Pine Needle Baskets
To make Pine Needle Baskets, I use Southern Yellow or California White pine needles. I use waxed cord, which comes from the Maine Thread Company, to bind the pine needles together. As I weave coil upon coil, using a steel needle threaded with the waxed cord, I allow the baskets to take the shape that seems to naturally occur. I often use a bit of sweet grass on the rim because it is a nice finishing touch and makes the baskets smell lovely. Other times I stitch quartz, coral, lapis, turquoise, or other fine stone chips on the rim, or top of the lid, for a more decorative look.
