| Why Pine Needle Coiled Baskets Cost So Much? |
| Plain Stitch |
The first pine needle basket I saw and fell in love with over 25 years ago on an Indian
reservation was very expensive. That beautiful, very small basket cost around $175 then!
So, why do pine needle baskets cost so much? Well, one of the main reasons is because
they take a lot of time to do, it's hard work, & doing a quality piece takes lots and lots of
practice. It's not only coiling the piece, but all the work just getting to that point where you
can coil.
Costs of the materials aren't cheap. Pine needles cost about $18 per pound if you have to
buy them. If you make a piece with a gourd, the cost of the gourd is usually start around $4.
The bigger the gourd the higher the price will be. The cost of the wood is fairly cheap
depending on what kind you buy. You also need needles, various types of thread, drill for
the holes, dyes for gourds, stains for the wood, paint if you are going to paint the piece,
pliers to pull the needles through the coils sometimes, gauges for the coil to keep it even,
embellishments such as shells, berries, walnut slices, beads, & the list goes on.
Just getting everything ready is time consuming. Your have to cut and clean the inside of
the gourd. Holes must be drilled into the gourd/board large enough to accommodate the
needle & thread. Then, you have to dye, stain, paint, etc. the gourd/board. Now, select
enough pine needles to do the project & soak them for 20 minutes in hot water. If you're not
going to use the caps on the needles (top part), they must be removed. This can take 15 to
30 minutes alone. You are finally ready to coil your piece.
Painting, wood burning, etc. just increases the price even more depending on the quality of
the work, but it adds so much to the piece.
When do you add more pine needles to the coil? This is done every 2-3 stitches. Yes, it is a
slow process, & it takes a lot of needles to make a decent basket.
The style of stitch used is a major factor in the cost ... examples are on the left for you to
view. The most common stitches are:
* Plain Stitch ... Most coilers use this stitch because it is the fastest stitch you can do and
learn. This stitch can be sewn with any type of threading material.
* V Stitch ... This stitch takes twice as long to do as the Plain Stitch because you are
inserting your needle through the same general area twice. Examples of threading that would
be used are upholstery thread, waxed linen, antificial/natural sinew, & wire.
* Wheat Stitch ... This is just about like the V Stitch, except you would insert your needle
through the hole thread twice. This stitch take a little longer than the V Stitch, & you would
use artifical/real sinew.
* Fern Stitch ... This stitch take three times longer than the Plain Stitch. First you have to
do a V or Wheat Stitch and then backstitch the complete row.
Now, this is interesting. To do a 8"X8" piece, it would take the following times to coil just
once around the piece: Plain - 30 mins; V & Wheat Stitch - 1 hr; & Fern - 1 1/2 hrs. Watch
that price go up with the stitches that add real interest to the basket.
Adding handles is time consuming especially if you have to place wire between the coils to
reinforce the handle (see 1st example under "With Handles.") The 2nd example's handles
where wrapped for reinforcement. I like coiling antlers on gourds with pine needles. Now,
the cost of antlers can get costly if you don't hunter friend to give you some.
Adding dyed needles will increase the cost of a piece. Dyed needles can be bought for
about $8 per 1/4 lb. You can also dye them yourself, but you need good pine needles, dye,
pot, and at least 1 1/2 hr. Plus, it can be messy job!!!
Leaving the caps on the needles adds interest & texture to the piece, but it is time
consuming. Why? Every time you add just one set of needles with caps with the coil you
have to cut three needles from the coil. Most coilers add around two or three caps so that is
six or nine needles that have to be cut from the coil. More time spent on the piece!
Size of coil is something that adds or takes away time from a project. The smaller the coil,
the more coils you have to put on the piece. The larger the coil the less coils required. I
don't do large coils so I have no examples.
Number of holes drilled into the piece has a major impact on cost. Most holes are drilled 1/2"
apart. If it is a very small piece, holes need to be 1/4" apart.
Adding embellishments can be costly depending on what you are including. Beads can get
very expensive. Walnut slices cost $.50 each. If you use shells, you have to drill holes in
the shells. Everything that is added to the basket will increase the price.
Shellac that basket to bring out a luster and longer life. It only takes about 15 minutes to do
this, but you will be passing it on to your children, & they will be passing it on to their
children. Some coilers don't, but it is well worth the step.
All of these factors taken into account is what makes the basket so wonderful ... and
expensive. I only coil on gourds and wood. The price would be higher if it was ALL pine
needles because you are also coiling the bottom.
This is just a quick overview of what it takes to prepare a pine needle piece. I hope it helped
a little to understand some of the steps a coiler must do to bring you that beautiful basket,
vase, etc. So when you see a pine needle basket for sale, think of all their hard work &
heart they put into just that one piece.
reservation was very expensive. That beautiful, very small basket cost around $175 then!
So, why do pine needle baskets cost so much? Well, one of the main reasons is because
they take a lot of time to do, it's hard work, & doing a quality piece takes lots and lots of
practice. It's not only coiling the piece, but all the work just getting to that point where you
can coil.
Costs of the materials aren't cheap. Pine needles cost about $18 per pound if you have to
buy them. If you make a piece with a gourd, the cost of the gourd is usually start around $4.
The bigger the gourd the higher the price will be. The cost of the wood is fairly cheap
depending on what kind you buy. You also need needles, various types of thread, drill for
the holes, dyes for gourds, stains for the wood, paint if you are going to paint the piece,
pliers to pull the needles through the coils sometimes, gauges for the coil to keep it even,
embellishments such as shells, berries, walnut slices, beads, & the list goes on.
Just getting everything ready is time consuming. Your have to cut and clean the inside of
the gourd. Holes must be drilled into the gourd/board large enough to accommodate the
needle & thread. Then, you have to dye, stain, paint, etc. the gourd/board. Now, select
enough pine needles to do the project & soak them for 20 minutes in hot water. If you're not
going to use the caps on the needles (top part), they must be removed. This can take 15 to
30 minutes alone. You are finally ready to coil your piece.
Painting, wood burning, etc. just increases the price even more depending on the quality of
the work, but it adds so much to the piece.
When do you add more pine needles to the coil? This is done every 2-3 stitches. Yes, it is a
slow process, & it takes a lot of needles to make a decent basket.
The style of stitch used is a major factor in the cost ... examples are on the left for you to
view. The most common stitches are:
* Plain Stitch ... Most coilers use this stitch because it is the fastest stitch you can do and
learn. This stitch can be sewn with any type of threading material.
* V Stitch ... This stitch takes twice as long to do as the Plain Stitch because you are
inserting your needle through the same general area twice. Examples of threading that would
be used are upholstery thread, waxed linen, antificial/natural sinew, & wire.
* Wheat Stitch ... This is just about like the V Stitch, except you would insert your needle
through the hole thread twice. This stitch take a little longer than the V Stitch, & you would
use artifical/real sinew.
* Fern Stitch ... This stitch take three times longer than the Plain Stitch. First you have to
do a V or Wheat Stitch and then backstitch the complete row.
Now, this is interesting. To do a 8"X8" piece, it would take the following times to coil just
once around the piece: Plain - 30 mins; V & Wheat Stitch - 1 hr; & Fern - 1 1/2 hrs. Watch
that price go up with the stitches that add real interest to the basket.
Adding handles is time consuming especially if you have to place wire between the coils to
reinforce the handle (see 1st example under "With Handles.") The 2nd example's handles
where wrapped for reinforcement. I like coiling antlers on gourds with pine needles. Now,
the cost of antlers can get costly if you don't hunter friend to give you some.
Adding dyed needles will increase the cost of a piece. Dyed needles can be bought for
about $8 per 1/4 lb. You can also dye them yourself, but you need good pine needles, dye,
pot, and at least 1 1/2 hr. Plus, it can be messy job!!!
Leaving the caps on the needles adds interest & texture to the piece, but it is time
consuming. Why? Every time you add just one set of needles with caps with the coil you
have to cut three needles from the coil. Most coilers add around two or three caps so that is
six or nine needles that have to be cut from the coil. More time spent on the piece!
Size of coil is something that adds or takes away time from a project. The smaller the coil,
the more coils you have to put on the piece. The larger the coil the less coils required. I
don't do large coils so I have no examples.
Number of holes drilled into the piece has a major impact on cost. Most holes are drilled 1/2"
apart. If it is a very small piece, holes need to be 1/4" apart.
Adding embellishments can be costly depending on what you are including. Beads can get
very expensive. Walnut slices cost $.50 each. If you use shells, you have to drill holes in
the shells. Everything that is added to the basket will increase the price.
Shellac that basket to bring out a luster and longer life. It only takes about 15 minutes to do
this, but you will be passing it on to your children, & they will be passing it on to their
children. Some coilers don't, but it is well worth the step.
All of these factors taken into account is what makes the basket so wonderful ... and
expensive. I only coil on gourds and wood. The price would be higher if it was ALL pine
needles because you are also coiling the bottom.
This is just a quick overview of what it takes to prepare a pine needle piece. I hope it helped
a little to understand some of the steps a coiler must do to bring you that beautiful basket,
vase, etc. So when you see a pine needle basket for sale, think of all their hard work &
heart they put into just that one piece.
| V Stitch |
| Wheat Stitch |
| Fern Stitch |
| With Handles |
| Dyed Needles |
| Leaving Caps On |
| Small Coils |
| Embellished |
| Also, when you buy a pine needle basket that is meant to be used, please use it. That is the reason they made. If the basket is made to just looked at, then just admire its beauty! |
Visit "Instruction Booklet" page to purchase the booklet that will teach you how to do all of these stitches ...
except for the handles.
except for the handles.
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| Unique & Fine Gourd Art by Hellen M. Martin |