Minimum Effort Stinging Nettle Fibre

[@helenhunter4540]

Thank you Sally for matter-of-factly mentioning your low energy because of grief. I'm grieving several family deaths & despairing that I'll ever get my energy back. How absolutely helpful to me that you just come up with easier ways to "get things done".

[@jencasebolt3321]

Since I’ve discovered your fiber tutorials, I find myself sizing up every plant I come across when I’m out and about . Watch out tall plants and weeds ! 😂 Hope you have a great time at the Crags .

[@bella-bee]

Wisteria, caution poisonous. Dogbane, ditto. Highly prized by American indigenous people. I was concerned but then heard that clothing was and is made from these plants so I don’t suppose anything soaks through your skin when wearing. But you might be careful about stripping bark and getting sap on your hands at that stage. Wash them thoroughly.

[@catherinecrawford2289]

Me too, and I have absolutely no intention of working with them. I just like to know things.

[@mbrsjart5942]

Somehow I never thought to look up how to turn stinging nettles into fibre despite a lifelong fairytale obsession and it being a major plot thread (lol) in the Six Swans.

[@astrothsknot]

my oral story telling group did that story last year at the Scottish International Story telling festival and no one understood how you could make them into clothes and then I got to bust out my knowledge. Led me down a rabbit hole of clothing for the dispossessed. Human ingenuity astounds me.

[@JaneFields-x8d]

An old laundry mangle would work wonders for flattening the stems

[@hiwakoo]

I was collecting nettles for the first time today. Went prepared thanks to your videos, got. my harvest and have the best time using your low energy method😀. Workshop realy well🥰

[@carolschedler3832]

I think I have two new hobbies. Hedge bothering and anew fiber art(s)! ❤

[@emmabroughton2039]

The sound of those stems being stamped on is very satisfying. A great video, Sally, Thank you.

[@Mommamacnz]

I didn't know nettles could get so tall! The crunch when you stepped on the stems was most satisfying.

[@su.mioiyu-5008]

Many years ago I had discovered a vine that has orange roots and is very rampid in growth. It was when trying out various materials to make baskets similar to use like willow( of which I had none) when stripping off the bark I had discovered a bast fibre in it. So I was able to discover alone without any direction from anyone, rubbing and peeling, etc a way to make a 2 ply cord by running it along my thigh. I was excited that someone out there is doing similar things! Thank you for your channel.

[@isobelholland8552]

It was thrilling to meet you in person at Creswell Crags. Thank you for answering my questions with such enthusiasm, knowledge and good grace :)

[@SallyPointer]

It was my pleasure! Lovely to meet you too!

[@fook-n-bear]

You really made me feel like i can do this. Thank u 🎉😊

[@annetteegerton6153]

Such a wonderful, clear demonstration of preparing nettles for weaving. I've a garden full of tall, strong nettles just ripe for picking. I've been very curious about nettle fibre and its uses. You've cleared my fear of making a start!

[@fritzwilhelm8258]

Consistent moisture throughout the summer is the key to tall and thick nettles, even more than rich soil, although that cerrtainly helps.

[@SallyPointer]

Yes, it's certainly been an odd year for many plants, very stop/start throwing the usual timings out

[@phoebebaker1575]

I took a new route through the forest, today, and saw some stinging nettles! I recognised them because of your videos, and quickly gathered about five. The stings are real! But bearable.

[@varde42]

Those are the tallest nettles I've ever seen and stomping on them seems the most fun way how to get the task done :)

[@mjwallace6579]

This is great, thanks Sally! I am keen to process nettles but I have chronic fatigue, so have been trying to figure out the lowest-energy method possible. Going to try this way!

[@juliejames6322]

I was eying this seeds as you were harvesting, and was pleased and surprised to hear you discuss eating the seeds, they’re delicious and invigorating and I love love love nettle seeds!

[@lesdrinkwater490]

Another really interesting video. I love your palaeolithic dress, hair net and necklace. Nettle fibre is very useful. Thanks Sally.

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

Brilliant as always, thanks for sharing and showing a simple way of processing nettles. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I discovered a stinging nettle look alike for north america, the nettle leaved vervain. Its a wildflower, slightly stingy and itchy but not really. They don't yield bast fiber at all and in fact when dried they become very hard and unworkable. You can't scrape with even a sharp knife, it just breaks.

[@1Lightdancer]

I love your informative videos on processing fibers, and have begun with my nettles. For decades, I've eaten them and used them for tea. Another use for the leaves harvested with the fibre - pack some in a jar with brown sugar for a FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice) garden concentrate!! Nigel Palmer has videos on making and using this amendment.

[@91stephers]

Do you add water to this? I’m assuming enough to cover the plants?

[@lukebaker844]

Wonderful content Sally! For real expediency (though the process will damage a very minimal amount of the fiber) I like to rub the nettle between my hands AND pull them repeatedly between my hand and the rough bark of a nearby tree. One hand grasps the end of a fiber bundle and pulls while the other hand puts pressure on the bundle against the tree bark (either upright or fallen)

[@vanessaboman8143]

Thank you so much for this video for doing this process with little energy, this is exactly what I needed to find!

[@theanthropiceyedolatry]

This video was so great and so informative despite your low energy. Thank you so much, I hope you feel better

[@kirstenpaff8946]

I hope you have a great time at the event this weekend.

[@MyVanHaven]

I know this is an older video of yours, but I was wondering if you knew if flax plants could be treated in the same way? You mentioned not needing to rett the plants and I've been looking all over to try and figure out if flax and/or other plants could be turned to linen or other fibres in a similar way without retting as I love the idea of being able to do this as a small space type hobby, which would mean having nowhere to leave plants to rot. Thanks! Love the informative videos about all these ancient hands-on techniques that don't require any technology to process!

[@SallyPointer]

You can process flax unretted, but it lends itself to even a very light retting

[@chingachgook9718]

I have twist/spun Apocynum sp (No. American Indian hemp) both freshly prepared, and weathered, successfully. The weathered stalks, left out for about a year, yielded shorter ultimates, but finer cordage.

[@jayhenderson2620]

I really appreciate this. Me and my wife were just discussing how we might process nettles more easily after I started making some grass and cordage baskets. Enjoy Creswell Crags! We live not too far away and it certainly fired my interest in the paleolithic when I was a child.

[@jirup]

I hope you have a really good weekend, Sally.

[@warrenfrost5382]

Hi Sally So lovely to see one of your videos again.And just when I thought I'd left it too late this year for nettle cordage.

[@jenmqkeeper]

Thank you for sharing this method! Last year I tried to do retting and absolutely ruined my bunch. This year I am following this. I'm lucky enough to have an excellent patch of nettles in my backyard.

[@imafine1]

Lovely video. Today I’m going to visit a small park near my home. It may be too late to harvest the stinging nettle there, but I’ll have a look. This process is so simple I think I can make it my first cordage effort.Thanks for the informative and entertaining video.

[@Felix.Wingfield]

Nice to see you again!

[@helentucker6407]

Fantastic way of doing it. Might have a go at crocheting it! Thanks

[@jem30six]

Love your vids. Feel well soon xx

[@miaokuancha2447]

Your videos are delightful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. I wish you good health and happiness always.

[@NikosKatsikanis]

best nettle vid on youtube

[@raktoda707]

Thanks ! How informative!

[@ShotgunLlama]

It's kinda funny seeing how similar the flora in your neck of the UK are to forests here in the US - nettles, elderberries, and blackberries all growing around each other

[@MsTilda2]

this is so brilliant, I,ll be doing this tomorrow, just got a bunch of nettles, thank you so much for this tut, and I hope you are better by now, love from denmark, Im gonna se if I can find tall nettles like yours, cant wait til they dry.. all the best :)

[@hhwippedcream]

Thanks so much, Sally!

[@lillyrose5428]

Man, those nettles are huge! Hope you're doing well!

[@violettracey]

Thanks!

[@areyouwaitingforpermission]

Thank you for your video, Sally!

[@renatamcstay]

Simple, effective, thank you!

[@daniellefoster3591]

Hi Sally, I'm enjoying your videos for the first time, they're lovely! I don't have experience harvesting nettles for fiber (just for food), but I did take a class a few years ago, where we learned in theory (it may have been for other fibers than nettles), that if you can leave your plant material in a pond or stream, come back in a few weeks and 'nature' will have done the work for you. I wonder if you could replicate the technique in a basin at home... Just an idea, maybe you've explored before. Thanks for your work! Cheers.

[@SallyPointer]

Retting certainly works on nettles but only usually takes a few days. It's not my personally preferred method, but lots of people doing more modern nettle work do ret theirs.

[@FirstnameLastname-bn4gv]

@@SallyPointer What are the benefits of retting as opposed to this method, and vice versa?

[@lizcademy4809]

@@FirstnameLastname-bn4gv I think it's mostly experimental archaeology ... Sally is not using modern methods to prepare the fiber, just what we think was known and used by the people in her time period. She said "Paleolithic and Mesolithic" early in the video ... those people might not have figured out retting yet. Off to check my tiny city yard for any plants with decent fiber.

[@x1435]

Thanks for the less-effort method! I hope you are doing well.

[@JackyHeijmans]

I hope you will have a really great time! Much love! 🤗

[@saranordin6648]

Nice! Hello from Sweden.

[@MoniqueAO888]

Thanks for the new info and have a happy weekend !!! :-)

[@MsZzzs]

Fantastic :-)!! Thank you!!

[@pilarfernandeztavira1060]

Hi Sally. I heard you saying that you invite members of the public to make cord. Could you kindly write down were you are planning to do your next "workshop"?. Thank you very much. By the way your videos are ever so interesting and rather well explained. Furthermore, your accent is music... I subscribed myself to your channel. Hugs from the bottom of England or like we say in Spanish, abrazos!

[@SallyPointer]

I tend to be in a fair few places over the year, I haven't finalised next year's diary yet but major events will be on my website at www.sallypointer.com when I get details confirmed

[@pilarfernandeztavira1060]

@@SallyPointer Thank you very much. I'll keep an eye on it. 😉

[@edwardleigh-wood1540]

Wonderful and inspiring as ever, thank you!

[@tamarakonczal6350]

This would work well for dogbane and milkweed too.

[@ynystwca5592]

Interesting and informative as always! Thank you ☺️

[@deborahharding647]

Sally--just discovered your channel, so I'm catching up on all your videos. I've just pruned out some mulberry and peeled this year's rods. Do you think this techniquewould work with such a hefty fiber? Here in the USA we have dogbane/Indian Hemp [Apocynum cannabinus], and I'm going to try this next. We don't have hedges in the city, so I'm growing some in my little urban garden. The bees love it.

[@SallyPointer]

I've seen lovely mulberry fibre done by others but haven't had the chance to try it myself yet

[@altonlg24]

My journey towards peace within and with all existence has grown my awareness about fabrics. Does harvesting nettles kill the plant? Are there other plants that aren't killed to get their fiber? From my understanding both hemp and flax are killed even before they have a chance to reproduce. Thank you for your time and any help.

[@SallyPointer]

If you cut at the base the nettle will usually reshoot, but also we harvest after flowering and often after seed has set, so there is plenty of chance for the plant to have shared pollen and set seed in that year. Flax is harvested when the seed is viable ( though you can also harvest slightly earlier in specific circumstances) so usually the seed is ready to replant.

[@rickgernhardt6204]

My prayers and God's blessings to you for your health! I've just recently discovered for myself that Hollyhock stems are fibrous and am curious how it will do as cordage- similar to milkweed I think. Have you ever experimented with Hollyhock? Love your videos!

[@slhughes1267]

Watched this video and ran out to raid my nettle patch the next day. Got usable fiber out of them. Found somebody else's video on carding the stuff to make it finer. That's next.

[@violettracey]

I wonder if it would be possible to invent a machine to help rub them. Like a wheel that could roll over them.

[@SallyPointer]

People regularly try, and there are designs out there for rollers a little like mangles, but nettles really lend themselves to processing in small batches so whether you'd really find it useful depends on how much nettle you personally process in a season

[@violettracey]

@@SallyPointer Thanks!

[@ThePhantazmya]

Suddenly, I find myself wondering if you can prep nettles in the same way you prep flax or would hackling destroy the fiber? 🤔

[@SallyPointer]

There's been a lot of discussion about this on the Nettles for Textiles Facebook group, I think the verdict was it isn't as good on nettle as it is on flax, though there are some overlaps.

[@veslemylilleengen8138]

Thanks for this!! Can you dye nettle fibres with natural dyes?

[@SallyPointer]

You can, I've recently seen some lovely woad dyed nettle done by Allan Brown

[@jarodmarchand1200]

Do you also make nettle weaving videos, I am very interested in this activity and plan to do one ??

[@SallyPointer]

There are lots more nettle videos planned including weaving, will be next year now when the new growth is available.

[@MirrimBlackfox]

Hope you are feeling well and healthy! Would this work with other bast fibers do you think? Like could you process flax this way or does something about flax require retting? What about Bramble (we have so much invasive Himalayan Blackberry here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA)?

[@SallyPointer]

I've got a video or two on bramble already. Flax can be processed from just dry stems, but the fibres do come away better with even slight retting.

[@phookadude]

Have you tried retting it? Just keep an eye on it because every plant seems to need a different length of time between retted and rotted.

[@SallyPointer]

I personally don't ret because I use my nettle fibre for prehistoric inspired projects, and current evidence suggests little or no retting of nettle at this date, but it's a good method for a different approach

[@m__6930]

Interesting! I need to learn more about this. Do you have suggestions for books to read about turning nettle (or otherwise plant material) into fiber perhaps?

[@SallyPointer]

I'm writing one, but it will be a while yet, in the meantime there is my online class in just over a month if you want a more concentrated version of all my KZbin content

[@m__6930]

@@SallyPointer Cool, thanks!

[@kyststudio-epicartadventure]

Could you sit in a chair and rub your feet on the bunch, one forward and one back and reversing, on the floor, making it even easier, and a larger batch?

[@SallyPointer]

I like the idea! I'll try it!

[@Gypsywandering400]

When should you harvest? Only in autumn? Or is late spring also ok? Thanks for this helpful video.

[@SallyPointer]

In the UK the approximate window is between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, but weather conditions can alter that a bit.

[@Gypsywandering400]

@@SallyPointer 🙏🏾

[@ynaiporter2657]

Are these the same as the stinging nettles we get in Australia?

[@SallyPointer]

Mine are Urtica dioica, which are yours?

[@tealkerberus748]

I suddenly understand why people think nettle fibre is good. Around here they rarely grow more than 1 foot tall.

[@Padraigp]

Wow they grow to 6 foot in my yard. Its my best crop! I'm a terrible gardener.

[@deborahcherry1735]

Strange I’m in the North West and today I picked 3lb of blackberries

[@SallyPointer]

It's such a strange year isn't it, some areas seem back to front on the usual progression

[@hedydefoy3380]

Here in Quebec, Canada, our stinging nettles are only 12 to 24 inches tall and the stems are full of stinging hairs. Does that mean that we cannot use them or is there is a way to get rid of those hairs.

[@SallyPointer]

As you strip the leaves off the hairs will go too

[@NikosKatsikanis]

How good are these fibres for a firebow drill? ie how many fires can they start before wearing out

[@SallyPointer]

That would be an excellent experiment to try. Let me know how you get on!

[@NikosKatsikanis]

@@SallyPointer sure

[@ellee888]

How does nettle yarn feel? I’m an avid knitter and crocheter, and want to get started with spinning natural fibers... however, I have sensitive skin, so I really am looking for soft fibers.

[@SallyPointer]

It does need to soften up, just as raw flax does. So it starts out stiff but with washing, wearing and general use it will become every bit as soft as well worn linen.

[@ellee888]

Sally Pointer alright, thank you! I’ve got so much nettle on my property, I’ve gotta put some use into it.

[@Didgeridoovibes]

nice video, ty for sharing. Wonder if i just could sleep on the rough fibers for some nights instead of rubbing them together, like placing them on the matress and maybe putting a thicker cloth or smthing in between me and the nettles - with the amount i twist and turn at night that should do the trick

[@MrPotatoemouse]

@Didgeridoovibes That’s a great idea! Did you try it?

[@ChrisS-iu2gw]

Its now October 13. There's still plenty of nettles. Is it too late to harvest?

[@SallyPointer]

Depends on where you are. Here in Herefordshire it's a bit late, but there might still be some in shady woodland that aren't past it. Try a few and see!

[@ChrisS-iu2gw]

@@SallyPointer I'm in Somerset. I tried a few this afternoon and I think the answer to my question is ' yes its too late' 😀 Everything seemed a bit 'brittle'. But its my first attempt so that doesn't help. Really enjoying your videos. Roll on next summer.

[@wardostyn6669]

I'm wondering, does somebody know how many square meters of nettles you would need for a meter of yarn or a m² woven fabric? Thaks for the help :-)

[@SallyPointer]

Have a look at the statistics in this project, roughly 100 nettles will make a tea towel for example sallypointer.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-nettle-picking-and-peeling.html?m=1

[@fredericapanon207]

Would this method also work on flax instead of retting?

[@fredericapanon207]

Ah, never mind, I saw your earlier responses to similar questions.

[@phillipstroll7385]

Can you make a nettle tea from the "dust" that fell from your rubbing? I mean obviously one could, but does one get the benefits of nettle tea from it?

[@SallyPointer]

At this stage the nettles aren't great nutritionally, much nicer with younger growth

[@mandylavida]

YES! 21st century!

[@addictedtotreasuretrash108]

Do you make any leaflets of your work etc ? Thanx

[@SallyPointer]

There are some books planned, but may be a year or two before they are ready

[@catalhuyuk7]

Has anyone tried to run nettle through a pasta maker? It’s sort of like a grinder. I wonder if it would crush the fibres?

[@SallyPointer]

A few people on the Nettles for Textiles group have I think, but I don't believe it was any major speed improvement. Give it a go and see what you think though

[@tinuvianna]

Does the stomping reduce or eliminate the sting from the stems? Where I live, in the Pacific Northwest of the US, I wouldn't dream of handling mature nettle stems (or young for that matter) with bare hands.

[@SallyPointer]

Stripping the leaves off should remove most of the stings. I still get stung a bit, but practice is everything

[@ofirshorshy8281]

is it possible to make fiber out of other thing than nettles? as at the moment it so hot here all dried out

[@SallyPointer]

There are hundreds of plants used for fibre and cordage worldwide. If you are in a different part of the world, have a look at what your local indigenous populations used, that's often a good start, then look at plants that have been introduced more recently to your area

[@ofirshorshy8281]

@@SallyPointer so I went out to look for strawberry plant and found other plant with long branches and tried out ur method for the bramble and it worked. I got excited. I have no idea what it's name it this plant

[@JakeWitmer]

Do you eat the nettle leaves? Euell Gibbons said they were great, boiled. It neutralizes the urticating hairs. (How bothersome are those hairs for you and your work?)

[@SallyPointer]

I do when they are younger, they are past peak eating at this stage

[@JakeWitmer]

@@SallyPointer Excellent! Thanks for responding! (Any favorite method of preparation? I might try substituting them for spinach in a spinach+garlic topping on a cauliflower+parmesan pizza...) Your videos are excellent. I may try to do some weaving, having watched them. I actually like the vastly sped up portions...and seeing lots of material being created ultra quickly. Do you sell your wares/creations? (Sorry if I haven't noticed the links to a sales page...) Keep up the amazing work!

[@SallyPointer]

@@JakeWitmer have a look at the recipes in my nettle playlist

[@JaneFields-x8d]

At the same time, giving your hands an exfoliate ❤😂🎉

[@vicentepallamare2608]

What do we do afterwards?

[@SallyPointer]

What would you like to do with your fibre next? It's good for so many techniques, maybe try the simple looping if you aren't sure where to start but want something easy and practical?

[@vicentepallamare2608]

@@SallyPointer ideally socks, pants and some sort of top/sweater for the family. M. Goal is an off-grid solution...

[@SallyPointer]

@@vicentepallamare2608 in that case, run the fibre from this stage though carders just as you would for wool, then spin yarn that you can weave. Let me know how you get on!

[@violetaafricana1]

👏👏💚

[@Scodiddly]

"they're very poisonous.. but still useful".... er, useful for what? Hopefully nobody has offended you.... ;)

[@MrPotatoemouse]

Lol. I thought she said beautiful.

[@annwelch4127]

I'm losing the will to live half way through ! get on with it ! And what are you going to do with it when you've made it???

[@jasonmarkson3773]

I WISH YOU WOULD FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT AND NOT TELL US YOUR LIFE STORY

[@violettracey]

Thanks!