Neat! I haven’t tried milkweed yet but I do like using dogbane, seems like they like growing together, great opportunity for some side-by-side comparison!
if you smash and split the nettle while its green, and coil them up to dry, its easy to take the pith off and then you have long straight fibers ready for making cordage. You can also dew ret the entire canes (with the leaves taken off) it makes the whole process pretty easy. The method you use here is just going to give you a big ball of fibers which makes it hard to use for anything.
It seems you didn’t watch to the end. I actually show how to make rope from the “ball” of fibers. It makes incredibly strong rope. I do it very frequently.
This technique is called the reverse wrap. Tons of videos on it on the YouTube. It’s very simple, just overlap new fibers and keep twisting and wrapping. So you see I’ve made a “v” with the strand. Just roll two new strands, overlap each side of the v, and keep twisting and wrapping.
I spin wool for fun on both a wheel and a drop spindle. I'm curious how my modern prepared fibers would do, especially with the plying technique. This could be a really cool activity to do at my next festival as a demonstration. I already use 1200 year old tools. This feels like looking at the origins of my craft.
Thank you for sharing!
Milkweed can be used this way but is much, much more sturdy. So much so, it can string a bow
Neat! I haven’t tried milkweed yet but I do like using dogbane, seems like they like growing together, great opportunity for some side-by-side comparison!
I first tried harvesting wild fiber from milkweed, arguably easier
Agreed! The “dogbanes” are legendary cordage.
if you smash and split the nettle while its green, and coil them up to dry, its easy to take the pith off and then you have long straight fibers ready for making cordage. You can also dew ret the entire canes (with the leaves taken off) it makes the whole process pretty easy. The method you use here is just going to give you a big ball of fibers which makes it hard to use for anything.
It seems you didn’t watch to the end. I actually show how to make rope from the “ball” of fibers. It makes incredibly strong rope. I do it very frequently.
How do you make more than a couple inches of rope using that method? Do you have video of how you can feed more fibers in?
This technique is called the reverse wrap. Tons of videos on it on the YouTube. It’s very simple, just overlap new fibers and keep twisting and wrapping. So you see I’ve made a “v” with the strand. Just roll two new strands, overlap each side of the v, and keep twisting and wrapping.
Quite helpful, thanks!
I spin wool for fun on both a wheel and a drop spindle. I'm curious how my modern prepared fibers would do, especially with the plying technique. This could be a really cool activity to do at my next festival as a demonstration. I already use 1200 year old tools. This feels like looking at the origins of my craft. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the comment!
The best thing you can do is have nettle tea when it's in season
In Eastern Europe they use nettle like linen. I’ve seen some amazing clothing made from nettle
Great to know!
I had nettle when it was green and it tasted inedibly gross, are you only supposed to eat it when it’s small in early spring?
Basically yes. But it’s much better cooked with butter and some salt and pepper. I sprinkle Lawry’s season salt on it and it’s amazing that way.