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Pining to express creativity

September 20, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Bringing in pine needles from the outside — some might call that person crazy.

Perhaps, a basket case.

Evelyn Sivelle, of Wesley Chapel, selects just the right pine needles needed to keep working on her basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills. Sivelle has been doing this arts and crafts activity for about three years and while the process of making baskets and other items can be time-consuming and meticulous, all it requires is some string and just regular pine needles from trees or the woods. (Mike Camunas)

But not for these crafty locals. They gather them to create baskets made of nothing more than everyday pine needles and colorful string.

They’re learning how to create their crafts from Rocky Boyett who teaches pine needle basketry, twice a week, free of charge, in Dade City and Zephyrhills.

“At first, it is hard, because it’s a different concept than people are used to getting their hands wrapped around,” said Boyett, a 76-year-old Vietnam veteran, who has been teaching the classes for about eight years now. “Even then, for people who have been doing craft work for years, they may catch on a little quicker than most, but still there will be a lot of trial and error.

“All I want to do is pass along how to make baskets,” Boyett added. “I’m not selling anything, I’m not making them to make money, either.”

Rocky Boyett cracks a smile as he threads string to bind a very large basket he is constructing, while teaching pine needle basketry classes at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

Boyett says it takes time to learn how to stitch together pine needles with just string and a sewing needle, but there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

He teaches the basic, most commonly used “V stitch.”

The class offers step-by-step instructions.

“It does take a long time,” Boyett said. “You can’t come here for a two-to-three hour class and go home with a finished basket. It will take days, weeks, maybe even longer depending on the size of the basket.

“And it takes two stitches to make a V, and baskets, depending on the size, will have thousands of stitches,” he said.

The classes are free and some supplies are provided, but participants also need to bring some of their own materials, including sewing needles, string and, of course, lots and lots of pine needles.

“Obviously the longer the pine (needle) the better,” Boyett said. “But everyone gets it from their yards or from someone they know who has pine trees. Usually it’s best to just take them right from the tree and let them dry out, so it makes for a fairly inexpensive art form.”

Pine needle baskets are made with exactly what one thinks — pine needles, found either in the woods or taken off trees, and sometimes washed and then dried out until time for use.

Boyett’s students don’t limit themselves to making baskets. They’ve also produced  pot holders, coasters, jewelry and other items.

Like Boyett, many students choose not to sell their creations. They may give some as gifts, but it turns out participants often just can’t part with their baskets.

“It is hard to let go of them,” said Wesley Chapel resident Evelyn Sivelle, who has been attending the classes for about three years. “You put in 60-plus hours of work, but it must be the satisfaction of completing one, all the time it took and how it finally looks finished that makes you just not want to sell it.”

“It’s hard to sell them,” Boyett added, “not just because of attachment, but to get a right price for it, considering how much work goes into making even the smallest of baskets. I even offered (Evelyn) $200 for one I really liked, and she won’t take it because she likes it too much.”

Others, who just started the classes and are still working on their first basket, are aware it requires patience to create something so simple, yet so intricate.

“Some people think they can come in here and learn everything in one day — nope!” new student Jan Wilson said. “I’ve been doing it just over a month now, but it took time. Finally, at one point, I turned it over and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m doing it right!’”

Pine Needle Basketry classes
When:
Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.
Where: On Mondays at Dade City Senior Center, 13853 15th St.; On Thursdays at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills, 5855 16th St.
Details: Rocky Boyett, aka Dr. Sticks, teaches, free of charge, anyone who wants to learn pine needle basketry. The craft involves hours and hours of learning to sew and bind pine needles. Boyett also teaches how to make customized walking sticks and canes from outdoor branches.
Info: Call Rocky Boyett at 706-676-8318.

Published September 21, 2022

Vicky Brush, of Dade City, is all smiles as she works on a pine needle basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.
Rocky Boyett, aka Dr. Sticks, helps Jan Wilson with the right technique in making a pine needle basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills. Wilson has been coming to the classes for about a month and has quickly gotten the hang of creating pine needle baskets, using thick sewing string.
Pine needle basketry classes meet twice a week: on Mondays at Dade City Senior Center and on Thursdays at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.
Rocky Boyett teaches the ‘V Stitch’ technique at his pine needle basketry classes. These baskets were sewn together with colorful string.
Asha Maida, of Zephyrhills, meticulously inspects the start of a pine needle basket: the bottom ring.
Pine needle basketry is a meticulous and intricate craft that requires hours and hours of handiwork, even to create the smallest of baskets.
Lois Jones, of Zephyrhills, threads a needle through some tightly packed pine straw during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

 

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Comments

  1. Susan Heavilon says

    September 21, 2022 at 6:49 am

    How utterly fascinating! I’m wondering how Mr. Boyett first became interested in this painstaking craft. Beautiful artistry!

    Log in to Reply
  2. Bonita Hutchins says

    September 21, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    How do I sign up

    Log in to Reply
    • Mary Rathman says

      September 22, 2022 at 8:38 am

      Hi Bonita,
      You can contact Rocky Boyett at 706-676-8318.
      Thanks,
      Mary Rathman
      Editorial Assistant

      Log in to Reply

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