processing Nettles to spinnable fiber

new developments in processing techniques. I developed a faster way by using nettles from seeding stage onwards to have strong fibers. i found a tool what makes it easy to get the nodes and gunk out.

[@Eternal_Hope_Q]

The best thing about nettles is that you can take them from fresh, strip outer skin and dry it, break the dark green off and you are left with a gorgeous pale green bast fibre!
A quick wash and it turns almost white. I've grown and processed flax and it's such a tedious process. Trying to get the colour light without using bleaching agents is loooong. Nettle fibre is strong and just s soft AND turns white with only a bit of washing. I LOVE nettle fibre...can you tell?!!

[@MM-th4zu]

I just tried this scraping method. It seems to be for me the best method. It is incredible, how much fiber I got out of a few sticks. And I tested: not one fibre remains on the stick! With some experiment it can go rather quick and there are no white wooden pieces in the fibre, they have to be picked out after drying. I wonder how it goes on after drying. I love it.

[@plovet]

Thanks for the video. I am curious about some of the steps, but it looks like some things worth trying. What as the section with carefully pulling apart individual strands?? Presumable, to sperate strands obviously, but it caught my attention. i am still a long way from getting "spinnable" fiber, but it was interesting watching the spinning process.

[@betula-pendula]

Do you take fresh or rotten nettles?

[@astridadler]

fresh

[@MM-th4zu]

Aftrer scraping you let them dry?