South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-25

ceedingly scarce, if not absolutely
lacking. she and her family need
ed new hats. They lived miles away
from any town, and had no means
OF getting there except by walking,
and they thought that a matter of
so miles or so was a rather inCOn-
veniently long stroll 10 take, just 10
indulge in new millinery. But
something had 70 be done Look
ing about for materials Of which
she might make the needed hats
for her family, this ingenious Geor-
gia woman noticed these long, fine
pine needles. They are flexible and
pliable, as you see, and she set her
self TO work TO weave a straw hat
out Of them. Her experiement. was
successful, and the hats were popU-
lar. Then she began TO make bas-
kets. At first, she sewed them to-
gether with ordinary thread, but,
after a time, she found other ma
terials better suited for weaving the
needles together The immediate
needs supplied, her interest revived,
she became skillful in this work and
has taught her knowledge Of bas-
kerry to many others.
Today, at any rate in the United
States of America, basketry is one
of the most popular handcrafts. 1t
is even taught in many OF the
schools. New materials and meth
DDS are welcomed eagerly by those
! interested in the work. The bureau
of education, in Washington, has
recently published bulletin on
"Pine-Needle Basketry in Schools,
written by William c. A. Hammel,
superintendent of schools in Green
boro, n. c.. which gives definite in
structions for the use Of the mate
rial OF which the Needle-Lady
told her friends.
He points out the fact that the
needles of the long-leaf pine are
nearly ready for use as they fall
from the tree and, because of their
naturally beautifully polished sur
/ face, the basket requires no var
nishing, waxing or other finishing
process. 1.-The natural brown of the
/ cured needles is beautiful and per
manent, and the resinoUs odor an
! everpresent reminder of the great
| out Of doors" he writes.
Gas the needles fall from the
| trees in autumn, they are a rich
brown color, and are very nearly
ready for use. Gathered at this sea
| son, they seem less brittle and need
only TO be spread out in the shade
| for a few days 10 dry. On the old
er trees, the leaves are rarely over
| eight inches in length, but, during
the period Of the most active growth
4 of the tree, the needles are found
from II to Is inches long.
1.-THE green needles are perhaps
| best if pulled from the tree in au-
tumn, although the needles from
many pine branches, used in Christ
mas decorations, are dried and
worked into baskets. The green
needles, dried in the shade, retain
a soft, dull, green color.
"A pleasing variety may be made
in the decoration Of pine-needle
! baskets by The use Of materials 9TH
er than pine needles. There are
many native grasses, sedge and
rushes; indeed, the materials are as
! varied as the localities in which
| the workers live. One of the most
! successful com binations is found in
the use Of the stem Of the maiden
| hair fern with the needles. The
| depth Of color in the stems is hand
some, with the soft brown Of the
! needles or with the dull green. The
/ maidenhair fern grows wild in many
J parts Of the country, and. if the
/ stems be carefully cut, the root Of
| the fern is uninjured. These stems
may be gathered in the summer. or
they may be taken after the first
frost has blighted the leaves. They
| should be spread out 70 dry in the
/ shade for q few days"
The needles must be thoroughly
/ Cried-and all other materials en-
! ployed with them-in order not
! only 70 avoid shrinkage. but to in
| sure the desired color. The needles
| should also be sorted and all that
are defective. broken or twisted.
must be discarded. If the needles