Native American sewing accessories to go with sewing basket.

These are the sewing accessories that came with the previous basket. They were made with sweet grass and wood splints from the Ash Tree. First pic is of two woven scissors cases 3.5 and 4.25" long, made of sweet grass, and they are in perfect condition. Then there is the tiny pin cushion, about one inch in diameter and .75 in height and no damage at all. The last is a perl cotton (mending cotton) ball holder with an opening in the top for the thread to come out of. The cotton string holder measures 2.5" high by 2.5" in diameter, really small. In all the years I have been collecting Native American basketry I have never come across a string basket this tiny. The only ones I had found were in museums or other private collections, and they were not for sale to anyone. I will be following those collectors, this one will not be for sale. :)

I have two large string holders in my collection, one woven by a Passamaquoddy tribal member and one made by a Penobscot member. They are both much larger and can stand up on their own on the floor next to the sewing chair. With this one, the large ring is for hanging the holder on the back of the sewing chair. And what can happen to these small string holders as they are used through the years, the large ring separates from the basket and the ring closures may fall off. Because of that it is very hard to find any small string holders that are still intact. It only took me seven years of active looking to find one for my own collection...If you are able to find a small string holder still intact, better grab it and give it a special place in your home :)

I am very happy to finally have these accessories, and they are placed with my other Native American made sewing baskets.