native fiber cordage

[1066vik]

I was out and about yesterday and realized I have no idea what materials I can use to make cordage outside of the growing season. (other than skinning little bunny foo-foo or a song dog)
everything I tried was too dry or brittle. (I'm going to try some blackberry vine tonight - didn't have gloves yesterday)
any ideas or suggestions would be more than welcome.
(and yes, I tried a search, but apparently my google-fu was weak last night)

thanks!

 

[RescueRiley]

I've made usable cordage from cattail ;eaves, Yucca leaves, Dogbane, willow, cedar and wysteria bark, and stinging nettle. All of thes make great cordage, but it is a time intensive activity (best saved for around the fire at night.. For ready use cordage I;d reccomend rootlets such as spruce roots, also thinner wysteria vines work well for ready to use bindings as well.

 

[chewbacca]

I have seen references to making cordage with stinging nettle. How do you do this? I am guessing you peel the stems and use this, but I am not really sure. We have a lot of this around here, and I am told the leaves are quite tasty. If I found a use for the stalk, I might have a reason to venture out and make my first stinging nettle & cheese omlet!

 

[tknife]

Here's a vid on making nettle into cordage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S1mSkrq4xs

I saw a Ray Mears video on it too but couldn't find it. I have used yucca myself and once you get the technique down it goes really fast.

 

[RescueRiley]

Chebacca just found this link for you.. it;s decent in terms of instruction
http://www.arthurhaines.com/reverse-wrap-cord.htm

 

[pitdog]

Best naural cordage I have found is Cedar roots, very strong, very pliable and very easy to get( providing you have Cedar trees !)

 

[IA Woodsman]

I live in IA and in the winter I have found Velvet Leaf to be the best. Here is a vid on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w42R8v_uzSU

And a few pics.

Hope that helps.

 

[1066vik]

Best naural cordage I have found is Cedar roots, very strong, very pliable and very easy to get( providing you have Cedar trees !)

I like this idea - it gives me yet another reason to grub the things out of the pasture!

Thanks guys!

 

[PayetteRucker]

cattail guts can be woven into pretty strong fibers, you need to know the ins and outs of cordage weaving though.

 

[VaughnT]

Natural cordage materials are just about everywhere, but the quality of the end product depends on how the material is prepared.

Tulip Poplar's inner bark is a fantastic resource, but I don't know if it grows in your area. Kudzu bark and vine is another source. Wisteria vine. Cattail leaves, and on and on and on....

For the strongest string you can get out of the material, strip it down as thin as possible. Note that even the biggest anchoring rope on a battleship is still made out of very tiny threads. This is very important.

 

[chewbacca]

Riley,

Thanks for the link.

 

[John G]

(double-post)

 

[John G]

Last year I made almost 20 feet of cattail cordage, used it for a primitive fishing rig. This year I'll do the same, and also work on making hooks out of bone.