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Lovely set of videos: really captured the feel.

Glad it's not as bad as feared! In honour of next years monty python theme: you lucky lucky lucky #######!

Thanks folks :) cranmere, the bathroom tip sounds sensible. I just watched a you tube video of a chap who made himself a down bag. He used a cheap synthetic bag and re -stuffed it, but did baffles by sewing through the two layers. He suggests every 8" is ideal to stop the down clumping. This...

We've got 5 terrible stained down pillows from rellies house. I've put them all through the washing machine and tumble dryer, so the down is clean and dry. Was wondering about trying to make a down sleeping bag? Or anyone got other bright ideas for uses? Tips would be helpful too. Thanks!

Thanks Toddy and Yarrow :) I've got PilotOfPenzance making a flax brake/break(?) for me - he thinks it's a great excuse to buy himself some wood working tools :D

Thanks folks, glad you're enjoying the thread. It makes it worthwhile writing it :) I thought it time for an update with my latest efforts. I left my stook rather longer than a week (life got in the way) and the Cornish weather took a turn. We had large amounts of rainfall and generally damp...

I'm enjoying the pics - thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing John. Lovely pics!

Great memories - thanks for sharing the dingly dell point of view Steve :)

Excellent compilation - you've got a talented daughter :)

I was sorry to miss the group meal - glad to see a good time was had :)

Thanks for sharing those :)

Brave, brave people. So glad they're coming again - I very much enjoyed their company :)

Thanks for posting that - good link. I'm not sure if it would work here in Cornwall, as we have a very damp and warm climate (not much frost!!), so I think our nettles rot over winter rather than retting. I'll keep an eye out and see if I can get any root-retted nettles to play with next year...

Oops - sorry Toddy, cross posted and I stand corrected :) Thanks so much for your input and interest - it's great encouragement.

I'm guessing it will help with the drying process, but otherwise it's just the stage the nettles are at in their growth that makes a difference. It would appear that the best time to pick nettles is after they've flowered but before they start branching. There's an interesting scientific paper...

By way of update, I tried poaching the nettle skins in soda crystal water again. According to this website: http://www.twocrows.co.uk/kaleidescopes/text-pages/broom-text.html, broom branches are poached in lye solution for 3 hours to remove the fibres. For interest, here is the full quote I...

Round 2 of trying to produce nettle fibres. I picked 3 bundles of nettles. One lot I put in the stream, as before. One lot I spread out in some damp grass. One lot I peeled the skins off and poached the skins in soda crystals. I tried to remember to turn the ones on the grass every so often. As...

Welcome back. Girl here, too. Plenty of us at the main moot, if you fancy coming along: http://www.bushmoot.com/

Thanks everyone! In that case, I shall have another go...I already picked another bunch, so will see how that works. But otherwise will wait until after they flower - thanks John for that suggestion. Toddy, thank you for looking in and sharing your experience. I knew you'd be a mine of...