Fibers From a Wild Landscape

/ rootsschool
www.RootsVT.com
Sarah Corrigan of the Roots School gathers, processes and spins dogbane fiber into cordage. She uses a horn comb for refining the material and spins it with a Turkish style drop spindle. The single ply cordage is then double plied into two ply, or woven into the twined fiber basket or made into natural fiber bow strings and snare lines. For classes and instruction check out www.RootsVT.com

[@Ravencall]

Just coming across this beautiful video, 12 years after it was made. I hope you are still bushcrafting. I love your poncho! You must have inherited it from your mom because I have one just like it that I bought more than 40 years ago.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks! Still at it!

[@DaneStolthed]

I love the hands on archeological approach, this is absolutely fascinating!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WayneTheSeine]

So inspiring ....preserving the knowledge that has carried humanity to where we are today....never let it die.

[@shubhadaharidas1457]

Great,great work of patience and skill,loved it

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Many thanks

[@neanderthalnonsense]

What a fantastic video. It is evident that you have spun MILES of fibers. Really enjoyable.

[@preacherjayk]

awsome great to see women in to native skills that's almost unheard of in my area, I love it,,,

[@frankparrish2928]

This is the first time I've seen dogbane used with a spindle. I will give it a try. Nice!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

You have to comb it nice and fine!

[@stigyanblue1442]

Drop spindles are the way to go, hoss.

[@raquelmorocho7250]

Today I find this wonderful video. Thank you very much for show us the way to turn simple things in useful staff.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@garrymacantanaiste575]

It's magical. I am inspired. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Such a peaceful video full of knowledge . Thank you very much .

[@ModalSoul]

For anyone into bushcraft, you could make a comb to process the fibers before spinning with clay. Make little sharp rolls of teeth, and run it through the fiber.

[@6022]

Hawthorns work well for this also.

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

Oh, so this is what it feels like to find a new favorite channel (!)

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@markpeatrowsky3023]

Beautiful video

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@bernadettestapleton4181]

Oh my goodness that's the most beautiful hand work I've seen ever. God bless your hard work

[@AngelWood961]

This video sounds very well the magic of natural fibers, thankyou!

[@ngxuezi504]

For me anyone that who make all of this primitive stone-age lost-skill i will definitely gave a like because this video is soo useful in any of survival situation, so i hope the people who give a unlike on this video should understand that this stuff/skill is useful if they don't trust it they can try by they-self!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@bobbyesamdahl]

awesome thank you

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad you liked it!

[@TemplarX2]

This is amazing. I have discovered a plant with some super strong fibres. I know how to make ropes but slowly. This method should allow me to make twine faster. Thank you.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Awesome!

[@jeffandthings77]

This video has been such an inspiration to me-I must have watched it 100 times myself! But it is the reason I now have a play list experimenting and learning all sorts of ways to spin dogbane. Have you made any sort of garments out of the dogbane yarn?

[@kitsurubami]

such an awesome video. thank you for making it and posting.

[@Nemophotowildlife]

absolutely amazing video ...

[@cyndiburkhart3619]

How can you not like videos that teach you lost skills? Really now, quit being haters.

[@ngxuezi504]

Agreed i do like any of the video that show all of this stone-age lost-skill and i wish that i can have a chance to do this!

[@stevenwintersnight1036]

That was a beautiful video.

[@miteeoak]

Beautiful demonstration. The music was very soothing.

[@tomritter493]

absolutely awesome Sara wish I could meet you to see that done in person awesome thank you for carrying on tradition

[@nakoawarrior3186]

I make cordage from different things in the summer but after summer they seem to rot, plantain, meadow foxtail, slender rush make cordage, candles and fishing line. kool video

[@kevseadog]

Beautifully shot, and expert skills. A truly great video! Peace.

[@maunster3414]

Fascinating! Thank you.

[@renter6]

Beautiful video and extremely groovy skills displayed as well - I love this music but the sounds of this work must also be something else.

[@TJackSurvival]

Beautiful

[@EDBO23]

Great Video!

[@VickyDPi]

what a great video!! thanks

[@kellyroup6665]

That was an excellent Vid.

[@jannwirtz6056]

loved this, thank you!!!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fernandomontoya8430]

nice beautiful...you inspire me ...thanks.

[@squatchburger1580]

Beautiful video ,thank you

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@dreanki]

That was a really nice video :) thank you

[@honzaj3693]

Great video, thanks for sharing!!!! H

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Honza J I first saw this video 5 years ago and it is a favorite . Not surprised that you have been here . Best wishes .

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

@ MrGarystaples, glad to hear it!

[@KAYAPOGAN]

Really good

[@vibhupande]

What's the music used? Both the compositions in the background track are beautiful.

[@namiroraha7473]

so nice and beautiful and simple ..charming

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

The sounds of a lot of the skills we work are pretty sweet. At this point in my filming I was not yet able to capture any decent sound...maybe the next time I revisit this topic I will be able to capture it. Thanks for watching!

[@PkSage89]

@.@ Thats astounding! Love the music and love the vid. And thats amazing. If that place is around me and i ever get money i might look into this lol.

[@StephenCooteNZ]

Wonderful video. Well done. Thank you. I've made natural fiber cordage, and I've been aware of the 'spindle' before but I've never looked into how they are used. Up until now I thought that the only way to make a decent cord was by the double twist method (i.e. a two stranded twisted cord). Much appreciated... best wishes from New Zealand.... Stephen Coote.

[@tinadriskell4469]

If you have coarse uneven fibers, hand spinning works better for me. To use a drop spindle, the better your fiber prep, the easier it is.

[@StephenCooteNZ]

@@tinadriskell4469 Thanks !!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

@siriusblackssister She is using a comb made of bison horn to comb them.

[@tinadriskell4469]

I don't have a bison horn comb, but I made a heckel with a board and some nails which worked. I am going to try a comb made out of an old credit card too. I think the physical properties might be similar to horn. Not nearly as cool, but you gotta work with what you've got. Right?

[@pickmytimecounterclockwise3035]

Nice!

[@meyo4158]

Where in the world are such beautiful people who have this knowledge

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Vermont of course!

[@stevengoodfellow]

beautiful video! that fibre looks like it's nice to work with. you could try growing phormium tenax, it's the main fibre plant growing here in new zealand, it has really long fibres!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

thanks I will look into it!

[@rusticwomble6622]

This is great! Given that I don't own a horn comb (!) I assume that an ordinary comb can be used to refine the fibers? And also, I love your spindle....wonder where I can get one, or even make my own. Lovely video and music! :)

[@tinadriskell4469]

You can get a drop spindle on line, or go to the Sheep and Wool Festival the first weekend in May in MD. Or whatever wool festival is in your area. I want the horn comb too!

[@cookingwithtabitha]

This makes me wonder what plants around where I live could be used for fiber. We have so many tall plants with nice long stalks.

[@nasheselo]

Look for things that have bast fibres like stinging nettle. Stinging nettle seems to grow everywhere. It is usually found at the edge of forrested areas. Um, and wear gloves. Darn things really do sting! There are very useful videos from Sally Pointer.

[@trosanelli]

I am going to need to learn the combing part of making natural cordage.

[@lonebeezy]

drop spindle 🤯🤯 have you ever tried spinning it on a Rose Spindle? love the video 👍

[@FeherZoltan1]

You have a Time Machine! I have too!

[@matthewscanlan4387]

Great video, so much emphasis is put on the future that we are forgetting our past. Can anyone tell me what plants were used to make the fibers?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Dogane! Thanks for the appreciation.

[@larrylhanson]

She means Dogbane.

[@matthewscanlan4387]

@@ROOTSSchoolVT thank you for your reply, we dont have much dogbane around here but I'm going to try my hand at milkweed, not sure why but many people consider it a nuisance. So I collect seeds and spread them when I'm on a hike 😄

[@6022]

I love this video. Especially the natural drop spindle that was used. What is the song starting at 2:20? It sounds quite spooky!

[@joellenmccord73]

I would love to know what books are on the self in the background. I bet they're fantastic.

[@Blerdunn2618]

Any chance I could get a couple photos of your comb and a description if how it was made?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

I will dig it out soon!

[@JCej]

Have you all thought about using a hackle and your comb to process the fiber and make it easier for spinning. I would think you'd get a lot more done at one time. Also, I'd love to know the name of the tune toward the end of the video. Thanks!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

+Jessica Cejnar We have used hackles as well as a florist frog, this is to experiment with pre metal, pre modern tools that we can make from natural materials. I forget the name of the song used but it might be by Kevin Macleod.

[@LavenderLori406]

Thank you for this! Where is Roots School? It looks like you also made your comb. From a hoof? And your spindle too? Is there a link to both of those in here somewhere?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching! We are in Vermont. The comb is from horn which has similar qualities to hoof. I am not sure what you mean by a link to them?

[@tinadriskell4469]

Show us how to make the comb!

[@lordmario5631]

9 people who dislike is absolutely failed.

[@snipper1ie]

The only time I look at the like or dislike tell is when someone mentions how many dislikes there are. To my mind, "The man that never made a mistake, never made anything".

[@WAGONJON]

What shell were you using to comb out the fiber? Thanks for the tutorial!!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

It was a comb I made out of horn

[@LionManReWilding]

What is the name of the tool that you use to comb the fibers?

[@notsosilentknight]

I'm so happy I found this video. Where can I find a comb like that? Can I make a spindle like the one you've used? I'm an archaeology student studying in the southeastern US.

[@barbarajohnson79]

You can make a spindle like that easily enough.

[@tinadriskell4469]

It's a drop spindle. They aren't expensive to buy. I have one with a dinosaur on it (and four others). Yes, I am bragging, but come on. It's cool.

[@loves2spin2]

This is wonderful! Please tell me where you got your beautiful horn comb.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

I made it for her!

[@Blerdunn2618]

@@ROOTSSchoolVT any chance we could get some closer photos/ video od the comb?

[@sunne1954home]

Love the poncho!! Did you make it??

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

No, thrift store score from many years ago!

[@beggsnachin]

What plant was it that was used? Cattail leaves? Hard to tell. I have some flax saved up and dried up in my craft room, just am so busy with farm chores, I don't have time to do the fun stuff hardly anymore. The farm stuff used to be fun, but is fast turning into work. lol Liked and subscribed. I have a few crafty things on my channel as well, some primitive pottery ventures, things like that.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching. Its dogbane! Good luck with all the chores, we understand how that goes!

[@psychosorcerer9438]

So... Would it be possible to use this technique to make textiles or clothing?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Time consuming but yes this technique is how the first textiles came to be.

[@Xxsuperninja92xX]

I am a new arrival to this wonderful world of natural fibers, having just begun making strings and ropes from random fibrous plant that I have found around my house. Tomorrow I set out in search of Stinging Nettles. I was wondering at 2:10 why do you roll the pile between your hands? 2ndly, Where can I find a detailed explanation step by step of how to make yarn out of nettle fiber do I have to soak them overnight or can I just use them straight from the ground? I want to make very fine string

[@nasheselo]

Take a look at Sally Pointer's channel!

[@tribalequestrian4954]

Where did you get the horn fiber comb? I need something to process hemp fibers.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Brad made it. You can get a florist frog though.

[@LionManReWilding]

How did you make your drop spindle?

[@GMiller75]

how do you get from picking them to removing the pulp without breaking the strands and then to the carding stage for making yarn? Do you have to treat it or something?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Hey! Every plant has a somewhat specific way it needs to be processed. For Dogbane, provided it is not rotten from being harvested too late in the year it will stay together with a hand processing like this. Some plant and bark fibers require wretting which is a controlled rotting to break down with woody materials, we either dew wret or ash wret. Other fibers you can hand process like this would be milkweed and nettle, although they need to be harvested as soon as they die or just before they die in the fall. Dogbane fibers are super tough, we often find them still viable in the late winter or even early early spring.

[@VIVETVITAS]

Is the material you gathered, or most of the material you use to make fiber best when gathered in Winter? Great video by the way.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

From now till winter is fine, you just want the fibers to have fully matured. Thanks for the feedback.

[@VIVETVITAS]

THANK YOU!

[@Woolmouse]

Yes Horn comb very cool do you sell them?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

No, it was a one off project, there are lots of things you could try, a florist frog, a fork.

[@SpiritBear12]

I want that poncho! LOL Did you make it? Could you recommend a similar pattern for crochet. I don't knit.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

She did not make that one, but she love it too! Now she says that if you find one to send it our way!

[@SpiritBear12]

Roots School Oh darn! LOL May I ask where she got it? I have seen ponchos with a collar on them on KZbin and I saved a few in my Pinterest account, but I guess you could modify the collar into a hood. It would take some thinking. I have several unfinished crochet projects that I'm trying to knock down before I start any more new projects.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

She got it from a consignment store....

[@SpiritBear12]

Roots School A lucky find. :-)

[@animusauthor]

What is the tool you are using at 2:45 made out of?

[@RossPotts]

@2:20, I don't understand how your separating the fibers after you've cracked the bark and rolled the chaff out. are you scraping like you would curl ribbons (kid crafts)?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

She is using a comb made of horn, you can use a fork or a florist frog also...

[@mariajosefinapalma9759]

beautiful !!

[@cameronpain1422]

What is the purpose of the drop spindle? Great vid

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

It's one of the most efficient ways to make a whole lot of fiber into cord for weaving projects.

[@nasheselo]

It adds twist which makes it stronger. Plying also adds strength. You would twist each individual strand in one direction and then the two together in the opposite direction.

[@krishnashankar6920]

osm ... u r beautiful sarah

[@FirstnameLastname-bn4gv]

Where can I find a horn comb like the one you're using here?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

We made it from a horn... you can get cow or bison horn at a lot of pet stores now as folks give them to dogs as chew toys. A florist frog is a modern solution.

[@Woolmouse]

What is the tool that you're using to remove the bark

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

The only tool aside from her hands is a horn comb that I carved for her. Is that what you are referring to?

[@RossPotts]

Roots School Oh! so she's combi g, not scraping. wow, id have to make this a winter project. long term.

[@Woolmouse]

Ross Potts 😊 I'm working on some now and would love that tool.

[@primitivepyromaniac5037]

how do you process agave, yucca or sisal?

[@tinadriskell4469]

Take a quarter, scrape away the pulp from a green yucca leaf, the fibers will be there. If you're careful, you even have a" needle" pre-threaded. Try it, you'll see.

[@seribroghain6748]

Around 2:30, what is the purpose of the combing?

[@tinadriskell4469]

It takes away the tow, the short fibers, leaving the higher quality, longer fibers, finely divided and parallel to each other. It makes a worsted spun yarn. Woolen yarns are made with fibers that go every which way. Those are warmer, fluffier, but not as smooth and clean.

[@EJMunoz-ec9gz]

what kind of fiber are you using?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Dogbane

[@EJMunoz-ec9gz]

@@ROOTSSchoolVT thanks, greetings from Mallorca, and congratulations on your channel, I love your videos, that fiber would be great to make a sling!

[@Tiger-789]

Can you link the music please?

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

It noted at the end of the video.

[@morganolfursson2560]

You are such a beautiful woman .

[@jonathanjensen189]

Proverbs 31:13

[@gabrielcervenko3430]

I’m sorry but as a beginner I really need text to fully understand.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

I can understand that for sure. This was meant more as an inspiration than a tutorial. We have another video about processing and breaking down fibers on our channel and will get to a spinning one soon.

[@lisarochwarg4707]

You take dead grass and turn it into something useful. Good.