And it's difficult to find words to show you gratitude for the gift of the gusset one more year.
Oh my goodness, the colors. The purple, the green, the golden—magical. And thank you for the gift of the instructional download. So very generous of you!
O how lovely. I’ll be thinking of you as we decorate and light our candles🕯️
Happy solstice to you and Beryl. Your posts are a solstice gift in themselves let alone with added basket tutorial wormholes🤣. Enjoy the turn of the wheel and the return of the light. Brightest blessings to you both.
Oh golly, thank you--for your kind words and the bright blessings --though sorry about the wormholes 😂
thank you for the free download! maybe I will give it a try.
From one soggy PNW creator to another, thank you for this generous tutorial. I'm inspired to take miserable damp walk in the garden looking for basket materials. I'll think of you.
Ha! Nothing like finding weaving material on a miserable damp walk to brighten the entire thing. Stay warm
thanks for the inspiration! my fingers have needed a project and I've been cutting up brown paper bags...
Thank you for the download! My grandmother used to make pine needle baskets - she didn’t live long enough for me to learn her skill. I will be trying this at some point (when we have plants again that are not quite so snow-retted…) Your posts have reminded me to give this a try.
I hope you’ll share a tutorial on your grandmother’s pine needle baskets once you’ve got that figured out. And pictures please!
Well, step one will be acquiring the long-needled pine needles she used, which are not native to where I live. I have no idea where she got them. And none of her baskets have survived for me to copy. But I will figure it out! If I do, I will share!
I think I have those trees where I live, in Western Washington. When the skies are done trying to wash us away with a 500 year flood, I’ll go out and see if I can find some and send them to you.
Kelly - that’s so sweet! But I am pretty sure that I can get those pine needles from my family in North Carolina, who visit regularly. I may see if they can bring them at Christmas next week. Stay safe during the flooding - and thank you!
Amazingly, al the rain isn't even stopping at your house Kelly, but has been (and will continue to be) madly dumping here too. Right now though, it's crazy high winds. I'm typing now assuming I'll lose power before long....
I can’t believe we didn’t lose power last night tbh. The winds were INSANE! Half of Lewis County (WA) is down. The outage map looks like a crime scene 😔
Stay safe out there!
Here too. I’m amazed I have power. Just texting with a local friend who is going to come use my shower cuz I have hot water ( so far) and she doesn’t
All I know of working with pine needles is that they are coiled, and that they often are built around a pre-existing circle, sometimes filled with needle woven lace. Perhaps because the needles, even soaked, don't like to be bent as sharply as necessary to get those first coils?
That’s good to know - thank you! I will do a bit of research. I live in a crafty area, so there may be someone locally who can guide me. But that makes sense.
I've made them. I learned to start with green needles which are bendy. I've only used raffia for sewing them, but I'd like to find some local fiber to make cordage. Our milkweed is sparse and a different variety. I might try willow come spring.
How amazing to know this --and then possibly to explore and figure it out to carry on the tradition.
What Ambermoggie said! Thanks for the charming basket guide and for tucking us all into your cozy gusset all year. Many joys to you and yours! ❤️
And to you 😘
Happy Solstice, Sarah & Beryl! Thank you so much for the tutorial! It’s perfect 🤌🏼
I hope y’all have a delightful, peaceful and relaxing Holiday 🫶🏼🎄🙏🕎l
Oh thank you Kelly! And you too. It promises to be damp for us all I think..
Happy Solstice to you and Beryl. And do use the poles...my hiking was in New England, a bit rockier than your trails, so almost a necessity, but a steadying accompaniment on most walks anywhere.
It's actually pretty rocky in parts of these trails too--another spot for a glacial dump long ago, so I"m glad for your thoughts. I used the poles yesterday and it felt surprisingly natural. So on I go!
Sarah: Thanks so much... I was wondering just the other day exactly how you were starting your baskets. I have made many baskets myself, and your starting technique looks great. I like that book about nature and baskets, also....
Beverly Weaver
I've made lots before too, but never coiled ones. Isn't it a blast to explore a new technique?
Thank you dear Sarah for this lovely gift of basketmaking. Happy Holidays to you and Beryl.
xoxox
Deb
Happy solstice to you and Beryl. Thank you so much for the tutorial, too. And it's difficult to find words to show you gratitude for the gift of the gusset one more year.
Happy solstice to everybody.
Gosh thank you so much Francesca. Be well🌲
Oh my goodness, the colors. The purple, the green, the golden—magical. And thank you for the gift of the instructional download. So very generous of you!
Wishing you a deeply peaceful holiday.
Aren't those colors amazing? The purple (at the base of an Iris leaf) just blew me away.
A wonderful gift! Thank-you for sharing your basket-making instructions. A true bit of light for the Holiday Season. 🌟
THANK YOU! For the guide, the ride, the gusset, the fun moments, the drawings. Happy Solstice and see you when the light hours are increasing.
And to you for all you do and for being here.
Love the baskets !