Learn how to make a handmade hearth broom with pine needles that is not only function, but also a beautiful piece of decor for your home.
When I moved to Florida last year, I was surprised by the amount of pine trees. I had a very different idea of what the landscape would look like here, and it didn’t include pine trees. Nonetheless, I noticed that the ground in a lot of areas is covered in pine needles. In fact many people use these dry needles, also known as pine straw, as mulch. Maybe it sounds like I live in the hole, but this isn’t common place in Wisconsin where I’m originally from.
The more time I spent outside with dried pine needles all over, the more I began to think of what I could craft out of them. Although they look totally ordinary, if you look closely, the needles are actually quite beautiful and really remind me of fall. After doing some research, I came across people who made hearth brooms out of corn husks. I figured if you can make a broom out of something like that, surely it could be made using pine needles, right?
Well I’m here to tell you that you can! This twist on a traditional handmade hearth broom I think is a fun one. Not only is this project nearly free, especially if you have access to pine needles, but it brings the beauty of nature inside to create a functional, yet beautiful piece of home decor.
PIN FOR LATER!
WHAT IS A HEARTH BROOM?
A hearth broom is a small handheld broom that is hung near a fireplace or wood stove and is used to sweep dust and debris created from burning firewood. There are many other uses for these brooms, but they also look beautiful hanging on the wall and can add to your fall decor.
WHERE CAN I BUY PINE STRAW TO MAKE HEARTH BROOMS?
If you’re not able to forage pine needles from this project, you can find them in some craft stores and online marketplaces like Etsy.
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TOOLS YOU MAY NEED
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
MATERIALS YOU MAY NEED
- 100-150 dried pine needles (either foraged or sourced)
- Cotton twine or crochet thread
HOW TO MAKE A HANDMADE HEARTH BROOM
Forage and gather long dried pine needles, then bake them at 225°F for 60 minutes, checking every 15, to kill any bugs and to ensure they are 100% dry.
Grab a generous handful of dried pine needles that are similar in length to create your handmade hearth broom. The more you use, the thicker the broom will be.
Wrap yarn or twine around the bundle and tie a tight double knot.
Wrap the twine around the bundle 7-10 times (or as many times as you want), keeping the tail of the original knot underneath as you wrap.
Starting on the left, separate a small section of the pine needles, then wrap the twine around the remaining pine needles 7-10 times.
Continue this technique of separating pine needles and wrapping until you reach the last section.
Cut the twine, leaving a long tail, then use a yarn needle to weave that tail back up through the wrapped twine to the top.
Feed the tail over top of the wrapped twine, then under the top section and back up through the top to create a loop.
Secure the end of the twine by weaving the tail back down under the wrapped twine.
Cut off the end of the twine and hide the extra under the wrapped twine.
NOTES
- If you’re left handed, you can start separating needles and wrapping on the right side.
- You can customize these handmade hearth brooms by using different yarn or twine and creating different wrapping patterns.
- Use a touch of hot glue to secure the twine if you’re worried about it slipping.
LOOKING FOR MORE DIY PROJECT IDEAS?
Looking for more DIY project ideas like this? Check these out:
- Easy DIY Barstool Makeover
- How to Strip a Wicker Basket
- How to Refinish a Vintage Side Table
- How to Paint a Laminate Dresser
Did you give this tutorial a try? If you did, I’d love to see how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!
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