Homespun Nettle Fiber

Hidden in a weedy patch in your backyard, or on a forest’s edge, you’ll likely find a humble plant that’s most famous for its burning sting. But did you know that stinging nettle can also be used for making textiles? Inside the plant’s stalks are long, strong, fine fibers. Surprisingly, stinging nettle is anything but harsh when woven into fabric. Nettle cloth is lustrous and smooth, similar to linen, but even stronger.

Documented use of nettle fiber dates back to the Bronze Age. Along with flax and hemp, nettle was a popular plant-based textile used