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Handmade treasures: Senior center teaches class on pine needle basket weaving

By Staff | Jun 29, 2016

MEL TOADVINE Close up of a woven pine needle basket.

One of the oldest art forms in the United States originally began with the American Indians when they used long stemmed pine needles to make baskets, bowls and a host of other items to carry and store food in or to use on tables as coasters and other supplies.

Making items from pine needles is one of the popular classes at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center, at 219 Plaza Drive, and two women enjoy teaching the art form of pine needle basking weaving.

Center members only have to come up with $10 for supplies to learn the Native American art form.

Joyce Jepherson and Rosemarie Mellett mostly teach the class on Wednesday mornings, but those who are interested should call the center to get the exact schedule.

Currently there are about a dozen people enrolled to learn how to weave using pine needles. In season, Jepherson said the classes increase to 25 or 26 people.

MEL TOADVINE A weaved pine needle basket has several shells to decorate the bottom of the finished basket.

“It’s one of more popular art and crafts classes,” she said.

Some refer to the weaving of pine needles as coiling the needles from the forest floor. It appears that patience and pine needles are the main ingredients. The rest is learning how to weave them into an object that will last for years.

Jepherson said Florida is ideal for the long pine needles, which measure sometimes between eight inches to 12 inches.

Most pine needle baskets are made from the longer needles found in Virginia and southern Maryland, to Florida and Texas.

Mellett said many who collect their needles look for branches and pull the needles from the limbs.

Joyce Jepherson

They teach you how to prepare the needles by drying them and washing them with Clorox to remove dirt and insects.

“It’s always best to get fresh ones that have just fallen if you’re looking on the ground,” she said.

“Put them in bunches and tie the ends and you’re ready to start weaving after they have been cleaned,” Mellett said.

Some use sinew, according to the two women, which is a wax thread in the weaving process.

When the basket is finished they spray it with polyurethane. Some baskets can be dyed with colors.

Rosemarie Mellett

One of the first things students learn to do is to make a small container for a pin cushion. It is ideal when as a place to store needles.

Some people hang their finished items on a wall or inside cabinets Pine baskets and items can also be sold for money and some pieces can bring in $60 and more.

Mostly, members use their baskets at home and many give the crafts to friends as gifts.

Some have made Easter baskets with handles and filled them with treats over the holidays. Others make baked goods and use the baskets to hold them; they are often given away during the holidays.

One of the women in the class said she has made coaster sets, and added that they are ideal gifts.

MEL TOADVINE Work in progress shows the bases of two baskets with a design burned into them.

Some members take their baskets and other items to craft shows, like the Spring Festival held in Lehigh Acres, and sell them.

Using ancient weaving and coiling techniques has remained the same for thousands of years. For many, they become heirlooms and are passed down to family.

Handmade treasures: Senior center teaches class on pine needle basket weaving

By Staff | Jun 29, 2016

MEL TOADVINE Close up of a woven pine needle basket.

One of the oldest art forms in the United States originally began with the American Indians when they used long stemmed pine needles to make baskets, bowls and a host of other items to carry and store food in or to use on tables as coasters and other supplies.

Making items from pine needles is one of the popular classes at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center, at 219 Plaza Drive, and two women enjoy teaching the art form of pine needle basking weaving.

Center members only have to come up with $10 for supplies to learn the Native American art form.

Joyce Jepherson and Rosemarie Mellett mostly teach the class on Wednesday mornings, but those who are interested should call the center to get the exact schedule.

Currently there are about a dozen people enrolled to learn how to weave using pine needles. In season, Jepherson said the classes increase to 25 or 26 people.

MEL TOADVINE A weaved pine needle basket has several shells to decorate the bottom of the finished basket.

“It’s one of more popular art and crafts classes,” she said.

Some refer to the weaving of pine needles as coiling the needles from the forest floor. It appears that patience and pine needles are the main ingredients. The rest is learning how to weave them into an object that will last for years.

Jepherson said Florida is ideal for the long pine needles, which measure sometimes between eight inches to 12 inches.

Most pine needle baskets are made from the longer needles found in Virginia and southern Maryland, to Florida and Texas.

Mellett said many who collect their needles look for branches and pull the needles from the limbs.

Joyce Jepherson

They teach you how to prepare the needles by drying them and washing them with Clorox to remove dirt and insects.

“It’s always best to get fresh ones that have just fallen if you’re looking on the ground,” she said.

“Put them in bunches and tie the ends and you’re ready to start weaving after they have been cleaned,” Mellett said.

Some use sinew, according to the two women, which is a wax thread in the weaving process.

When the basket is finished they spray it with polyurethane. Some baskets can be dyed with colors.

Rosemarie Mellett

One of the first things students learn to do is to make a small container for a pin cushion. It is ideal when as a place to store needles.

Some people hang their finished items on a wall or inside cabinets Pine baskets and items can also be sold for money and some pieces can bring in $60 and more.

Mostly, members use their baskets at home and many give the crafts to friends as gifts.

Some have made Easter baskets with handles and filled them with treats over the holidays. Others make baked goods and use the baskets to hold them; they are often given away during the holidays.

One of the women in the class said she has made coaster sets, and added that they are ideal gifts.

MEL TOADVINE Work in progress shows the bases of two baskets with a design burned into them.

Some members take their baskets and other items to craft shows, like the Spring Festival held in Lehigh Acres, and sell them.

Using ancient weaving and coiling techniques has remained the same for thousands of years. For many, they become heirlooms and are passed down to family.