Bristol / November 2009
It took few intents to get fine long fibres from stinging nettle stem. And it showed as the best way to extract them when they are fresh, just recently picked up.
Green skin that is formed by fibres will separate than very easily from the interior wooden part. After few days of being dried fibres can be used for for making a string.
Twising fibres into string is the proccess that could be learned only by trying it out. It requires some patience, but afterwards you will be rewatded with a nice, strong, smelly string.
 Stinging nettle |
 Stinging nettle harvesting |
 Stinging nettle string first intent |
 Stinging nettle string bundle |
 Bruising |
 Cleaning stem |
 Cutting stem |
 Bruising with knife handle |
 Bark took off |
 Stinging nettle stem |
 Culms in barh |
 Taking of bark |
 Bark took off |
 Stinging nettle bark drying |
 Stinging nettle fibre twisting |
 Stinging nettle string |
 Stinging nettle string bobbin |
02/12/2009