Hemp Water Retting

The word “retting" is synonymous with the word “rotting” and is the process of nature decomposing the hemp stalks after they have been cut.
Retting facilitates the separation of the fibre from the stem.
Retting requires the action of bacteria and moisture to dissolve away cellular tissues and gummy substances such as lignin.
Field retting, which is common in areas having limited water resources, is most effective in climates with heavy nighttime dews and warm daytime temperatures.
In water retting, bundles of stalks are submerged in water providing a more even retting and better separation of fibers.
The Retting time must be carefully judged; under-retting makes separation of fibers difficult, and over-retting weakens the fibers.
The time for water retting can take anywhere from 3-15 days depending upon the flow of water and temperature.
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Hemp rope has been used for centuries due to its strength and durability. The process of making hemp rope in old times involved several steps, including growing and harvesting the hemp plant, extracting the fibers, and then twisting and weaving them into rope. Here's a general overview of how hemp rope was made in old times:
Hemp Cultivation and Harvesting:
Hemp plants were cultivated in fields. Hemp is known for its sturdy fibers, which are found in the stalks of the plant.
The timing of the harvest was crucial. Hemp plants were typically harvested just before they began to flower, as this was when the fibers were at their strongest.
Retting:
After harvesting, the hemp stalks were soaked in water to undergo a process called retting. This helped to break down the outer layer of the stalk and loosen the fibers.
There were two main methods of retting: water retting and dew retting. Water retting involved submerging the hemp stalks in water, while dew retting involved laying them out in the fields to be exposed to dew and moisture.
Breaking and Scutching:
After retting, the stalks were dried, and then the outer bark was removed through a process known as breaking and scutching. This process involved beating the stalks to separate the fibers from the woody core.
The broken and scutched fibers were cleaned to remove any remaining impurities and prepare them for spinning.
Spinning:
The cleaned hemp fibers were spun into yarn. This was typically done using a spinning wheel or spindle.
The spun yarn was usually quite fine and was often further twisted to increase its strength.
Twisting and Braiding:
To create rope, multiple strands of spun hemp yarn were twisted together. This twisting process was essential for adding strength to the rope.
The number of strands and the tightness of the twist determined the thickness and strength of the final rope.
The twisted strands were then braided or woven together to form the finished rope.
Finishing:
After the rope was braided or woven, it was often treated to improve its resistance to moisture and abrasion. This might involve applying tar or another protective coating to the rope.
The resulting hemp rope was strong, durable, and well-suited for various purposes, such as ship rigging, fishing nets, and many other applications. Hemp was a popular material for rope-making in old times due to its natural strength and availability, and it remained in use until other materials like synthetic fibers began to take over in the modern era.