Yew needles and Pin coushin

[jon r]

Been busy making Yew needles too. They are really fun to make and all you need is a knife. They are ideal for making coil baskets etc but i doubt they would be any good for sewing. They only take a couple of minutes to make each and you can make whatever size you like.

They are suprisingly strong and durable. They have a little flexibility too. I made a whole coil basket with just one of these small needles and it didnt break!

I made this set complete with pin coushin. The cousin is made using a coil method and is made from Sedges and inner Lime bark.

Hope this is inspirational. You may not have a need for the needles once you have made them but they are there when you do need them in the future. Pluss they are just fun to make

Jon

 

[jojo]

This looks like a modern art sculpture. Pin-Henge? Very nice work

 

[naylor b]

nice work look like very useful tools
could you make these with any wood or does it have to be a hardwood?

 

[jon r]

I just chose Yew wood because its the hardest i could think of. They will last longer with hardwood i suspect.

 

[gregorach]

Nice work Jon!

You definitely want a fine-grained hardwood for something like that - yew, oak or similar. Yew's probably the best choice as it's less brittle. Something softer or with a coarse grain won't take a decent point, won't last long at all, and could well split or break when you try and make the eye.

Still, it's gotta be easier than making them from antler... I always forget just how hard antler is to work. Makes nice needles though.

 

[leon-b]

Niice, well done jon, If i catch a big enough bass im wondering if i could use the Spines as needles
leon

 

[sallyinwales]

I have a number of hair pins Gareth made me from Yew over the yars, they are a jiy ti use, supple, strong and the colour is beautiful. I've used Yew needles for naalbinding before now too, though I mostly use bone these days