Kilgrimol Crafts: Bast Fibres - Processing Nettles for Textiles/Cordage

Come and join local Living History enthusiast Heather as she brings to life crafts from the Northwest's Heritage. Demonstrating the slowly vanishing skills that went into producing our clothing using natural materials. Inspired by the Heritage Crafts Red List, we’re focusing on endangered crafts. We'll supply • All materials and tuition • Hot/cold drinks and tasty snacks This month Love them or hate them, the Nettle has had a major influence in the textile industry in the UK. Prized for its fibres from cordage to beautiful weaves, the nettle was processed for textiles as early as 3000BCE. Its popularity declined following World War II, but this weed is now proving increasingly popular in the sustainable textile market. You may even have items from its cousin with ‘no sting’, Ramie. The Nettle has a history with our North West culture, where the local environment was not as suitable for Flax growing as the climate of the south. As Victor Hugo once said “When the nettle is young, the leaves make excellent greens; when it grows old it has filaments and fibers like hemp and flax. Cloth made from the nettle is as good as that made from hemp.” At this session, we’ll learn about nettle processing and learn how to spin cord for the garden. This session is in our upstairs workshop space. We have a lift! Otherwise it is fourteen steps turn a corner and two more steps. There is an accessible loo on the same floor. GETTING HERE • Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station • Bus: No 6 or 18 to Topping St., No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings), No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd • Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park. TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is usually plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St and Topping St from 6pm. REFUNDS • If you can no longer attend, please request a refund using the link in your confirmation email. • Orders can be refunded up to 7 days before the event. • Refunds will be subject to the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% + £0.59 per ticket.