As a "Thank you Gift" for visiting my web page I would like to offer you some helpful hints to you get started in making a small Pine Needle project.

Let's begin with something not too difficult. Let's make a small candy dish to put on your coffee table for your friends to admire and you can say "I made this myself!"

The first thing you need to do is gather and assemble these materials and make them ready to use.

MATERIAL LIST Pine Needles - a pretty big handfull should do it Sewing Needle Thread, Raffia or Sinew in your favorite color Scissors Wire Cutters or strong fingers!

Soak the needles in hot water for about 45 minutes. Remove the caps (the thick end of the pine needle) by pulling them off with a pair of wire cutters or just pull them off with your fingers. The needles will stay in a cluster most of the time, but if they happen not to, do not worry. Save the loose needles too.

I store my needles in a plastic bag (loaf bread bags are good) to keep them from drying out while I work. When I am not weaving them I store them in the bag in the refrigerator.

The raffia I use is treated, I slosh it up and down in a bath of warm water for 10 seconds to get some of the oil out, not too much, you need some of the oil left in. Separate the raffia by twisting one end until you can divide the strands, otherwise it will be too thick to weave the needles together.

Now, you are ready to make your first basket!

First make a round beginning. Hold 6 to 8 pine needles with the blunt end (the end you took the caps off) and wrap needles with raffia.

Example:

Next, twist needles around to start shaping bottom of candy dish. Continue binding the circle around with the raffia. Keep doing this until you get the size that you want. Continue adding needles as you go.

Example:

Some people use a gauge, or you can use a straw cut about 1" in order to keep your needles in line and make sure you have the same amount. I am a free hand weaver, as you will be with practice!

To shape the candy dish after you've got the bottom the size you want, simply begin an angle as you weave up the side. Stop when you get the size you want.

This shows the stitch I use most. It is called a V Stitch or a Crows Foot.

Example:

Oh! Frankly my dear, I could have showed you better than I can explain it. I hope you can make the candy dish from my description. If you have any problems or questions feel free to call or E-mail me. I'll try again!

Good Luck and God Bless
Joyce