Working with Flax and Nettles
By woodlandstv
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Here at Bentley Woodfair we see expert Allan Brown talking us through the various processes involved in preparing flax and nettles ready for hand spinning - from growing, cutting, drying and storing through to working the plant to reduce it to its most useful natural fibres. Allan uses traditional equipment, adopting specific techniques to best work the flax. We appreciate how, in times past, this would have had enormous production value - as flax and nettles were used to make all sorts of crucial items, from sails and bed sheets to clothes and cordage - and this skill still has its value today. For more info, please email: [email protected]
http://www.bentley.org.uk/ An Adliberate film http://www.adliberate.co.uk for WoodlandsTV http://www.woodlands.co.uk/tv
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Discussion
Cool, very cool.
Fascinating stuff, how did people ever figure this out?
Thats wonderful! Appreciate the detail you gave us. Thank you!
I shall look at nettles in a new light.xx
Fabulous information.
how do you work with nettles, without them irritating the skin?
Very interesting. Good to see these old skills of working fibers with hand are still continued and hopefully passed down to the next generation.
I have a drop spindle and have been wanting to make nettle fibre yarn for a few years now but might try growing some flax/linseed and try linen too – great video! Xx
If you're willing to spend money, why not just order the proper seed from a legitimate vendor?
Fascinating video.
Badgersbunk
January 12, 2018