Two pre-recorded two hour video tutorials with a live Q&A at 4-5pm BST on Tuesday the 2nd July

Over two video demonstrations, we will venture out into the English countryside to wild harvest stinging nettles, learning about their ecology, history and uses as we go. We will explore two simple methods of extracting the strong fibres that require no retting or specialised tools, then turn the prepared nettle fibre into practical cordage and start projects inspired by archaeological finds, including a complex looking thirteen strand braided bracelet and a loop manipulated bag, demonstrated here as a head piece.

This course will use freshly filmed material and a cohesive progression of ideas, skills, and inspiration to ensure a wide understanding and confidence in using nettles, tying modern craft practice to archaeology and ancestral skills.

The class is made up with two pre-recorded two hour video tutorials with a live Q&A at 4-5pm BST on Tuesday the 2nd July. The first video will be uploaded on the class web page in June, to watch before the live Q&A. The second video will be shared in July after the Q&A. You will receive emails when the videos are uploaded. Recordings will be available for two months.

This class is timed to be in nettle harvesting season so you can have a go at working with nettles alongside the online class.

Session one: Nettle fibre

• Introduction to the nettle.

• Harvesting sustainably and without pain.

• Splitting and stripping the bast fibres.

• Method one: minimal effort rubbed fibres.

• Method two: scraped fibres.

• Discussion of other methods including retting and winter harvested nettle.

• Suggestions of other easily available fibres (horseradish, rhubarb, etc.)

• Storing your fibre.

• Preview of next session.

Session two: Nettle Cordage and Projects

• Comparison of the two fibre samples made in the last session.

• Suggestions on using other fibres such as flax or hemp.

• Cordage basics: learning reverse twist cordage with attention to joins and cord thickness.

• Discussion of 'cord-as-you-go' methods versus making a ball of cordage upfront.

• Project one: Practical bag or hairnet using cord-as-you-go and a simple looping technique.

• Project two: Bracelet or braid inspired by an early Bronze Age find using premade cordage.

• Closing discussion: Recap on everything learned, suggestions of resources, and further projects.