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MAKEWORKS
Papers/Stinging Nettle Paper
Plant FiberModerateSafety: Low Risk

Stinging Nettle Paper

A roadside weed that gives a paper as strong as linen.

Texture
Strong, slightly green-grey, fine fiber
Yield
≈ 5 sheets per armful of stems

Nettle stalks are retted in water, the long bast fibers peeled, cooked, and pulled into sheets.

  • ▸A wild roadside fiber stronger than cotton.
  • ▸Retting (rotting in water) loosens the bast from the woody core.
  • ▸Used for cloth and paper across pre-cotton Europe.

Steps

  1. 01

    Cut nettles in late summer when stalks are tall and woody.

  2. 02

    Strip leaves; soak stalks 1–2 weeks in water (retting) until the bast peels off easily.

  3. 03

    Peel the long bast fibers from the woody core.

  4. 04

    Cook fibers 2–3 hours in washing-soda water; rinse well.

  5. 05

    Beat with a mallet or pulse briefly in the blender — keep fibers long.

  6. 06

    Pull thin sheets, couch, press, dry under weight.

Materials
5
  • — Mature nettle stalks (gloves!)
  • — Washing soda
  • — Big pot
  • — Mallet (optional)
  • — Blender + mould & deckle

Safety

Low Risk

Mostly hand tools and inert materials. Standard studio hygiene applies.

Quick checklist
  • ☐Work in a ventilated area; keep food and drink out of the studio
  • ☐Read each material's safety data sheet (SDS) before starting
  • ☐Have water, soap, and a first-aid kit accessible

Heuristic guidance derived from listed materials. Always consult each material's safety data sheet (SDS) and a qualified instructor before attempting.

Notes

Nettle was a major European paper and cloth fiber before cotton. Lightfast and very strong.