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| Photo: C Dear |
Part of this project is exploring new materials and lime bast is one of these for me.
This has been used for many thousands of years for making rope, thread and string. This material is very strong, has long fibres which can be split easily into very fine threads, it is a joy to work with and I have enjoyed making the thinnest thread I could from it.
The process involves soaking a branch or tree once felled with the bark on for many weeks, six or so depending on the temperature. Once soaked enough the bark will come away easily. From here you can peel off the bast layers, and also the inside layer of the bark. These layers are then hung to dry and once dry can be spilt into thin threads ready for string making.
This has been used for many thousands of years for making rope, thread and string. This material is very strong, has long fibres which can be split easily into very fine threads, it is a joy to work with and I have enjoyed making the thinnest thread I could from it.
The process involves soaking a branch or tree once felled with the bark on for many weeks, six or so depending on the temperature. Once soaked enough the bark will come away easily. From here you can peel off the bast layers, and also the inside layer of the bark. These layers are then hung to dry and once dry can be spilt into thin threads ready for string making.
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When working with the lime bast I dampened it slightly before rolling. For me, this material is so different from the rushes or grass I normally work with. With it, you can easily make strong thin thread which is much superior to any I could make from local materials. The innate qualities of the materials we work with influence what can be developed from them. I must thank Tim Palmer (a basketmaker in Inverness) for a branch from his garden, as there are not many lime trees on Skye.
This material has been used in various ways for many thousands of years, such as in the creation of textiles at Must Farm (a Bronze Age Settlement in England); for thick salt mining ropes in Hallstatt, Austria; and ropes for Viking boats.
Must Farm Late Bronze Age Settlement (1000BC to 800BC) near Peterborough in England
http://www.mustfarm.com/bronze-age-settlement/about/ Hallstatt salt mine, Austria (from 7000 years ago)
https://www.hallstatt.net/about-hallstatt/sehenswertes-en-US/familienerlebnis-salzwelten-en-US/ Reconstruction of Viking boat using traditional techniques including lime bast ropes -https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/boatyard/building-projects/gislingeboat-2015/the-gislinge-blog/show/lime-bast-rope-for-the-gislinge-boats-rig-1
This material has been used in various ways for many thousands of years, such as in the creation of textiles at Must Farm (a Bronze Age Settlement in England); for thick salt mining ropes in Hallstatt, Austria; and ropes for Viking boats.
Must Farm Late Bronze Age Settlement (1000BC to 800BC) near Peterborough in England
http://www.mustfarm.com/bronze-age-settlement/about/ Hallstatt salt mine, Austria (from 7000 years ago)
https://www.hallstatt.net/about-hallstatt/sehenswertes-en-US/familienerlebnis-salzwelten-en-US/ Reconstruction of Viking boat using traditional techniques including lime bast ropes -https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/boatyard/building-projects/gislingeboat-2015/the-gislinge-blog/show/lime-bast-rope-for-the-gislinge-boats-rig-1
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| Photo: C Dear |