@@agreatalternative I heard you can use blackberry canes gathered in the late spring/early summer. That might not work for "next" but I'm curious how one would do that. How do we deal with the thorns?
@@AmandaJuneHagarty I’ve not heard of that before, but I’ll add it too the list! The first ever fibre I worked with was bramble, which would be similar. If the thorns aren’t too thick a piece of leather or gardening glove could be enough to run you hand down and (hopefully) remove all the thorns. Another method I’ve seen is crudely cutting holes in a tin (like a baked beans tin) and then using that to scrape thorns. From experience though still expect to get thorns in your hand, at least that’s what I’ve had 😂
Dandelion flower stems are generally short in fields that are mowed regularly and long in areas that don't get a lot of mowing. The plant wants to make a flower stem that long, but ultimately it wants to make a flower more. If it's constantly mowed, it will make a short stem out of necessity for producing a flower.
I would say the plant wants its flower to be pollinated, and therefore needs it to be visible by the insects, so it will make a stem long enough to match the grass around it. The longest I've seen reached my elbows (I'm only 5') in a lawn turned into a prairie. The grass has to have been mowed the year before to allow the leaves to have access to sunlight, but its root can store enough energy to bloom the second year even in talk grass.
That’s great, I’ve got lots of dandelions. I will definitely do this. I met Sally Pointer, lovely lady, at the 2021 or 2022 wildcraft fair in England. We travelled all the way from France. She showed me using nettles to make cloth. I keep collecting nettles and not having enough time to extract the fibres, maybe I ought to try now before they die off for the winter.
I LOVE dandelions! Eat a flower per day… excellent for the liver. The “spent” flowers are perfect treats for parrots. Sore throat, chew a new leaf. Dandelion flowers incorporated into your herbal tea. Dried roasted roots make a lovely “coffee”. Dandelions bring “up” vital nutrients from below the soil, so if you see dandelions growing, you know that soil needs nutrients. When I build my new house I will be planting HEAPS of dandelions and naming it Dandelion Cottage. I might try the cordage!!!!!
@@nz-nz Wow thanks for all the ideas for ways to use dandelions and some dandelion facts!! 👍 I defiantly can’t understand why some people see them as weeds to get rid off!
@@Lucia-zubo yes! My parrots love dandelion flowers too…. The “spent” ones (just before they break into their fluffy head) as the flower is full of the seeds!!!
@@LinDeGenette Making clothing will certainly be a future project, I just have to practice a lot som in quicker and better at creating a uniform cord! 😁 Thanks for the comment!
Dandelions grow bigger when the soil lacks calcium. Dandelions are able to extract calcium from the deeper layers of the soil but the bigger the root gets, the bigger the plant. After a decade or so the soil will become calcium rich thanks to the dying dandelion leaves and stems and other plants will take over the spot. That is why dandelions multiply using the infamous flying seeds, so they could reach calcium deprived spots more easily.
@cheyannei5983 Interesting! I’m thinking of a dog fur related project (maybe showing my useless spinning attempts 😁) so that could tie in nicely. Thank you for the help! I have no idea why this videos got more views than other as I’ve put way more work into many other 😂🤦♂️ Not a surprise though!
I love roasted dandelion root tea and can't wait to annoy my neighbors by intentionally cultivating dandelion. XD I can think of a few good uses for cords like these.
my herbalist teacher uses dandelion root tea as a substitute for coffee and it does the job! tastes like slightly sour and bitter coffee in my opinion. 🌱
I've made good cordage from: Iris, Phormium, Cordyline, Yucca, Agave, Sanseveria, Banana, Pineapple leaves, Asclepias (aka Milkweed), Linden....I'll try anything stringy, especially if the fibers seem to have survived after the outer layers have rotted or fallen away. If you have a cold winter, then early Spring is a good time to take a walk and notice what's persisting in fields, hedges and gardens.
Thank you so much!! I’ve added a bunch of new things to the list!! I started in exactly the same way…..wandering around, picking plants and seeing if they are stringy/ bendy enough! I researched your suggestions, with the Agave & Sanseveria, how did you process them? They look similar to aloe almost so I guess they would be very moist inside, or do you strip the outer layer and make cordage with that?
When I worked as a "Powhatan Indian" at Jamestown Festival Park, we placed the agave leaves in bowls of water & left to soak several days. The pulp rots & the fibers are easy to separate out. @agreatalternative
@@lindafriesen3559 Thank you for the advice! Funnily enough I just watched a video from Sally Pointer where she did something similar with nettle fibres to help strip the fibres easier. I think I’ll have to try this on a future project!
In Ontario and Quebec, Canada we're getting overrun with invasive fragmites. Maybe it would be good to make cordage from. I'd thought of paper but not cordage. Anyway, I probably won't get around to it, myself. But I enjoyed your excellent video.
I use this method of making cordage with all sorts of materials (including fabric strips) and I grow dandelions among my salad greens but I have not made cordage with it. I will do so now. Joining the new piece to both sides is a great idea. my stems mostly get quite long but it does depend on the weather (I live in subtropical Australia) Thank you for sharing. Cheers,
@@scrapbagstudios I’m glad you found this helpful! Once you start thinking about it there is so much that cordage can be made from, I’ve learnt so much even from just the comments in this chat. I think I’d like to do one episode in this series using fabric strips, thanks for the idea! Hello from the less tropical Wales 😊 🏴
I made a simple looped basked from Sally's videos out of dandelion flower stalks! I find it's easiest to find long ones in spring before everyone starts mowing the grass. For me, the best way to dry them was to lay them out indoors, shuffling them around for the first day or two, maybe with a fan on them if possible. If you definitely snap off both the flower end AND the base so the stem is only a hollow tube, they will dry faster. Let them dry completely, it takes about a week. When you want to use them, run them under water quickly, shake them off a bit, and then put them in a plastic bag to mellow with whatever water stayed on them for about half an hour.
@@ivintardoni6349 Well it’s been a few weeks since I filmed this video (so it’s totally dry) and not much has changed other than it’s a little stiffer. Compared to the other cordages I’ve made so far (soft rush and thin leaf plantain) I’d say it’s one of the softer fibres, although not very strong. Would there be a specific type of follow up you’d be interested in? I think it would be a great idea to follow up and somehow evaluate what’s been used up to that point, or maybe make something with them, but I can’t think what!
@@agreatalternative My question kind of follows your comment about the waxiness of the dandelion stem, and how you didn’t know if it would dry out too much or be “brittle” as time went on. If it’s still going strong then that’s good! I’ve only just started watching your channel, but I think a follow up might be taking a look at the cordage materials you’ve used and how well each has held up over the time to usage since you’ve made each into cordage. I’ve only started being interested in making cordage and rope in the last year and a half so, still new.
@@ivintardoni6349 Yeah I think the wackiness has helped with it feeling less brittle. I think if I was to try it again (like with most) I would attempt a thinner cordage and maybe 3ply, as that would make it more pliable. Sounds like you’re as experienced as I am! I know more about particular materials but I’m using this series as a reason to tryout new things. In the coming list I’ve got grass, dog fur, rhubarb and banana skin 😁
@@ivintardoni6349 second vote for a round up of several different cordage types. maybe each made into a net or similar to test their specs (strength, stretch, hand feel, some other cool traits, etc). the standard for testing new yarns is a napkin, I'm still super new to cordage.
A really good and clear video. I wonder if rushes would work in making cordage. They grow everywhere here and can get quite long. They are quite pithy inside (like elderberry wood), so I wonder if they would dry out as well. I will give it a go! Your comments regarding the dandelion latex reminded me of when I was a scruffy little kid, using dandelion latex to make “tattoo” patterns on my hands which would go brown in the sunshine 😁. The cordage looks beautiful. ❤
@@SlowLivingSligo Thank you ☺️ There are various types of rush but I think overall probably most types could be used! The first video I did in the cordage series was with soft rush, which is a common plant and makes great cordage. Also there’s loads of talented weavers using a larger variety of rush for baskets, flooring and all kinds of things so if you type rush for weaving into TH-cam I’m sure you’ll find loads of stuff!! Good luck with all the projects, please share any images of what you create with me on Instagram!
@@SlowLivingSligoI was actually looking into Japanese tatami mats and how they are made, and they actually use common rush, so I can safely say they are good in a textile setting if you wanted to try that.
@@pineberry212 That’s very interesting! I will give it a go as there are lots of rushes that need clearing around here and it’s always a shame to see them going to waste. Many thanks 👍
@@SlowLivingSligo I wish you luck! I don't have any that I know of in my local area I could pick for free, but I'm planning to see if my gramps will let me use his garden next season to grow some for a project. I might need to make a simple larger loom for the project, as the ones I've made are smaller, but at least it won't need to be a four shaft loom.
I’ve made “coffee” with roasted dandelion root and used the leaves in salad but it has never occurred to me to use the stems in making cordage. I have a ton of it too, so I’ll have to try this. Yours seems to have turned out well. Just made some cordage from yucca (which turned out quite sturdy). I will have to try dandelion next.
@@benmoffitt7524 I’ve never tried the root ‘coffee’ before, what’s it taste like? I was fairly pleased with how it came out and now it’s fully dried (just had a quick play) it’s still pretty pliable, especially compared to thin plantain stem for example.
@@agreatalternative The dandelion root coffee (really more like a strong tea) I have made has been, what I would describe as, nutty in flavor and definitely milder than actual coffee. The trick is to chop the roots up into very small pieces and make sure it is fully roasted and dried before brewing, that way it loses a lot of the bitterness.
I really appreciate learning about different plants I can use for cordage👍🏽 It would be great to see a stress test of the material. Even if it's you pulling with just your hands, although something that could measure the tensile strength would also be good. Thank you for posting
@@NtFlashy This has been requested A LOT so it’s definitely coming, although probably next year as I gotta make all the cordage to break and get some help to make something that would be scientific(ish) 😁
@@susannechinn647 Thanks for the comment Susanne! I can’t see why this one has been kinda popular of these last few days as I’ve been making weaving related videos for ages now, I need to give thanks to the algorithm though 😂 What kind of weaving do you do?
Thank you! I definitely try to get across that I'm a beginner, so if I can do this stuff basically anyone else can too! It's how I've got over feeling like an imposter when it comes to teaching in this area!!
ok, I was going to say I have never seen a dandelion that tall/long before LOL. If that's how rope is made, I'll try with some of the native plants local to me. I live in Texas, USA so everything is very dry and stunted yet there is this very long fine grass called Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima). I use it for decoration in my house and have made cat toy's out of it. It's a lot of fun to play with. It's very soft :)
@@c.powell8472 It was the longest I’ve seen! Funny you should mention the feather grass, that’s actually the next cordage video that I’ll be releasing 😂 I don’t use feather grass specifically but as there are thousands of varieties I used a few and I found that it makes decent enough cordage/ rope, although not super pliable. Where I found grass shines is that if you’re able to leave the seed head end out it can make a very pretty decoration. Maybe to use for like a crown, wreath or even a long cat toy 😁 After looking online for Mexican feather grass it looks like that would be the case too! Thanks for the comment!
I don't know where you are in TX but here in NM some of the best cordage is made from yucca leaves (spears?). It takes a bit more processing (crushing and scraping) but it is very strong.
@@agreatalternative botanically yucca is not like flax at all. I can't speak to any similarity in the fibers. The most common yucca around Albuquerque is called Spanish Bayonet for the rigid spearlike leaves. You have to crush them with a stone and scrape or comb away the succulent fleshy tissue to isolate the fibers for cordage.
@@sylkebambilke1364 I’ve not had much experience with iris but I’ve heard it’s a great one for weaving, any advice? Thanks is for the comment, I hope you find the videos useful!
@@agreatalternative is a bit tricky to do, needs good experience, my results are very different with this material and yes, you do good, I added your channel very interesting (sorry for my poor english…)
@@sylkebambilke1364 Ok I will defiantly try it out when I can! Don’t worry your English is fine 👍 Feel free to write in your own language, I could copy it into google translate 😊
I used bull-clips on a clothes horse to hang plants to dry and a pedestal fan for circulation Works well for my alliums Then again, I do reside in Australia 🇦🇺
@@OzarkArtsandCrafts Thanks Dennis! I was inspired from the channel foraged fibres for this one so I’d definitely say go and check them out as they make absolutely beautiful stuff with natural fibres!
@@abcstardust It amazing how many things there are that cordage can be made from! I’m learning (a lot through people commenting with ideas on this channel) It’s why I’m trying to also find some odd things also, coming soon I’m thinking banana skin and dog fur 😁
@@abcstardust YES!! Why didn't I think of that, I eat it all the time! I was also going to try leeks and rhubarb along with some other 'forage from the shops/ garden' themed episodes Thank you!
Thank-you, algorithm, this was cool. I've made cordage from the dead spider plant leaves in my houseplants. Just to see if I could, after watching a Sally Pointer video. I used it to tie up my indoor pothos and outdoor grape vines, and it's already held up for a couple of years now in both environments. I wouldn't use it for anything critical, though.
@@elfieblue3175 I agree, a round of applause for the algorithm 😂 That’s exactly how I got started messing around with dead spider plant leaves, then watching sally pointer and having a play!! I think this was a good fibre to use, but so far my favourite has been soft rush, although I’m about to film a dog fur cordage video and that’s been really fun to use!
Great idea! Lots of dandelion growing near where I live and wee do have some tall ones! The red veined variety tends to be really tall. Could the leaves be woven into cordage too? Would you do videos on bamboo leaf, and pine needle cordage?
@@IAMGiftbearer I’ve not heard about the other varieties, I’ll have to take a look at that! Possibly you could weave the leaves in but it may cause fluctuations in the diameter so could make it harder to be consistent. I’ll add those to the list, just need to find some! Pine needle shouldn’t be too difficult but bamboo leaf could be hard to find in rural wales 😂 Thank you for all the kind comments!! If you make anything from these videos please share with me on insta as I’d love to see!
Love this,! I grow dandelion for medicinal and culinary purposes, and was looking at the stems after I harvested some dandelion puffs to seed save (off last years plants, lovely and established) They're lovely long stems, and seemed a useful length, and I'm getting SO many flowers right now. I'm planting more seed, because I want to harvest root next time, so these stems will be very plentiful. Thanks for the great video.
@@SwiftRabbit-w7g They are a great plant aren’t they! I actually tried dandelion coffee for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised!! I’ve not tried growing them myself but that’s a great idea, especially if you’re then using the root, as you replacing them each year. Thank you for the comment!
Please tell us how you keep that beautiful space free from - or clear it from - spiderwebs and other insects. I'd love to build such a space at my place but know it would look like a horror movie barn in less than half a year.
@@mukmarkes4151 The short answer is….I don’t 😂 Currently there is a bird nesting inside some spruce root that’s hung up and like with the dandelion in this video some things have moulded because of how open the space is. There is a concrete floor that helps, plus every few months or so (you’ve reminded me I probably should do it now) I move things around to check there are not any burrowing bug infestations but I’m certain there are a few cobwebs here and there! I think if we had animals like chickens it would also be a place I’d probably from field mice as well! I’d say go for it! As long as you can easily move stuff around every so often I’m sure you won’t have many issues! If not one thing I’ve started doing more is bringing cordage materials (like dandelion if I was to do it again) indoors and doing small batches at a time. I just then need to get permission from Alicia 😂
Dandelions are one of my favourite plants/flowers! The little fluffy puffballs just remind me of fairies, especially when the little bitties get blown away by the wind or someone making a wish :) No dandelions where I'm at for the time being, but I'll be sure to try this when I get back to England. I'd love to incorporate dandelions into a garden of my own some day, they're just so delightful to me
@@K.Voyence Dandelions are great,like so many they are seen as a pest but actually can give you a lot! You could probably try something similar with what’s around you, for example the most recent cordage video I did was on grass! Or a favourite of mine (and upcoming video) dog fur 😁 But then you probably need to ask first 😂
@@agreatalternative I also admire dandelions for their perseverance 😁 And yes, I was thinking about that after I had commented! But a lot of plants around here have that sharp fibrous quality, the kind that gives you paper-cuts if you aren't careful, but I'm sure there's bound to be something that doesn't. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for such things the next time I go for a walk and do a little bit of research :) Also, dang, I wonder if cat fur would work the same x)
@@K.Voyence I guess cat fur would work, just gotta find a friendly one 😁 Good luck with the experiments! I find just testing stuff while out on a walk is how I learn about most fibres!
Just found your channel and love it! I actually just tried dandelion "coffee" for the first time earlier this week and was shocked at how delicious it was!
@@ValhallaIronworks Cheers!! Haha me too!! It’s definitely not what I was expecting, certainly passable as an alternative to coffee rather than tea, as I need to add milk and sugar to my hot drink 😁
Great sharing! Love how you respect the plants growth cycle. Last year i've had the same kind of fungus attack to the stems i collected. Even dried them indoors and well ventilated! Then wondered about the effects of the milksap inside, obviously the water part is gone, but the residue stays in the vains between the fibers. Oh well, beautifull cordage non the less
@@rens1030 That’s a very good point! They are definitely less ‘woody’ like most fibres I’ve worked with and with the sap and more ‘moist’ skin it seems to attract mould a lot easier. Maybe next time try literally over a heater on a low heat, so they dry in a day or so? I did that with the first time I tried soft rush cordage and that yielded good results. Thank you for the comment!
@@agreatalternative Well I haven’t really done cordage properly yet, didn’t dry what I was supposed to lol. And I only understand adding more now from your videos to make the cordage longer! I’ve tried it before, but it gets lumpy but now i have a better idea so thank you! I’d love to try out dandelions, but also I think it would be cool to just try out things I find growing around me haha
@@zarkthemuffin That’s exactly how I’ve been learning, just grab what’s nearby or something that looks like it would be bendy enough while out on a walk and see if it twists! Even some thing as simple as grass will work. Ep 5 of this series will be grass, again mainly because it is what right outside where I live and I attempted keeping some of the seed heads in and it can look really pretty! I’m defiantly still learning (my cordage is super lumpy if you look closely) 😁 I’m really glad this series has helped!
wonderful video, hope you do get your own studio shop close to nature, I collect all sorts of natural materials, so my shop looks similar, with piles of fruit tree wood, and plant stems, beaver cotton wood, vines, and then lots of dry herbs, but I mainly make stick sculptures.
@@trentnicolajsen3731 Thank you! I bet that looks beautiful, I do love collecting and creating that style of semi natural space. Do you have any photos of your sculptures online? I’ve only attempted a couple of sculpture pieces so far but mostly using willow. You might like the willow sculpture video I’ve made alongside a couple of the ‘sculptural’ baskets!
i like these videos thanks! if possible you should do strength tests and share useful applications for each type, im sure some lend themselves to different uses more than others etc
@@djdnauk1977 No worries, glad you enjoyed it! A strength test is definitely coming, probably next year at some point when once I’ve made a large range of types of cordage! You may like my most recent video about grass cordage as that is surprisingly strong!
I've always had this fantasy of living from a e-trike solar camper and going to stay in the south somewhere Kudzu has taken over. Then I would just harvest the Kudzu, possibly for a fee to clear the property, make 'artisan' twine to sell and maybe invest in a a few breeding sheep 🐏 🐑 🐑 I could graze on the Kudzu. Then I could sell their fiber and milk products and the twine at my roadside stand! I could probably even start some compost with the prolific Kudzu and their droppings and sell that too.
@@rachelwren-vipond6029 Absolutely! I’ve never attempted a coiled basket before and not sure where to start! Do you use string to tie the coils together or a thin long natural material?
Greetings from New Zealand. I mostly make cordage from Cabbage Tree. You see it in the UK as an ornamental bushy palm, quite hardy, grows on the South coast. Incredibly strong - stronger than hemp by far. You split up the dried leaf to your liking, chuck the hard core, and twist away. I grow olives, so I rub a little olive oil on ti keep it nice and supple. Even made a rifle sling out of it.
Greetings! Ahh very interesting, I’ll add it to the list! Is olive oil your preferred method for preserving? Have you tried anything else? Also have you ever had issue with mould when using oils or other natural preserves?
@@agreatalternative The olive oil seems to have survived 7 years on a hank in the garden shed. I tried animal fat but it stinks and, yes, grows mould. Oh, I tried candle wax but it doesn't penetrate well and flakes off. Olive oil also seems to keep those hard-worked fingertips supple :)
@@VikOlliver Thanks for the help Vik!! I’m thinking about doing something that tests a bunch of options, maybe including beeswax but it’s really good to know this is a tried and tested method!
Made some. Thinner gauge than yours so it became brittle. The pea plants are enjoying it. After drying out, I soaked in tap hot water and was weaving with wet. The cord became loose, and brittle upon drying. Again, mine was much thinner than yours. I think I should have rubbed a bit of an oil into it during the weave process as a conditioner. Did use this weaving method for corn husk. Quite enjoyed myself
@@TheKrispyfort Hmm, each fibre could act differently but the things I’ve noticed that achieve better results are; - Possibly size, like you mentioned but that doesn’t make all the difference, for example the ox eye daisy cordage is still very brittle almost any size. - How wet it was/ drying time. If it was a little too wet then the fibres may have broken down a little (which dandelion is prone for) and become slimy, so when it drys it’s lost strength/ size so shrinks a lot more. Also if dried out too quickly it can shrink more. - Tying to tight when twisting the cordage. I’ve made this mistake recently with a rhubarb cordage (future episode) and it’s shrunk slightly as the twists have ‘relaxed’ upon drying. - 2ply vs more than 2 ply. For a stronger and more flexible cordage doing more than 2 ply is always better. Sally pointer does some good videos on how to do this. The reason I do 2 ply in these videos is because it’s the simplest method. Hope that helps!! Funny you should ask about corn husk, I actually have some drying inside at the moment ready for a future video 😁
One "fiber" that surprised me when I tried it was corn husks...I tore each dried husk into 1/3 and twisted them after I soaked them wet...had to constantly add to it but it made a very nice thin rope-like cordage.
@@thepreparedchristian3147 Thank you! Funny you should mention corn husks, I have some drying at the moment ready for a future video 😁 Do you use anything to preserve your cordage at all?
Great video. One thing that I miss is how strong it is. And if it will last through winter for example (if you use it in the garden). That would be useful information. Probably it won't last long. I would expect it to fall apart after a month at most (especially in the rain)
@@mserzysko I think you’re right, with most of the corsages I’ve made so far, if left outside they won’t last through winter, as they would get mouldy fairly quickly. As for the strength test that’s a good idea, but I’m thinking I may do a video comparing the strength of various types of cordage, I’ll just be waiting till I have a lot 😁 Thanks for the comment!
@@geeksdo1tbetter It’s all about trying to keep the consistency. It’s also something to think about when adding new pieces, like how frequent to add, how many and which end of the fibre. But overall (I keep telling myself anyway as I struggle with keeping the cordage consistent) as long as it doesn’t fall apart then it’s fine for it to be all higgldy piggldy, is a natural product so doesn’t have to be perfect 😁
@@BluDawg I definitely will be doing an episode on dog fur cordage but in the mean time the video just released was a pretty cool handle wrap I made with it!
@@elisacoffey5140 That’s one super easy way to do it yes! Then as the cordage gets longer you can just wrap it around that pole/ hook etc. I just couldn’t show that in the video as the only thing near me on the table was the tripod, and that would make for shaky footage 😁 I’ve recently seen some videos on rolling the cordage over your leg which can yield quick results but the fibres need to be fairly long, so overall I think it’s handy to try a few things to find what works best for you in each situation!
Interesting, thank you! Might be intriguing to try a mixed material cordage...? I imagine not all plant fibers would work for mixed cordage, but seems there might be some that could work well together (like plantain and dandelion maybe? The rough and the waxy...)
Glad you enjoyed it! Most of my natural crafts (especially cordage making and weaving) have spawned from wandering around the countryside with my dog, picking random materials and seeing if they are bendy 😁
Would be neat to see a weight test at some point, perhaps using a spring scale? Also one of the strongest materials that might be scavenged in an urban setting is the rayon fibers from disposed carpet remnants. It can be found in the backing, where it may fray out. As for a natural one, swamp milkweed (as there are various sorts) is at a high level too. But I guess what you can get from nature depends on where you're located. If just wanting to practice with something in general (to get a feel for the best approach), cutting plastic bags into 1.5cm wide strips would be a way to start. That can be a simple enough baseline as to what is good or not.
It's definitely coming as a lot of people have asked about that, I just need to get some assistance from my father in law would be handy! Thanks for all of the ideas, I never would have thought of rayon fibres!! With the milkweed is it the stalk or leaves that you use for cordage? Thanks for all the help!
@@agreatalternative It's the stalk that has the fibers. Generally the best time is to collect in early fall. Too early and the fibers aren't always fully developed, too late and some things start to rot through. Dry it a bit and flake off the inside pith and the outside. Ideally you can get it down to extracting just the silky fibers and those are really strong. There's multiple varieties of milkweed, but in my experience only a few of them have fibers that are long enough to be worth harvesting. Common milkweed has been kind of "meh" in my experience, but swamp milkweed (sometimes sold from seed as "butterfly bush" or such - it has more colorful flowers) can be a bit amazing if you manage to get good results. Supposedly it's been used for bow-strings and fishing nets.
It's my first video in this series -- Do you cover what kinds are said good for what tasks? Like this waxy cord versus the plantain? I just thought now for e.g. anything that might be touching someone's skin would best be dandelion! But I imagine this knowledge is out there already
@@yvonnemariane2265 Overall other than the brief ‘evaluation’ that I aim to give at the end of each video I don’t go into lots of detail into what exactly each cordage could be used for, mainly because I’m a beginner and still learning myself! I plan to delve into many other videos where I’ll use cordages in different ways, like handle wraps, baskets, clothing and general bushcraft and it’ll be nice not to just use the same thing all the time, which will s why I started this series, to help find out what’s out there other than the obvious fibres like nettle! In regards to fibre touching skin and any allergies I really can’t say as I don’t have the knowledge to be certain. I try to cover (if I find it during my initial research) any possible issues with the touch plant, such as not eating the white liquid within dandelions because it can cause diarrhoea, but definitely you’re right to go and do more research yourself!! Thank you for the comment, I hope you like the other videos!
@agreatalternative well, I'm still new to your channel and I may recommend something that you've made already 😁. I'm not that familiar with the process so I'm here to learn a bit 😃. Do you have passion flower/fruit vine where you live?
Ahh it’s ok I wouldn’t mind! I don’t have so much passion flower or fruit vines other than things like bramble, but then I’m trying to find people who may have things like that in thier gardens, like grape vine or other similar things! Basically anything bendy will do 😁
@@TheNightshadePrince That’s part of the fun 😁 Alternatively part of the fun is finding other fibres that are easy to prepare and use - it’s why bramble isn’t one I like to use!
Good Evening. Hey this is a great option for my baskets - if I do want them to have flexible handles. Gorgeous. Many thanks form Austria. PS. I am not doing with fibre at the moment, but I am preparing 5kg of fruits of the oak tree. I will do traditional european coffee, plantbased bolognese sauce, bread and of course, chocolate spread. So yes my hands are also having some muscle pain from peeling and grinding by hand in the hand-grinder.
@@georgstudnicka9969 I was thinking about doing this, but maybe it could work as a video on its own. I was planning to do it in each video but decided against it because; 1) I was just going to see if it held my weight, which isn’t too scientific And 2) After taking the time to make the cordage I didn’t want to break them as I plan to make a big display out of anything made through the series So just gotta make some specifically for snapping 😁
That's the only foragable fibre that I've tried. Plentiful plant, long and strong fibers. With some stems I had problems separating the hard stuff from fibers, but other than that it was pretty easy cordage to make
That stuff, if processed even only fairly well, can be just ridiculously strong! And if highly processed, can be very nice, soft, bendy, and beautiful!
I have a few questions. Why wouldn’t you want to twist the cordage under tension? More like spinning/plying yarn or hair twists? Does the “hand twisted” tension contribute to the finished performance of the cordage? I’m a spinner and I’m just genuinely curious about this new craft.
@@camillecady-mccrea690 Did I say it shouldn’t be under tension? If I did I apologise, as overall it doesn’t overly matter. HOWEVER I have noticed with a couple of fibres that if it is really twisted hard then as it dries the natural relaxing of the fibres causes separation. So overall as a rule of thumb I’ve found a small amount of tension is good so things are not really loose but you’re not putting in all your effort into the ‘twist’. Moisture/ fibre type and thickness can change this so practice with each fibre is best. I’m not a spinner (just brought my first spindle) so I can’t be sure but my guess is a similar amount of tension as there is when spinning would be ok. Hope that helps!!
Thanks Jason, I’m yet to try this but your videos inspire and I recently went to the Tear Up Festival which was awesome for weavers. Ps have you tried Comfrey leaves or stems? They seem stringy
@@AbellTo I really wanted to go to that but couldn’t afford it this year, hopefully I’ll be there next time! Thanks as always for the comments! Comfrey is a good shout, especially as my thought process seems about the same 😁 “That seems stringy”, pick it up and twist it about, if it doesn’t break then make a video about it!
@@agreatalternative it’d be great if you can make it, it’s not far for us and Eddie mentioned an opportunity for me to demonstrate stuff. Look forward to you next one
What a great idea! If you checkout one of the other videos from this series, soft rush I think would spin better as it’s a longer, slightly more durable fibre. But let me know how it goes!!
@@hotice8885 That would be a good experiment! As far as I’m aware it depends on the thickness of the fibre, for example I’ve been told a willow basket should be “left out in the rain” one day a year. For thin fibres like dandelion I would expect little to nothing, but I may be wrong! Have a go and let me know!! 👍
Native Hawaiians have an ingenious way of twisting cordage by rolling the fibers on their thigh. It goes much faster than how you are doing it by hand alone, but you will pull out your leg hairs lol
@@msohsonice Good point, this is a very slow method! A TH-cam channel Fibre school did a great video showing this, I’ve since tried it a couple of times but it needs to be the right fibre, being long and damp/ waxy enough to stick(ish) to your leg, making it easy to roll. I tried this method with dog fur (an upcoming video) but it was too smooth so kept slipping, plus because the fibres were not very long it came apart easily! Luckily though no leg hairs were pulled out 😂
Its late season or i would just try but did you try to roll the dry stems to break up the connector fibers to leave the long fibers so you can make a thinner string? Or are there not longer fibers in dandelion like there are in dogs bane or celery or yucka
@@williamallen2777 Very interesting point, I didn’t do that so I don’t know if it would work, something for next time! I don’t think it would be the case as the fibres didn’t seem strong enough to be able to separate from the hollow stem so my guess is they would break, but then no harm in trying!!
@@Wanderer_of_Sol Fine, other than the slight expected rigidity from drying out completely it’s great. It still has a very slight waxy feel as well. If you checkout my insta today I’ve put a quick video on stories showing what it looks like 👍
I never would have guessed that Dandelions grew that tall. I am amazed at what can be done with what nature and God gives us plus the imagination to do it. Beautiful.
@@BibleAndTheBeats Wow what a question! Firstly, no idea as I’d never made a shelter with cordage, but my guess it it would depend on what the fibre is and whether it had been treated (I’m thinking of things like ship rope that’s been treated can last a long time) Secondly, why would you want to make a shelter from cordage!? That would take AGES!! 😂
@@agreatalternative I was particularly interested in the durability and longevity of cordage when employed in outdoor endurance applications for shelter construction, rather than constructing an entire shelter solely from cordage.😅
They were left outside in an open shed (its an old open stables) for a few weeks HOWEVER I found out this was not the correct way to do it. Because the shed is open early morning dew and general moisture was able to get in and delicate stuff like this moulds really easily. As I mention in the video this caused mould on the dandelion stems. If I was to do it again (so what I would recommend to yourself) is to dry them either in a completely covered shed/ outhouse type building or just bring them into your home and dry them indoors. Depending on the temperature I would guess they would be dry from a few days to a week max. Hope that helps!!
I thought you were supposed to crush the stems and scrape the latex gunk away before the drying process. And then use a bunch of individual strands instead of a whole stalk when twisting.
@@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz That’s probably correct, this was my first ever attempt so it was an experiment so it was just to see if I could attempt to make cordage without much prep before hand. Do you know anywhere where there are examples of the method you mentioned?
@@Just_Sara My guess is that it wouldn’t make too much difference for cordage, but could be useful if it’s harmful to some people to touch the ‘gunk’. Then yeh it certainly seems the thinner (and longer) you can get the fibres at the start the better the cordage!
@@ilansobel9905 They were sprayed with water, so not soaked like you would willow, just damp. If they were left in water for too long they would become slimy.
@@AbellTo In short yes, my dad is a fan of Mediterranean plants so has variations of these. Recently I did collect a bunch of Phormium (the stuff that had dried on the plant) to use that but after doing a little research I realised they are basically flax, which like nettle is a well known and well used cordage fibre. Therefore like nettle it’s been pushed down in the list a bit because when I film this I’m planning on doing various types of preparation (carding/ threshing etc) to see the different end results.
Another thing actually that I want to try that you may have had experience with….inner bark? I’ve tried willow in the past and recently harvested cypress inner bark but that’s it so far. Do you know other barks that would work well, like Hazel and the other varieties you work with day to day?
@@agreatalternative hazel doesn’t have thick bark. You’ll probably know about elm that’s stringy, ash might be worth an experiment. Maybe sweet chestnut that’s young
It’s too bad you have to let them go to seed. I’m looking for ways to craft with harvested non-natives to motivate people to remove them. Blackberry is another good one for making cordage.
@@romyf.8257 As it turns out my first attempt was only last week, but I’m planning to do a longer more in depth video on nettle as it’s such a widely known plant fibre. Thank you for the suggestion!! 👍
@@vvv9224 Well it’s now been a good few months and it’s still pretty pliable! I think the ‘waxiness’ within the fibre means it’s seems to stand up pretty well after totally drying out!
@@liavanson8687 I’ve got create suspense somehow 😁 I’m hoping to do a strength test video comparing a load of cordages at some point but in short I would say it’s a mid-low range strength for a natural fibre. Things like nettle, hemp and flax are stronger and wool/ dog fur have been the strongest natural fibre I’ve used so far. Overall it’s still great for many jobs, but if strength is a priority I would say try something else. Hope that helps!!
What fibre would you like me to try next?
(I’m thinking dog fur so your suggestion needs to beat that😁)
@@agreatalternative I heard you can use blackberry canes gathered in the late spring/early summer. That might not work for "next" but I'm curious how one would do that. How do we deal with the thorns?
@@AmandaJuneHagarty I’ve not heard of that before, but I’ll add it too the list!
The first ever fibre I worked with was bramble, which would be similar.
If the thorns aren’t too thick a piece of leather or gardening glove could be enough to run you hand down and (hopefully) remove all the thorns.
Another method I’ve seen is crudely cutting holes in a tin (like a baked beans tin) and then using that to scrape thorns.
From experience though still expect to get thorns in your hand, at least that’s what I’ve had 😂
Cortaderia selloana,
@@luisgilgarcia7581 Good idea, I’ve added it to the research list!
Have you tried something tall, like Queen Anne’s Lace, or wild carrot?
Dandelion flower stems are generally short in fields that are mowed regularly and long in areas that don't get a lot of mowing. The plant wants to make a flower stem that long, but ultimately it wants to make a flower more. If it's constantly mowed, it will make a short stem out of necessity for producing a flower.
I would say the plant wants its flower to be pollinated, and therefore needs it to be visible by the insects, so it will make a stem long enough to match the grass around it. The longest I've seen reached my elbows (I'm only 5') in a lawn turned into a prairie. The grass has to have been mowed the year before to allow the leaves to have access to sunlight, but its root can store enough energy to bloom the second year even in talk grass.
@@NouriaDiallo @AmandaJuneHagarty
Very well put!
Thank you both for the help!
Could you write my notes for next time? 😁
@@agreatalternative 🤣
Absolutely. I think it also depends on the type of dandelion as well, there are literally 100s of different species including tiny dwarf ones.
That’s great, I’ve got lots of dandelions. I will definitely do this. I met Sally Pointer, lovely lady, at the 2021 or 2022 wildcraft fair in England. We travelled all the way from France. She showed me using nettles to make cloth. I keep collecting nettles and not having enough time to extract the fibres, maybe I ought to try now before they die off for the winter.
I LOVE dandelions!
Eat a flower per day… excellent for the liver.
The “spent” flowers are perfect treats for parrots.
Sore throat, chew a new leaf.
Dandelion flowers incorporated into your herbal tea.
Dried roasted roots make a lovely “coffee”.
Dandelions bring “up” vital nutrients from below the soil, so if you see dandelions growing, you know that soil needs nutrients.
When I build my new house I will be planting HEAPS of dandelions and naming it Dandelion Cottage.
I might try the cordage!!!!!
@@nz-nz Wow thanks for all the ideas for ways to use dandelions and some dandelion facts!! 👍
I defiantly can’t understand why some people see them as weeds to get rid off!
I have a parrot. She really likes different cordage in her toys and likes the dandelion flower and the greens.
@@Lucia-zubo yes! My parrots love dandelion flowers too…. The “spent” ones (just before they break into their fluffy head) as the flower is full of the seeds!!!
Can you use the seeds in cooking and can u use the fibers for clothes like with flax and stinging nettles? Wouldn't mind videos about that ❤️👌🏼
@@LinDeGenette Making clothing will certainly be a future project, I just have to practice a lot som in quicker and better at creating a uniform cord! 😁
Thanks for the comment!
Dandelions grow bigger when the soil lacks calcium. Dandelions are able to extract calcium from the deeper layers of the soil but the bigger the root gets, the bigger the plant. After a decade or so the soil will become calcium rich thanks to the dying dandelion leaves and stems and other plants will take over the spot. That is why dandelions multiply using the infamous flying seeds, so they could reach calcium deprived spots more easily.
@@georgidinev9075 Very interesting, I didn’t know that!
Just another reason why there isn’t such thing as a ‘weed’
The algorithm gods have brought me a new joy!!!
@@user-ll4mr7xi6lCheers 😁👍
No idea why they’ve picked this one, can’t believe why it’s been so popular!??
@@agreatalternativedandelions are popular.
Them brought me here.
@@einwitzigenname585 I wasn’t aware how popular!!
Now I’m not sure what will be as popular as dandelion 😁
@@agreatalternativeYou're getting recommended off of sewing/traditional sewing and arts and crafts stuff or at least that's how I found you
@cheyannei5983 Interesting!
I’m thinking of a dog fur related project (maybe showing my useless spinning attempts 😁) so that could tie in nicely.
Thank you for the help!
I have no idea why this videos got more views than other as I’ve put way more work into many other 😂🤦♂️
Not a surprise though!
I bet a hat made from that would look great.
Snuffkin Core!
I love roasted dandelion root tea and can't wait to annoy my neighbors by intentionally cultivating dandelion. XD I can think of a few good uses for cords like these.
@@tammyt3434 Well if you make your neighbours something using it I’m sure they won’t mind 😁
I’ve never tried it, how would you describe the flavour?
my herbalist teacher uses dandelion root tea as a substitute for coffee and it does the job! tastes like slightly sour and bitter coffee in my opinion. 🌱
Nice! Another reason to grow dandelions in the biosphere.
Exactly!!
They are such an underrated plant!
Thanks for the comment 👍
I've made good cordage from: Iris, Phormium, Cordyline, Yucca, Agave, Sanseveria, Banana, Pineapple leaves, Asclepias (aka Milkweed), Linden....I'll try anything stringy, especially if the fibers seem to have survived after the outer layers have rotted or fallen away. If you have a cold winter, then early Spring is a good time to take a walk and notice what's persisting in fields, hedges and gardens.
Thank you so much!!
I’ve added a bunch of new things to the list!!
I started in exactly the same way…..wandering around, picking plants and seeing if they are stringy/ bendy enough!
I researched your suggestions, with the Agave & Sanseveria, how did you process them?
They look similar to aloe almost so I guess they would be very moist inside, or do you strip the outer layer and make cordage with that?
When I worked as a "Powhatan Indian" at Jamestown Festival Park, we placed the agave leaves in bowls of water & left to soak several days. The pulp rots & the fibers are easy to separate out. @agreatalternative
@@lindafriesen3559 Thank you for the advice!
Funnily enough I just watched a video from Sally Pointer where she did something similar with nettle fibres to help strip the fibres easier.
I think I’ll have to try this on a future project!
In Ontario and Quebec, Canada we're getting overrun with invasive fragmites. Maybe it would be good to make cordage from. I'd thought of paper but not cordage. Anyway, I probably won't get around to it, myself. But I enjoyed your excellent video.
@noralee6793 I’ll take a look to see if it’s something I can get nearby, thank you for the comment and kind words, glad you enjoyed it!
I use this method of making cordage with all sorts of materials (including fabric strips) and I grow dandelions among my salad greens but I have not made cordage with it. I will do so now. Joining the new piece to both sides is a great idea. my stems mostly get quite long but it does depend on the weather (I live in subtropical Australia) Thank you for sharing. Cheers,
Bull-clips, clothes horse, and cheap Kmart fan for drying out the plants
@@scrapbagstudios I’m glad you found this helpful!
Once you start thinking about it there is so much that cordage can be made from, I’ve learnt so much even from just the comments in this chat.
I think I’d like to do one episode in this series using fabric strips, thanks for the idea!
Hello from the less tropical Wales 😊 🏴
I made a simple looped basked from Sally's videos out of dandelion flower stalks! I find it's easiest to find long ones in spring before everyone starts mowing the grass. For me, the best way to dry them was to lay them out indoors, shuffling them around for the first day or two, maybe with a fan on them if possible. If you definitely snap off both the flower end AND the base so the stem is only a hollow tube, they will dry faster. Let them dry completely, it takes about a week. When you want to use them, run them under water quickly, shake them off a bit, and then put them in a plastic bag to mellow with whatever water stayed on them for about half an hour.
@@Just_Sara Thank you Sara, that’s really helpful!!
One of my next projects is a looped basket - probably following one of Sally’s videos 😁
Would be interesting to see a follow upon it in a few months
@@ivintardoni6349 Well it’s been a few weeks since I filmed this video (so it’s totally dry) and not much has changed other than it’s a little stiffer.
Compared to the other cordages I’ve made so far (soft rush and thin leaf plantain) I’d say it’s one of the softer fibres, although not very strong.
Would there be a specific type of follow up you’d be interested in?
I think it would be a great idea to follow up and somehow evaluate what’s been used up to that point, or maybe make something with them, but I can’t think what!
@@agreatalternative My question kind of follows your comment about the waxiness of the dandelion stem, and how you didn’t know if it would dry out too much or be “brittle” as time went on. If it’s still going strong then that’s good!
I’ve only just started watching your channel, but I think a follow up might be taking a look at the cordage materials you’ve used and how well each has held up over the time to usage since you’ve made each into cordage. I’ve only started being interested in making cordage and rope in the last year and a half so, still new.
@@ivintardoni6349 Yeah I think the wackiness has helped with it feeling less brittle.
I think if I was to try it again (like with most) I would attempt a thinner cordage and maybe 3ply, as that would make it more pliable.
Sounds like you’re as experienced as I am!
I know more about particular materials but I’m using this series as a reason to tryout new things.
In the coming list I’ve got grass, dog fur, rhubarb and banana skin 😁
@@ivintardoni6349 second vote for a round up of several different cordage types. maybe each made into a net or similar to test their specs (strength, stretch, hand feel, some other cool traits, etc). the standard for testing new yarns is a napkin, I'm still super new to cordage.
Haha wackiness….. *waxiness 😁
I love Sally Pointers videos, too!
@@einwitzigenname585 She’s brilliant isn’t she!!
A really good and clear video. I wonder if rushes would work in making cordage. They grow everywhere here and can get quite long. They are quite pithy inside (like elderberry wood), so I wonder if they would dry out as well. I will give it a go! Your comments regarding the dandelion latex reminded me of when I was a scruffy little kid, using dandelion latex to make “tattoo” patterns on my hands which would go brown in the sunshine 😁. The cordage looks beautiful. ❤
@@SlowLivingSligo Thank you ☺️
There are various types of rush but I think overall probably most types could be used!
The first video I did in the cordage series was with soft rush, which is a common plant and makes great cordage.
Also there’s loads of talented weavers using a larger variety of rush for baskets, flooring and all kinds of things so if you type rush for weaving into TH-cam I’m sure you’ll find loads of stuff!!
Good luck with all the projects, please share any images of what you create with me on Instagram!
@@agreatalternative Great, thanks. I’ll have a look and will let you know! 👍
@@SlowLivingSligoI was actually looking into Japanese tatami mats and how they are made, and they actually use common rush, so I can safely say they are good in a textile setting if you wanted to try that.
@@pineberry212 That’s very interesting! I will give it a go as there are lots of rushes that need clearing around here and it’s always a shame to see them going to waste. Many thanks 👍
@@SlowLivingSligo I wish you luck! I don't have any that I know of in my local area I could pick for free, but I'm planning to see if my gramps will let me use his garden next season to grow some for a project. I might need to make a simple larger loom for the project, as the ones I've made are smaller, but at least it won't need to be a four shaft loom.
I’ve made “coffee” with roasted dandelion root and used the leaves in salad but it has never occurred to me to use the stems in making cordage. I have a ton of it too, so I’ll have to try this. Yours seems to have turned out well. Just made some cordage from yucca (which turned out quite sturdy). I will have to try dandelion next.
@@benmoffitt7524 I’ve never tried the root ‘coffee’ before, what’s it taste like?
I was fairly pleased with how it came out and now it’s fully dried (just had a quick play) it’s still pretty pliable, especially compared to thin plantain stem for example.
@@agreatalternative The dandelion root coffee (really more like a strong tea) I have made has been, what I would describe as, nutty in flavor and definitely milder than actual coffee. The trick is to chop the roots up into very small pieces and make sure it is fully roasted and dried before brewing, that way it loses a lot of the bitterness.
@@benmoffitt7524 Interesting, one for the future!!
I appreciate your video. Thank you.
@@simianlord Thank you for your kind words, I’m glad you found it useful!
I really appreciate learning about different plants I can use for cordage👍🏽 It would be great to see a stress test of the material. Even if it's you pulling with just your hands, although something that could measure the tensile strength would also be good. Thank you for posting
@@NtFlashy This has been requested A LOT so it’s definitely coming, although probably next year as I gotta make all the cordage to break and get some help to make something that would be scientific(ish) 😁
Danke ❤
I subscribed. Your video just popped up on my feed. Since I like weaving, I thought yes.
@@susannechinn647 Thanks for the comment Susanne!
I can’t see why this one has been kinda popular of these last few days as I’ve been making weaving related videos for ages now, I need to give thanks to the algorithm though 😂
What kind of weaving do you do?
Very cool. Subscribed.
I really appreciate your down-to-earth honesty. It makes everything feel more in reach. Fantastic videos.
Thank you!
I definitely try to get across that I'm a beginner, so if I can do this stuff basically anyone else can too!
It's how I've got over feeling like an imposter when it comes to teaching in this area!!
ok, I was going to say I have never seen a dandelion that tall/long before LOL. If that's how rope is made, I'll try with some of the native plants local to me. I live in Texas, USA so everything is very dry and stunted yet there is this very long fine grass called Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima). I use it for decoration in my house and have made cat toy's out of it. It's a lot of fun to play with. It's very soft :)
@@c.powell8472 It was the longest I’ve seen!
Funny you should mention the feather grass, that’s actually the next cordage video that I’ll be releasing 😂
I don’t use feather grass specifically but as there are thousands of varieties I used a few and I found that it makes decent enough cordage/ rope, although not super pliable.
Where I found grass shines is that if you’re able to leave the seed head end out it can make a very pretty decoration.
Maybe to use for like a crown, wreath or even a long cat toy 😁
After looking online for Mexican feather grass it looks like that would be the case too!
Thanks for the comment!
Just checked, it’s not the next cordage video to be released, it’s the one after that 🤦♂️😁
I don't know where you are in TX but here in NM some of the best cordage is made from yucca leaves (spears?). It takes a bit more processing (crushing and scraping) but it is very strong.
@@MattBohnhoff An I correct in saying they are like flax?
So the fibre is similar and that’s why processing is as well?
@@agreatalternative botanically yucca is not like flax at all. I can't speak to any similarity in the fibers. The most common yucca around Albuquerque is called Spanish Bayonet for the rigid spearlike leaves. You have to crush them with a stone and scrape or comb away the succulent fleshy tissue to isolate the fibers for cordage.
I'm amazed!! This looks beautiful. Thank you for showing this❤❤❤
@@juliadean2473 My pleasure, glad you enjoyed watching!
good thing!
I tried dried leaf from iris lillies…
but that’s good as well
@@sylkebambilke1364 I’ve not had much experience with iris but I’ve heard it’s a great one for weaving, any advice?
Thanks is for the comment, I hope you find the videos useful!
@@agreatalternative is a bit tricky to do, needs good experience, my results are very different with this material
and yes, you do good, I added your channel
very interesting
(sorry for my poor english…)
@@sylkebambilke1364 Ok I will defiantly try it out when I can!
Don’t worry your English is fine 👍
Feel free to write in your own language, I could copy it into google translate 😊
I used bull-clips on a clothes horse to hang plants to dry and a pedestal fan for circulation
Works well for my alliums
Then again, I do reside in Australia 🇦🇺
@@TheKrispyfort Thank you, that sounds like a handy drying solution!
Yeah it’s slightly wetter here in Wales 🏴 😂
Another great video sharing a fantastic idea! Never thought of that. Your channel is awesome! Keep on, keeping on!
@@OzarkArtsandCrafts Thanks Dennis!
I was inspired from the channel foraged fibres for this one so I’d definitely say go and check them out as they make absolutely beautiful stuff with natural fibres!
Thank you for posting! I would never have guessed dandelions can be used to make cordage!
@@abcstardust It amazing how many things there are that cordage can be made from!
I’m learning (a lot through people commenting with ideas on this channel)
It’s why I’m trying to also find some odd things also, coming soon I’m thinking banana skin and dog fur 😁
@@agreatalternative Thank you for the reply. Can’t wait to see either one of those. Do you think Celery fibers would work?
@@abcstardust YES!!
Why didn't I think of that, I eat it all the time!
I was also going to try leeks and rhubarb along with some other 'forage from the shops/ garden' themed episodes
Thank you!
@@agreatalternative You’re quite welcome. I’m looking forward to future videos!
Thank-you, algorithm, this was cool. I've made cordage from the dead spider plant leaves in my houseplants. Just to see if I could, after watching a Sally Pointer video. I used it to tie up my indoor pothos and outdoor grape vines, and it's already held up for a couple of years now in both environments. I wouldn't use it for anything critical, though.
@@elfieblue3175 I agree, a round of applause for the algorithm 😂
That’s exactly how I got started messing around with dead spider plant leaves, then watching sally pointer and having a play!!
I think this was a good fibre to use, but so far my favourite has been soft rush, although I’m about to film a dog fur cordage video and that’s been really fun to use!
Great idea! Lots of dandelion growing near where I live and wee do have some tall ones! The red veined variety tends to be really tall. Could the leaves be woven into cordage too? Would you do videos on bamboo leaf, and pine needle cordage?
@@IAMGiftbearer I’ve not heard about the other varieties, I’ll have to take a look at that!
Possibly you could weave the leaves in but it may cause fluctuations in the diameter so could make it harder to be consistent.
I’ll add those to the list, just need to find some!
Pine needle shouldn’t be too difficult but bamboo leaf could be hard to find in rural wales 😂
Thank you for all the kind comments!!
If you make anything from these videos please share with me on insta as I’d love to see!
Love this,! I grow dandelion for medicinal and culinary purposes, and was looking at the stems after I harvested some dandelion puffs to seed save (off last years plants, lovely and established) They're lovely long stems, and seemed a useful length, and I'm getting SO many flowers right now. I'm planting more seed, because I want to harvest root next time, so these stems will be very plentiful. Thanks for the great video.
@@SwiftRabbit-w7g They are a great plant aren’t they!
I actually tried dandelion coffee for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised!!
I’ve not tried growing them myself but that’s a great idea, especially if you’re then using the root, as you replacing them each year.
Thank you for the comment!
@@agreatalternative The more I work with them, the deeper I appreciate them 💗 Keep up the good work! 💪
@@SwiftRabbit-w7g Cheers 👍
That is so beautiful. Will definitely do this sometime. 🙂 👍
@@mirzamay Thank you 😊
Good luck with making your own!
Please tell us how you keep that beautiful space free from - or clear it from - spiderwebs and other insects. I'd love to build such a space at my place but know it would look like a horror movie barn in less than half a year.
@@mukmarkes4151 The short answer is….I don’t 😂
Currently there is a bird nesting inside some spruce root that’s hung up and like with the dandelion in this video some things have moulded because of how open the space is.
There is a concrete floor that helps, plus every few months or so (you’ve reminded me I probably should do it now) I move things around to check there are not any burrowing bug infestations but I’m certain there are a few cobwebs here and there!
I think if we had animals like chickens it would also be a place I’d probably from field mice as well!
I’d say go for it! As long as you can easily move stuff around every so often I’m sure you won’t have many issues!
If not one thing I’ve started doing more is bringing cordage materials (like dandelion if I was to do it again) indoors and doing small batches at a time.
I just then need to get permission from Alicia 😂
Great. Thank you.
@@marialuisaguardao9744 No worries 😊👍
Dandelions are one of my favourite plants/flowers! The little fluffy puffballs just remind me of fairies, especially when the little bitties get blown away by the wind or someone making a wish :)
No dandelions where I'm at for the time being, but I'll be sure to try this when I get back to England. I'd love to incorporate dandelions into a garden of my own some day, they're just so delightful to me
@@K.Voyence Dandelions are great,like so many they are seen as a pest but actually can give you a lot!
You could probably try something similar with what’s around you, for example the most recent cordage video I did was on grass!
Or a favourite of mine (and upcoming video) dog fur 😁
But then you probably need to ask first 😂
@@agreatalternative I also admire dandelions for their perseverance 😁
And yes, I was thinking about that after I had commented! But a lot of plants around here have that sharp fibrous quality, the kind that gives you paper-cuts if you aren't careful, but I'm sure there's bound to be something that doesn't.
I'll be sure to keep an eye out for such things the next time I go for a walk and do a little bit of research :)
Also, dang, I wonder if cat fur would work the same x)
@@K.Voyence I guess cat fur would work, just gotta find a friendly one 😁
Good luck with the experiments!
I find just testing stuff while out on a walk is how I learn about most fibres!
Just found your channel and love it! I actually just tried dandelion "coffee" for the first time earlier this week and was shocked at how delicious it was!
@@ValhallaIronworks Cheers!!
Haha me too!! It’s definitely not what I was expecting, certainly passable as an alternative to coffee rather than tea, as I need to add milk and sugar to my hot drink 😁
Great sharing! Love how you respect the plants growth cycle.
Last year i've had the same kind of fungus attack to the stems i collected. Even dried them indoors and well ventilated!
Then wondered about the effects of the milksap inside, obviously the water part is gone, but the residue stays in the vains between the fibers.
Oh well, beautifull cordage non the less
@@rens1030 That’s a very good point! They are definitely less ‘woody’ like most fibres I’ve worked with and with the sap and more ‘moist’ skin it seems to attract mould a lot easier.
Maybe next time try literally over a heater on a low heat, so they dry in a day or so?
I did that with the first time I tried soft rush cordage and that yielded good results.
Thank you for the comment!
Love this series!!💖
@@zarkthemuffin Thank you!
Is there a cordage you’d like to try if you haven’t already?
@@agreatalternative Well I haven’t really done cordage properly yet, didn’t dry what I was supposed to lol. And I only understand adding more now from your videos to make the cordage longer! I’ve tried it before, but it gets lumpy but now i have a better idea so thank you! I’d love to try out dandelions, but also I think it would be cool to just try out things I find growing around me haha
@@zarkthemuffin That’s exactly how I’ve been learning, just grab what’s nearby or something that looks like it would be bendy enough while out on a walk and see if it twists!
Even some thing as simple as grass will work. Ep 5 of this series will be grass, again mainly because it is what right outside where I live and I attempted keeping some of the seed heads in and it can look really pretty!
I’m defiantly still learning (my cordage is super lumpy if you look closely) 😁
I’m really glad this series has helped!
wonderful video, hope you do get your own studio shop close to nature, I collect all sorts of natural materials, so my shop looks similar, with piles of fruit tree wood, and plant stems, beaver cotton wood, vines, and then lots of dry herbs, but I mainly make stick sculptures.
@@trentnicolajsen3731 Thank you!
I bet that looks beautiful, I do love collecting and creating that style of semi natural space.
Do you have any photos of your sculptures online?
I’ve only attempted a couple of sculpture pieces so far but mostly using willow.
You might like the willow sculpture video I’ve made alongside a couple of the ‘sculptural’ baskets!
I've made cordage from my wife's hair that i collected from her brush 😂 was really strong.... And smelled nice lol!
@@michaelfredieu-ec6we Did you ask permission first? 😂
i like these videos thanks! if possible you should do strength tests and share useful applications for each type, im sure some lend themselves to different uses more than others etc
@@djdnauk1977 No worries, glad you enjoyed it!
A strength test is definitely coming, probably next year at some point when once I’ve made a large range of types of cordage!
You may like my most recent video about grass cordage as that is surprisingly strong!
I've always had this fantasy of living from a e-trike solar camper and going to stay in the south somewhere Kudzu has taken over. Then I would just harvest the Kudzu, possibly for a fee to clear the property, make 'artisan' twine to sell and maybe invest in a a few breeding sheep 🐏 🐑 🐑 I could graze on the Kudzu. Then I could sell their fiber and milk products and the twine at my roadside stand! I could probably even start some compost with the prolific Kudzu and their droppings and sell that too.
@@LaineyBug2020 Sounds like a pretty good plan to me 👍
Oo have made cord from all sorts, willow,iris,new zealand flax etc. got to try dandelion. Thanks❤ would make a good coiled basket
@@rachelwren-vipond6029 Absolutely!
I’ve never attempted a coiled basket before and not sure where to start!
Do you use string to tie the coils together or a thin long natural material?
That’s genius! 🙌🏻👏🏻
@@KnifeCrazzzzy Dunno if I’d go that far, but Cheers 😁
Greetings from New Zealand. I mostly make cordage from Cabbage Tree. You see it in the UK as an ornamental bushy palm, quite hardy, grows on the South coast. Incredibly strong - stronger than hemp by far. You split up the dried leaf to your liking, chuck the hard core, and twist away. I grow olives, so I rub a little olive oil on ti keep it nice and supple. Even made a rifle sling out of it.
Greetings! Ahh very interesting, I’ll add it to the list!
Is olive oil your preferred method for preserving? Have you tried anything else?
Also have you ever had issue with mould when using oils or other natural preserves?
@@agreatalternative The olive oil seems to have survived 7 years on a hank in the garden shed. I tried animal fat but it stinks and, yes, grows mould. Oh, I tried candle wax but it doesn't penetrate well and flakes off. Olive oil also seems to keep those hard-worked fingertips supple :)
@@VikOlliver Thanks for the help Vik!!
I’m thinking about doing something that tests a bunch of options, maybe including beeswax but it’s really good to know this is a tried and tested method!
Made some.
Thinner gauge than yours so it became brittle.
The pea plants are enjoying it.
After drying out, I soaked in tap hot water and was weaving with wet.
The cord became loose, and brittle upon drying.
Again, mine was much thinner than yours.
I think I should have rubbed a bit of an oil into it during the weave process as a conditioner.
Did use this weaving method for corn husk.
Quite enjoyed myself
@@TheKrispyfort Hmm, each fibre could act differently but the things I’ve noticed that achieve better results are;
- Possibly size, like you mentioned but that doesn’t make all the difference, for example the ox eye daisy cordage is still very brittle almost any size.
- How wet it was/ drying time. If it was a little too wet then the fibres may have broken down a little (which dandelion is prone for) and become slimy, so when it drys it’s lost strength/ size so shrinks a lot more.
Also if dried out too quickly it can shrink more.
- Tying to tight when twisting the cordage. I’ve made this mistake recently with a rhubarb cordage (future episode) and it’s shrunk slightly as the twists have ‘relaxed’ upon drying.
- 2ply vs more than 2 ply. For a stronger and more flexible cordage doing more than 2 ply is always better. Sally pointer does some good videos on how to do this.
The reason I do 2 ply in these videos is because it’s the simplest method.
Hope that helps!!
Funny you should ask about corn husk, I actually have some drying inside at the moment ready for a future video 😁
Plastic grocery bags is what I have used for practice.
@@walterbond3185 That’s an interesting idea, plastic bags and other found materials could be an interesting addition to this series.
Thanks Walter!
A local charity weaves a sleeping mat for the homeless with grocery bags.
One "fiber" that surprised me when I tried it was corn husks...I tore each dried husk into 1/3 and twisted them after I soaked them wet...had to constantly add to it but it made a very nice thin rope-like cordage.
@@thepreparedchristian3147 Thank you!
Funny you should mention corn husks, I have some drying at the moment ready for a future video 😁
Do you use anything to preserve your cordage at all?
You have a new subscriber 👍
😊❤ liked and subscribed!!
Great video. One thing that I miss is how strong it is. And if it will last through winter for example (if you use it in the garden). That would be useful information. Probably it won't last long. I would expect it to fall apart after a month at most (especially in the rain)
@@mserzysko I think you’re right, with most of the corsages I’ve made so far, if left outside they won’t last through winter, as they would get mouldy fairly quickly.
As for the strength test that’s a good idea, but I’m thinking I may do a video comparing the strength of various types of cordage, I’ll just be waiting till I have a lot 😁
Thanks for the comment!
I just found this mid October lol!
@@abijahdixon2771 Don’t worry I’m not prepared enough to have this done well in advance 😂🤦♂️
It just means you’ll be super prepared for next year!!
3:23 that's good to know. I would have definitely sorted them all in the same root to bloom direction.
@@geeksdo1tbetter It’s all about trying to keep the consistency.
It’s also something to think about when adding new pieces, like how frequent to add, how many and which end of the fibre.
But overall (I keep telling myself anyway as I struggle with keeping the cordage consistent) as long as it doesn’t fall apart then it’s fine for it to be all higgldy piggldy, is a natural product so doesn’t have to be perfect 😁
@@agreatalternative ty
I just found your channel....❤️ It!
@@lunainezdelamancha3368 Thank you 😊 Are there any types of cordage you’d like me to try?
I would be excited to see what you can do with dog fur 😻 it’s certainly plentiful, I thought that dandelion cordage was beautiful, thanks :)
@@BluDawg I definitely will be doing an episode on dog fur cordage but in the mean time the video just released was a pretty cool handle wrap I made with it!
After you make the loop on the starting end, can it be looped over a peg or something? Would doing that make the twisting easier, or more difficult?
@@elisacoffey5140 That’s one super easy way to do it yes!
Then as the cordage gets longer you can just wrap it around that pole/ hook etc.
I just couldn’t show that in the video as the only thing near me on the table was the tripod, and that would make for shaky footage 😁
I’ve recently seen some videos on rolling the cordage over your leg which can yield quick results but the fibres need to be fairly long, so overall I think it’s handy to try a few things to find what works best for you in each situation!
I like your channel. Thats all
@@Dave2713 cheers Dave 👍
Beautiful!
@@feyasterling Cheers Feya! 😊
Thank you #SaveSoil #Consciousplanet
Interesting, thank you!
Might be intriguing to try a mixed material cordage...?
I imagine not all plant fibers would work for mixed cordage, but seems there might be some that could work well together (like plantain and dandelion maybe? The rough and the waxy...)
Thank you for a very informative video. I never thought you could make cordage out of dandelion 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Most of my natural crafts (especially cordage making and weaving) have spawned from wandering around the countryside with my dog, picking random materials and seeing if they are bendy 😁
@agreatalternative I occasionally like to do basket weaving. I use tubes made out of newspapers as the weaving material.
Would be neat to see a weight test at some point, perhaps using a spring scale? Also one of the strongest materials that might be scavenged in an urban setting is the rayon fibers from disposed carpet remnants. It can be found in the backing, where it may fray out. As for a natural one, swamp milkweed (as there are various sorts) is at a high level too. But I guess what you can get from nature depends on where you're located.
If just wanting to practice with something in general (to get a feel for the best approach), cutting plastic bags into 1.5cm wide strips would be a way to start. That can be a simple enough baseline as to what is good or not.
It's definitely coming as a lot of people have asked about that, I just need to get some assistance from my father in law would be handy!
Thanks for all of the ideas, I never would have thought of rayon fibres!!
With the milkweed is it the stalk or leaves that you use for cordage?
Thanks for all the help!
@@agreatalternative It's the stalk that has the fibers. Generally the best time is to collect in early fall. Too early and the fibers aren't always fully developed, too late and some things start to rot through. Dry it a bit and flake off the inside pith and the outside. Ideally you can get it down to extracting just the silky fibers and those are really strong. There's multiple varieties of milkweed, but in my experience only a few of them have fibers that are long enough to be worth harvesting. Common milkweed has been kind of "meh" in my experience, but swamp milkweed (sometimes sold from seed as "butterfly bush" or such - it has more colorful flowers) can be a bit amazing if you manage to get good results. Supposedly it's been used for bow-strings and fishing nets.
@@pauljs75 Thank you for all the help, I’ll keep an eye out!!
It's my first video in this series -- Do you cover what kinds are said good for what tasks? Like this waxy cord versus the plantain? I just thought now for e.g. anything that might be touching someone's skin would best be dandelion! But I imagine this knowledge is out there already
@@yvonnemariane2265 Overall other than the brief ‘evaluation’ that I aim to give at the end of each video I don’t go into lots of detail into what exactly each cordage could be used for, mainly because I’m a beginner and still learning myself!
I plan to delve into many other videos where I’ll use cordages in different ways, like handle wraps, baskets, clothing and general bushcraft and it’ll be nice not to just use the same thing all the time, which will s why I started this series, to help find out what’s out there other than the obvious fibres like nettle!
In regards to fibre touching skin and any allergies I really can’t say as I don’t have the knowledge to be certain.
I try to cover (if I find it during my initial research) any possible issues with the touch plant, such as not eating the white liquid within dandelions because it can cause diarrhoea, but definitely you’re right to go and do more research yourself!!
Thank you for the comment, I hope you like the other videos!
Wow 🎉 I love this 🎉 I subbed ❤️
@@gimomable Thank you! ☺️
Any fibres that you recommend?
@agreatalternative well, I'm still new to your channel and I may recommend something that you've made already 😁. I'm not that familiar with the process so I'm here to learn a bit 😃. Do you have passion flower/fruit vine where you live?
Ahh it’s ok I wouldn’t mind!
I don’t have so much passion flower or fruit vines other than things like bramble, but then I’m trying to find people who may have things like that in thier gardens, like grape vine or other similar things!
Basically anything bendy will do 😁
@@agreatalternative very nice 😁🤗looking forward to seeing it all lol
I added this to my tutorials playlist. 🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶👏👏🖖🏼
@@HeritageCraftsKnowledgeReposit Cheers Joe!
I love dandelion can’t grow it in Florida sadly the heat and humidity is to much for it. :)
@@TheNightshadePrince Bet you have lots of beautiful plants that you could make cordage with though!
Is it something you’ve tried before?
@@agreatalternative i have with pineapple leaves but it’s a lot of work to extract the fibers.
@@TheNightshadePrince That’s part of the fun 😁
Alternatively part of the fun is finding other fibres that are easy to prepare and use - it’s why bramble isn’t one I like to use!
Dandelion is most commonly found in its favorite, concrete.
Nice!
@@maghurt Cheers!
Good Evening. Hey this is a great option for my baskets - if I do want them to have flexible handles. Gorgeous. Many thanks form Austria.
PS. I am not doing with fibre at the moment, but I am preparing 5kg of fruits of the oak tree. I will do traditional european coffee, plantbased bolognese sauce, bread and of course, chocolate spread.
So yes my hands are also having some muscle pain from peeling and grinding by hand in the hand-grinder.
Thank you for the comment, good luck with all your projects!!
I'd like to see a more precise strenght test!
@@georgstudnicka9969 I was thinking about doing this, but maybe it could work as a video on its own.
I was planning to do it in each video but decided against it because;
1) I was just going to see if it held my weight, which isn’t too scientific
And
2) After taking the time to make the cordage I didn’t want to break them as I plan to make a big display out of anything made through the series
So just gotta make some specifically for snapping 😁
try stinging nettle
That's the only foragable fibre that I've tried. Plentiful plant, long and strong fibers. With some stems I had problems separating the hard stuff from fibers, but other than that it was pretty easy cordage to make
That stuff, if processed even only fairly well, can be just ridiculously strong! And if highly processed, can be very nice, soft, bendy, and beautiful!
I have a few questions. Why wouldn’t you want to twist the cordage under tension? More like spinning/plying yarn or hair twists? Does the “hand twisted” tension contribute to the finished performance of the cordage? I’m a spinner and I’m just genuinely curious about this new craft.
@@camillecady-mccrea690 Did I say it shouldn’t be under tension?
If I did I apologise, as overall it doesn’t overly matter.
HOWEVER
I have noticed with a couple of fibres that if it is really twisted hard then as it dries the natural relaxing of the fibres causes separation.
So overall as a rule of thumb I’ve found a small amount of tension is good so things are not really loose but you’re not putting in all your effort into the ‘twist’.
Moisture/ fibre type and thickness can change this so practice with each fibre is best.
I’m not a spinner (just brought my first spindle) so I can’t be sure but my guess is a similar amount of tension as there is when spinning would be ok.
Hope that helps!!
Thanks Jason, I’m yet to try this but your videos inspire and I recently went to the Tear Up Festival which was awesome for weavers.
Ps have you tried Comfrey leaves or stems? They seem stringy
@@AbellTo I really wanted to go to that but couldn’t afford it this year, hopefully I’ll be there next time!
Thanks as always for the comments!
Comfrey is a good shout, especially as my thought process seems about the same 😁
“That seems stringy”, pick it up and twist it about, if it doesn’t break then make a video about it!
@@agreatalternative it’d be great if you can make it, it’s not far for us and Eddie mentioned an opportunity for me to demonstrate stuff.
Look forward to you next one
@@AbellTo Oh awesome yeah that would be great!
Must try this on my spinning wheel...
What a great idea!
If you checkout one of the other videos from this series, soft rush I think would spin better as it’s a longer, slightly more durable fibre.
But let me know how it goes!!
I would argue that it should be harvested _before_ it spreads it's seeds, but then, I'm in North America, and it is an invasive species here.
Am I thinking correctly, that occasional soaking would be necessary, to keep the cordage from becoming brittle over time?
@@hotice8885 That would be a good experiment!
As far as I’m aware it depends on the thickness of the fibre, for example I’ve been told a willow basket should be “left out in the rain” one day a year.
For thin fibres like dandelion I would expect little to nothing, but I may be wrong!
Have a go and let me know!! 👍
It makes me think of rodeo ropers that have containers they store rope in.
@@lindachandler2293 Had to google that and I’m still not sure what you mean 😁🤦♂️
Native Hawaiians have an ingenious way of twisting cordage by rolling the fibers on their thigh. It goes much faster than how you are doing it by hand alone, but you will pull out your leg hairs lol
@@msohsonice Good point, this is a very slow method!
A TH-cam channel Fibre school did a great video showing this, I’ve since tried it a couple of times but it needs to be the right fibre, being long and damp/ waxy enough to stick(ish) to your leg, making it easy to roll.
I tried this method with dog fur (an upcoming video) but it was too smooth so kept slipping, plus because the fibres were not very long it came apart easily!
Luckily though no leg hairs were pulled out 😂
Its late season or i would just try but did you try to roll the dry stems to break up the connector fibers to leave the long fibers so you can make a thinner string? Or are there not longer fibers in dandelion like there are in dogs bane or celery or yucka
@@williamallen2777 Very interesting point, I didn’t do that so I don’t know if it would work, something for next time!
I don’t think it would be the case as the fibres didn’t seem strong enough to be able to separate from the hollow stem so my guess is they would break, but then no harm in trying!!
dandelion gets leggy in the desert southwest.
Hows it holding up a month later? Is it still pliable at all? I was wondering if the high latex amount in the stems would do anything to how it lasts.
@@Wanderer_of_Sol Fine, other than the slight expected rigidity from drying out completely it’s great.
It still has a very slight waxy feel as well.
If you checkout my insta today I’ve put a quick video on stories showing what it looks like 👍
I never would have guessed that Dandelions grew that tall. I am amazed at what can be done with what nature and God gives us plus the imagination to do it. Beautiful.
If you used plant cordage for shelter building, how long until you'd have to replace it?
@@BibleAndTheBeats Wow what a question!
Firstly, no idea as I’d never made a shelter with cordage, but my guess it it would depend on what the fibre is and whether it had been treated (I’m thinking of things like ship rope that’s been treated can last a long time)
Secondly, why would you want to make a shelter from cordage!?
That would take AGES!! 😂
@@agreatalternative I was particularly interested in the durability and longevity of cordage when employed in outdoor endurance applications for shelter construction, rather than constructing an entire shelter solely from cordage.😅
@ Ahh that makes a lot more sense 😂
The Italian community in my home town use to make dandelion wine
@@MoldyBones27 I’ve not tried that, maybe a future project 😁👍
@@agreatalternative heck yeah!
How many days did you let them dry? I know it depends on wheather, but to have a reference. Thankkks!
They were left outside in an open shed (its an old open stables) for a few weeks HOWEVER I found out this was not the correct way to do it.
Because the shed is open early morning dew and general moisture was able to get in and delicate stuff like this moulds really easily.
As I mention in the video this caused mould on the dandelion stems.
If I was to do it again (so what I would recommend to yourself) is to dry them either in a completely covered shed/ outhouse type building or just bring them into your home and dry them indoors.
Depending on the temperature I would guess they would be dry from a few days to a week max.
Hope that helps!!
I thought you were supposed to crush the stems and scrape the latex gunk away before the drying process. And then use a bunch of individual strands instead of a whole stalk when twisting.
@@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz That’s probably correct, this was my first ever attempt so it was an experiment so it was just to see if I could attempt to make cordage without much prep before hand.
Do you know anywhere where there are examples of the method you mentioned?
Hm, I've never heard of that way. I wonder how that would turn out different?
@@Just_Sara My guess is that it wouldn’t make too much difference for cordage, but could be useful if it’s harmful to some people to touch the ‘gunk’.
Then yeh it certainly seems the thinner (and longer) you can get the fibres at the start the better the cordage!
Did you work with the dandelions wet or dry?
@@ilansobel9905 They were sprayed with water, so not soaked like you would willow, just damp.
If they were left in water for too long they would become slimy.
Have you tried phormium, cordaline, or Yuka foliage?
@@AbellTo In short yes, my dad is a fan of Mediterranean plants so has variations of these.
Recently I did collect a bunch of Phormium (the stuff that had dried on the plant) to use that but after doing a little research I realised they are basically flax, which like nettle is a well known and well used cordage fibre.
Therefore like nettle it’s been pushed down in the list a bit because when I film this I’m planning on doing various types of preparation (carding/ threshing etc) to see the different end results.
@@agreatalternative gotcha, nice one
Another thing actually that I want to try that you may have had experience with….inner bark?
I’ve tried willow in the past and recently harvested cypress inner bark but that’s it so far.
Do you know other barks that would work well, like Hazel and the other varieties you work with day to day?
@@agreatalternative hazel doesn’t have thick bark. You’ll probably know about elm that’s stringy, ash might be worth an experiment. Maybe sweet chestnut that’s young
@@agreatalternative Lime tree (Tilia species), aka Linden bark makes lovely cordage. It's the fiber I learned on originally.
Strength comparisons when?
@@sh-zn4wm Next year 👍
Do you have a book recommendation?
@@crittercam9565 It’s not exactly relevant but one I enjoyed looking through as she delves into different fibre projects;
Wild Textiles by Alice Fox
@@agreatalternative
Thank you.🙂
@@crittercam9565 No worries 👍
How 'bout one harvests the entire plant: make dandelion jelly from flowers, coffee or tincture from roots, cordage from stems? 🤔 Waste not, want not.
@@bonniehyden962 I like that idea “how much could I make from one plant”… 🤔
Another one added to the list 😁👍
It’s too bad you have to let them go to seed. I’m looking for ways to craft with harvested non-natives to motivate people to remove them. Blackberry is another good one for making cordage.
stinging nettle might be interesting if you havent done that yet...
@@romyf.8257 As it turns out my first attempt was only last week, but I’m planning to do a longer more in depth video on nettle as it’s such a widely known plant fibre.
Thank you for the suggestion!! 👍
Let us know how it goes as it dries!
@@vvv9224 Well it’s now been a good few months and it’s still pretty pliable!
I think the ‘waxiness’ within the fibre means it’s seems to stand up pretty well after totally drying out!
Daffodils?
@@williamchamberlain2263 Good shout, I’d forgotten about them!
But but but… is it strong?
@@liavanson8687 I’ve got create suspense somehow 😁
I’m hoping to do a strength test video comparing a load of cordages at some point but in short I would say it’s a mid-low range strength for a natural fibre.
Things like nettle, hemp and flax are stronger and wool/ dog fur have been the strongest natural fibre I’ve used so far.
Overall it’s still great for many jobs, but if strength is a priority I would say try something else.
Hope that helps!!
Coffee?... pfffttt. Dandelion wine!!!!
@@killmimes That sounds nicer!! 😁
@@agreatalternative I have some that has been aging for twenty years, it was kickass at two years
@@Rottinrock Wow. For a second I thought you were talking about cordage 😂
How to identify dandelion. Step one. Be older than two.