On this hot Summer day, Joe Brien of
Lost Art Workshops led us on a Weed Walk looking for common plants that can be used for fiber production. We learned that many plants growing around us can be processed by hand to extract bast fiber which then can be twisted into string or rope and eventually woven into fabric.
Along the way, we found some Chicory growing by the road. Chicory has blue-purple flowers and while it isn't used for cordage, we stopped as Joe pulled one up so we could examine the root. The root is long and thick, like the tap-root of the dandelion. When dried, roasted and ground, it makes an excellent substitute for coffee, with no caffeine!
Here is the Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) we were looking for! Dogbane is excellent for making cordage. It is also known as "Indian hemp", probably because local Native American tribes showed the early colonists how to use the plant to make cordage.
And near by, we found some of last year's dried stalks, in perfect condition for making cordage.
After stripping the "bark" or "skin", we each made a short length of cordage by reverse-wrapping the Dogbane fibers.
Adding a few beads makes a beautiful and strong anklet!
On this hot Summer day, Joe Brien of Lost Art Workshops led us on a Weed Walk looking for common plants that can be used for fiber production. We learned that many plants growing around us can be processed by hand to extract bast fiber which then can be twisted into string or rope and eventually woven into fabric.
Along the way, we found some Chicory growing by the road. Chicory has blue-purple flowers and while it isn't used for cordage, we stopped as Joe pulled one up so we could examine the root. The root is long and thick, like the tap-root of the dandelion. When dried, roasted and ground, it makes an excellent substitute for coffee, with no caffeine!
Here is the Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) we were looking for! Dogbane is excellent for making cordage. It is also known as "Indian hemp", probably because local Native American tribes showed the early colonists how to use the plant to make cordage.
And near by, we found some of last year's dried stalks, in perfect condition for making cordage.
After stripping the "bark" or "skin", we each made a short length of cordage by reverse-wrapping the Dogbane fibers.
Adding a few beads makes a beautiful and strong anklet!
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