How to make cordage with dogbane

Learn how to find dogbane or Indian hemp and make natural cordage.

[@jennykoczur9339]

Hemp family: Cannabaceae, Dogbane family: Apocynaceae. What you got there is commonly known as spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, which is mostly what grows around my area; common dogbane (A. cannabinum) looks yet even closer to milkweed. Thanks for the video, it's a great intro to cordage and dogbane! Love it! I find a lot of my dogbane on the sides of roads. Once you have an eye for it you see it everywhere!

[@jennykoczur9339]

My dream is to (someday! long in the future!) make a dogbane shirt. If you scrape the outer bark off too, and then comb it, it's almost like flax. I made some 0.5mm cordage that works great as sewing thread, and once I learn to spin the combed fiber fine enough, I HOPE to weave it into cloth and then sew it into a shirt. I'm 45. Maybe by the time I'm 70 or 80 I'll have a shirt! XD Really gives you an appreciation of the old ways when you realize how much time must have gone into spinning, weaving, and sewing a garment! :) I am continually amazed by the strength of these fibers, like you were saying; a thick rope of dogbane would rival any hemp rope out there for strength.

[@clydedyson2147]

When you are in the desert southwest such as west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. You can use the leaves of a Yuka plant as well. You need to make your cord while it is green. If you wait until it is dry you may difficulty getting the fibers out of it. I've made and used it quite often when I need it. Like you said, you can use all different kinds of fibrous plants to made cordage, as long as you check and test the fibers for strength.

[@bradensaulsbury7383]

Totally agree with your perspective on the process being fun, and not something to be optimized for the sake of production rate! This has got to be the best video on dogbane cordage that I’ve found. You are so thorough with your info, and everything is clearly explained. Thanks for sharing your insight and enthusiasm!

[@augusta8901]

Excellent tutorial!

[@The_Ineffable_Meanderer]

Thanks for the lesson. I just discovered the dogbane cordage idea tonight so I'm going crazy researching it . Again thanks alot

[@lukejohn322]

Nicely done.

[@rubygray7749]

I really resent music backgrounds on interesting informative videos. I want to listen to the voice, not strain to separate it from the crap background.

[@blessedbees4247]

I’m so happy I happened upon your channel ! I was watching another channel on milkweed and dogbane and saw the title to your video and so glad I did, and subscribed immediately. Love your channel ! You explain everything clearly and concisely and make it easy to follow your instructions. I have a patch of dogbane in the back of my yard and I’m going to start the process of making cordage. Thanks so much !

[@williamjhunter5714]

Wow...thats strong and resists shock well.

[@slavapal00za]

Awesome video! Great background and history on dogbane. I’ve seen it in Minnesota and Wisconsin where I live, but wasn’t really aware of it until your video. I am going to be looking for it for an entirely different reason now. Thank you for the easy to follow tutorial on preparing the stalks and rolling them together. Looking forward to finding dogbane!

[@bostonsailguy]

nice

[@markishabunn4492]

I have a patch of dogbane growing in my backyard with some lesser snakeroot

[@slavapal00za]

Subscribed 😁👍