Nettle cloth

Nessel,/. nettle unbleached cotton cloth, nettle cloth, -ausschlag, m. nettle rash, -ge-waohse, n.pl. (Bot.) Urticaceae. 

The use of natural fibres, both plant and animal, to meet our needs plays a significant role throughout history. Wool, as a representative of animal fibres, has been used since the dawn of mankind. One of the oldest reeorded uses of plant fibre for fabrics is that of hemp, already being cultivated in China in 2800 BC. The common nettle is probably the best example of how society s interest in natural fibres fluctuates along the years. It was used for cloth in Neolithic times, and then became important for nets for fishing. Nettle cloth was manufactured in Scandinavia and Scotland until the nineteenth century and shortages of... 

Folklore The name urtica is believed to be derived from the Latin verb urere , to bum, most probably referring to the stinging action of the plant. Nettle is a fibrous plant and was used in cloth manufacture from the Bronze Age until the early twentieth century. The fresh young plant tops have been cooked as a spinach-like vegetable dish, and used to be brewed into a nettle beer in certain parts of the United Kingdom. The herb was known as a blood purifier which, in current terms, is a detox herb. The herb has a high chlorophyll content and has been used as a source for extraction of this natural colour (Bown, 2003 British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983 Graenwald et al, 2002 Hutchens, 1973 Shealy, 1998 Tierra, 1998). 

Nettles Urtica dioica Bast (whole stems) Thread, cloth... 

Ramie is a relative of Nettle and has been similarly used throughout history. A native of China, it is essentially a cloth fibre used as a substitute for cotton. It is also said to have anti-bacterial properties. 

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