Ramie Fibre

Natural Ramie Roving Top Vegan Spinning Fiber
Ramie comes from a plant of the nettle family. Ramie is one of the bast fibre crops and is one of the oldest known fibers. Ramie was used in mummy cloths in Egypt and has been grown in China for many centuries. Ramie has a silky luster and is pure white in colour. Ramie, also known as China Grass is resistant to bacteria and mildew, is absorbent and cool and comfortable to wear during hot summer months. Ramie is produced from the bark of the vegetative stalks. The Ramie bark goes through a retting and degumming process to soften them into a silky and lustrous fibre.

This Ramie fibre is best spun with a medium to tight twist. The yarn can be used as a single ply or plied with itself or another fibre. The single ply is also lovely when used as weft in handwoven fabrics. Ramie fiber can also be used in needle or wet felting, doll hair and paper making.

Ramie fibre or yarns can be dyed with natural plant dyes and mordants or other dyes suitable for cellulose fibres.

Approx Fiber Length: 7 inches, 160-180mm

Ramie

Ramie 2

Plant Fibres Update

I used to spin and weave with a lot of plant based fibres. Then a few years ago, I suddenly developed a severe allergy to Bamboo fibre. I now have to carry an epi-pen with me in case I come into contact with anything Bamboo. So I am now cautious of any plant fibres, cloth or clothing. I now only use wool, cotton, flax, hemp nettles – plant fibres that have been used safely by humans throughout the centuries.

My Bamboo Allergy