baskets and other crafts...

[smwon]

I couldn't leave this thread empty! ;D AND my plans are to do crafts and sell them on a online store. I am interested in a lot of things, like making pine needle baskets (I haven’t made any yet). These can be very beautiful once a person gets the technique down to making them. I am also interested in learning to spin and weave. I like to knit and crocheted as well. Anyone have any ideas or information to share?

Linda

[Jenny]

I've only seen pine needle baskets. They sure are beautiful! Is the technique anything at all like making grass baskets. The grass basket style used here by the natives is quite different from the ones made by indians in the SE United States. The pine needle baskets I've seen from SE Alaska look more like the grass baskets from the SE US. Anyway, I've done a little with grass baskets. They are beautiful, too, but very time consuming.

I've been wanting to learn to knit, but all but one of my knitting friends is left-handed. She's agreed to teach me if I call her. Just never seem to find the time. When we get back to the homestead, I want to eventually get some animals for fiber so I can spin and knit at least some socks and hats. Maybe sell a few things to help offset the cost of the animals. We've sure been thinking about getting yaks, as they can certainly withstand the cold and wind. But, I think we get too much snow in our area for them to do well.

Oops, I took a rabbit trail off the subject. Do you already have an online outlet for your baskets and other crafts? Big problem we have with selling things from our homestead is not being able to mail things out to folks regularly. I don't have anything specific in mind at this point. Just wondering if there's a way to sell things online, and have someone take care of the orders and shipping ----- without eating up ALL the profits? Guess I should have put this under a thread for marketing crafts or something. We could do that

Jenny
Alaska HOMESTEADING Journal

[smwon]

Jenny said:

I've only seen pine needle baskets. Is the technique anything at all like making grass baskets... I've wanted to learn to knit, but all but one of my knitting friends is left-handed... When we get back to the homestead, I want to eventually get some animals for fiber so I can spin and knit at least some socks and hats. Maybe sell a few things to help offset the cost of the animals... Do you already have an online outlet for your baskets and other crafts? Just wondering if there's a way to sell things online, and have someone take care of the orders and shipping ----- without eating up ALL the profits? Guess I should have put this under a thread for marketing crafts or something. We could do that

I am not sure about grass baskets, but here is a link to a article by Mother Earth News… www.motherearthnews.com/arc/1110/ Here are the list of materials you would need:
MATERIALS AND TOOLS
Long-leaf pine needles (approximately 1/2 lb. or 600 needles)
Slices of black walnut, 1/4" thick (or other type of flat disk)
Heavy-duty thread (nylon basket upholstery thread—used in basket shown—or waxed linen, artificial sinew, or raffia may be used)
Gauge (a tool made from metal or plastic, used to hold the coil together while you are sewing. Also helps keep each coil uniform size. Made from a 3/4" section of 3/8"copper tubing, flared on one end. You may substitute a 3/4" piece of soda (the large kind used for milk shakes).
Sharp, pointed scissors
Masking tape
Spring-type clothes pin
Sewing needle (sharp point, large eye)
It all sounds easy enough, but I think it will take some practice. I have a lot of long leaf pine needles because most of my trees are ponderosa pines.

I was thinking you could learn to knit left handed… it is just the opposite of right handed. My father and I learned when I was about 10… he bought a book and we sat down together and learned. He is gone now so that remains a fond memory.

I want angora rabbits to use for wool and meat. I understand the fur is totally awesome. Probably won’t be that productive for meat. But I figure it will do. I am looking forward to learning to spin and I will be learning all on my own, with maybe some written advice from friends.

I have a website, but it is not ready for business… mostly because I am not ready. But I do believe it will work for selling my crafts. I am using Yahoo’s merchant account. I have it now before I am ready because I have to figure it all out and set it up. I think the shipping will be added to the price and Yahoo, gets something like 1.5% of what you sell. But I don't know all the details yet.

[idaholady]

To learn to knit from a left handed lady.......Have her show you in a mirror.......that will turn all around so you see it as right handed.....
hugs
Ida...