Knitting Nettles

Some years ago Richard and I were fortunate to enjoy a trek round Annapurna in Nepal. It was a memorable trip for many reasons, not least because we spent much time in the company of villagers in the hills. I can say there is nothing more wonderful than waking up to a view of Himalaya peaks outside your tent flap and to feel the sun come up and warm the iron cold from your bones. It was in a way to re-experience the gratitude of primitive man and woman for the return of the warming, joyful blessings of the sun. I very much enjoyed the enthusiasm of local women who were keen to demonstrate their skills to me, one of the most fascinating being their fabrication of textiles from nettles. Nettles grow in abundance wherever people live - and nettles are always a sign when walking across country that you are not the first people to have passed that way. When I was young, my mother would make nettle soup, and we would drink nettle beer. Creating a yarn from nettles is very much akin to making yarn from flax. To see the process, just watch the short video clip below.
Every year there is a Festival of Nettles at the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay. In 2014 it will be held on Monday 27 May from 11am–4:30pm when there is a special day with demonstrations and exhibits, nettle fibre processing and spinning, textile art together with all kinds of nettle food, drink and toiletries. For more information, click here.


Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.