Kiamyr said:
Don't forget that this will be my first time in even attempting anything like this so...
Good luck!
It does work being "bold". If I grab nettles, where I grab them is usually ok, but the bloody nettle catches my wrist or somewhere and stings like hell!
The nettle works as the hair is like a glass tube, full of acid, if you break the hair at the base by grabbing hard it wont sting you.
The problem is if you touch it lightly the hair breaks the skin then puts acid on the wound
(It is close enough explination for the pedants!)
So if you run your hand along the nettle a couple of times you should break all the hairs off so the nettle will lose its sting, and be useable for cordage etc.
Incidentally I beleive, usual dont try this at home warnings, you can eat/chew nettles without treatment as the skin in the mouth is too tough/thick for the sting to bother you! But that leaves the question, Why do they sting?