But before I go on... because I do rather go on... I have a confession to make. This is not just my first attempt at making cordage. This is my first attempt at hands-on bushcraft at all! Before today I inhabited the lofty world of the Theoretical Bushcrafter: one who inhabits libraries or the couch in front of the TV and gleans information from books and documentaries, never applying any of it but preferring to observe from afar with feet up, mug of tea in hand, sandwich on standby while others get dirty, wet and cold.
But no more. Today I got stung! Actual physical sensation! You don't get that from a book (not the good quality paper, anyway).
So, speaking of stinging, back to nettle cordage. I recorded my efforts at various stages of the process for your viewing pleasure.
I heard that moan!
Just shut up and read it anyway. Suffering is good for the soul!
First, a picture of my intended victims
Ain't that pretty? If only they knew...
My keen eye for observation tells me that these plants are probably what most people would call "green" nettles. I've read that the red ones are best, but I don't got none of those.
Having identified my prey, I proceeded to harvest a selection of plants using the nearest available sharp edge (I lack a poncey bushcrafty knife).
The stems were then stripped. I discovered that this goes much more quickly if one takes one's gloved hand (I'm a wimp) and runs it back from tip to base rather than working up the stem, plucking each leaf.
Then we come to the fun part: crushing the stem and splitting it. And look, I've grown a pair of balls! (Become brave enough to take the gloves off, that is.)
Then comes the bending and breaking the pith and peeling it off. Wow, it came away very easily. The end result:
Surprisingly strong stuff! I wrapped it around my thumb and yanked and twisted and fiddled and pulled and it was as good as any twine or string.
I then started to rub my thigh. I did this for a while but the nettle didn't turn into cordage. It just lay there on the lawn, so I placed a strand between my hand and thigh and started rubbing again. Magic! It went all twisty!
It kept untwisting, so I tied a knot in it
And after working in a few extra strands and rubbing some more, this was the end result!
Ta da!
Okay, so it's not going to win any beauty contests, but it's a result, yes? I could, theoretically, tie my boots on with it, right? But as I was wearing slippers at the time, I decided to tie up some tomato plants instead! I've also left a few strands in the greenhouse to dry out to see how they look tomorrow.
So, after all my fun, the left-overs:
What can one do with the pith? Anything? Doesn't look very appetising. I did seriously consider nettle tea, however, but the leaves looked a little old for that and some bird had been horribly ill all over a lot of them.
And that was my first ever bushcrafty thing what I done, ever!
Chuffed? Well, humbled actually. Especially when I look around these forums and see all these terribly advanced things going on, like achieving cold fusion using three strips of willow bark, some moss and the stone from a cherry.
But for all things, there is a beginning.
And an end.
And gosh, ain't you glad that this is the end of this post, ay?
But no more. Today I got stung! Actual physical sensation! You don't get that from a book (not the good quality paper, anyway).
So, speaking of stinging, back to nettle cordage. I recorded my efforts at various stages of the process for your viewing pleasure.
I heard that moan!
Just shut up and read it anyway. Suffering is good for the soul!
First, a picture of my intended victims
Ain't that pretty? If only they knew...
My keen eye for observation tells me that these plants are probably what most people would call "green" nettles. I've read that the red ones are best, but I don't got none of those.
Having identified my prey, I proceeded to harvest a selection of plants using the nearest available sharp edge (I lack a poncey bushcrafty knife).
The stems were then stripped. I discovered that this goes much more quickly if one takes one's gloved hand (I'm a wimp) and runs it back from tip to base rather than working up the stem, plucking each leaf.
Then we come to the fun part: crushing the stem and splitting it. And look, I've grown a pair of balls! (Become brave enough to take the gloves off, that is.)
Then comes the bending and breaking the pith and peeling it off. Wow, it came away very easily. The end result:
Surprisingly strong stuff! I wrapped it around my thumb and yanked and twisted and fiddled and pulled and it was as good as any twine or string.
I then started to rub my thigh. I did this for a while but the nettle didn't turn into cordage. It just lay there on the lawn, so I placed a strand between my hand and thigh and started rubbing again. Magic! It went all twisty!
It kept untwisting, so I tied a knot in it
And after working in a few extra strands and rubbing some more, this was the end result!
Ta da!
Okay, so it's not going to win any beauty contests, but it's a result, yes? I could, theoretically, tie my boots on with it, right? But as I was wearing slippers at the time, I decided to tie up some tomato plants instead! I've also left a few strands in the greenhouse to dry out to see how they look tomorrow.
So, after all my fun, the left-overs:
What can one do with the pith? Anything? Doesn't look very appetising. I did seriously consider nettle tea, however, but the leaves looked a little old for that and some bird had been horribly ill all over a lot of them.
And that was my first ever bushcrafty thing what I done, ever!
Chuffed? Well, humbled actually. Especially when I look around these forums and see all these terribly advanced things going on, like achieving cold fusion using three strips of willow bark, some moss and the stone from a cherry.
But for all things, there is a beginning.
And an end.
And gosh, ain't you glad that this is the end of this post, ay?
