I have been making and selling pine needle baskets for over 9 years now, and in my part of the country, Texas, not very many people know about them.  They are well known in the south and eastern part of the country. A lot of native american tribes created some of the first pine needle baskets.  Seminole indians have been making them for years.   I felt I needed to write a review telling a little more about them, as so many people confuse them with woven baskets.

Pine needle baskets are a coiled basket, which means they are either started from the center bottom of the basket, using damp, dried pine needles with raffia, artificial sinew or other threads and are either started using a small twist or  started around an object, like a wood base, and spiraled outward and upward to shape the basket.  It takes quite a bit of expertise to do the many variety of stitches and learn the technique of shaping the basket.  I started selling my baskets on ebay many years ago and did very well, shaping animals, dolls, and beading the pine needle baskets I offered.  I do not sell them anymore on ebay, rather selling them at galleries and shows across the US.  I'm so sorry not to be able to put my baskets on ebay anymore.  I have seen the decline of pine needle basketry in the last few years.  Too many people putting them on for so low a price, and people not knowing what they are worth.  In some of my intricate baskets, which have designs woven into them, it may take me up to 6 weeks to finish the basket.  I would certainly not give it away at a low price.  I hope we will see a revival of pine needle basketry, especially on ebay.  I would be glad to answer any questions about them.  I have my own website and use the website mostly to display my baskets for people to see. 

My baskets are made with longleaf pine needles from Florida (which I believe are the best quality pine needle available).  Some are over 18 inches long.  I work with raffia, artificial sinew, and silk threads. 

Hope this has helped clear up a little about pine needle baskets...really good baskets are very well done, with intricate stitching or designs and very even in their shape.  Be careful about purchasing a basket so cheaply listed.  Really good baskets take awhile to make, and should be sold accordingly.