Wednesday, February 26, 2014

4-ply Milkweed Cordage


4 Ply Milkweed Cordage Length 



To extract fibers:
Scrape off outer layer of stalk to remove broken or blemished fibers.
Split the dried milkweed stalk into quarters
Snap of chaff in half inch increments from inner part of stalk quarter.


This will leave you with various lengths of raw fiber.



Draw the fibers through a comb to isolate them and make them finer.



Create a loop in the center of your longest bundle of fibers and twist so that the cordage naturally winds up on itself.
Then using your thigh and your fingers, twist the two ends so that they continue the wind.


Add in the remaining fibers as you go, taking care not to create weak spots by adding them all at once. 
Continue on until the rope is the desired length.
This 2-ply cordage can be combined with another of the same to make a stronger length of cordage.



1 comment:

  1. Hello Dana Lightbourne. So good to know you through your profile on the blogger. I am glad to stop by your blog " dana lightbourne bechert work" and the post on it " 4-ply milkweed Cordage". It looks so beautiful and person like me would love to learn it and teach it to others to make out of it a income generating Project. I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 34yrs in the great city of Mumbai, India a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reachout to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also have an income generating project of making Cards (greetings). One of our church members hands paints each card with different kinds of birds that are found in India and then where ever I come to States I sale those cards and what ever profit comes goes for the on going activities in the slums such as Kindergarten for the children in the slum, Nutrition Program for the mal-nourished children in the slums. We have also another project where by we encourage young people like you as well as adults from the West to come on a short /long term missions trip to work with us. Since you have this skill of making some thing which can have a great market in States. It would be so great if you come to Mumbai, India with your friends to work with us and also teach us how to make those things, we certainly can use this to generate income for our ministry. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon.

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