Allo nettle fibre weaving

Work through the steps of turning a wild Himalayan nettle stalk into cloth: harvest, strip and boil the bark, spin the yarn, set the loom, then weave a pattern band on a backstrap or frame loom.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Nepal. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of South Asia.