Rare Vintage Wild Nepali Hemp Fabric

There are some tiny spots of rust on some of these rolls. Just so you are aware, this is the condition of the fabric, they are only small and hard to notice and may be able to be cleaned off with the right attention.

100% wild Nepali hemp woven on a traditional backstrap loom by highly skilled weavers in the Nepali Himalayas. Much softer than jute or hessian fabrics, and will only get softer with use. This heavy woven fabric is perfect for cushion covers, bags and all kinds of crafting, it will not wear out it will wear in!  Softer than hessian, stronger than linen...   It is a 100% Compostable earth friendly fabric.

Sold per metre.

PROVENANCE & HARVEST Hemp grows wild in Nepal. After the end of the rainy season villagers leave their farms to gather hemp before the plants start to flower. Cutting the hemp above the ground without disturbing the soil. The plants then grows back with the next rains. The fibrous inner bark is stripped from the plant and boiled in water and wood ash for about three hours and then left to simmer overnight. The plant material can then be beaten and the fibre removed. It is then rubbed with soil containing mica, which lubricates the yarn and makes separating and spinning the fibres easier. The fibre is dried in the sun and teased and is ready for spinning. This is done using a hand spindle indoors. The yarn has been drawn by tooth and spindle method, where the fibres are separated by teeth and is held on to a hand held spindle. It takes 10 days' work to make one kilogramme of yarn. The fabric is then woven on a traditional backstrap loom. 

Posted using biodegradable materials, for more info on shipping please click here.