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Posted by Seeker on July 10, 2006, 2:42 pm
On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 11:01:08 -0700, "BEI Design"
>
>>
>> Olwyn Mary's question about bamboo cloth brought to mind a
>> question
>> I've long wondered. I know that ramie is a cloth used in India,
>> but
>> I've never heard how it is made. Can anyone offer any
>> information on
>> it?
>> Thanks, Sharon
>
>Google is your friend:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramie
>
Now why didn't I think of that?! Thanks.
>"Ramie is one of the oldest fibre crops, having been used for at
>least six thousand years, and is principally used for fabric
>production. It is a bast fibre, and the part used is the bark
>(phloem) of the vegetative stalks. Ramie is normally harvested
>two to three times a year but under good growing conditions can
>be harvested up to six times per year(2). Unlike other bast
>crops, ramie requires chemical processing to de-gum the fibre."
>
>http://www.spnindiana.org/main_tips.htm
>
>"Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibers and exhibits even
>greater strength when wet. It possesses little elasticity and is
>somewhat brittle and stiff. This causes fiber breakage and
>abrasion where creased or folded repeatedly. To reduce possible
>damage, avoid ironing sharp creases in fabrics such as napkins or
>skirt pleats.
>The long, fine ramie fibers are naturally white and lustrous with
>an almost silky appearance. It is a cellulosic substance as is
>cotton, linen and other plant fibers. The inner structure of
>ramie differs from the other plant fibers in that the physical
>form of the cellulose is rigid and crystalline like linen but is
>a more porous sieve-like form providing it with even better
>absorbency than other cellulose fibers. The unevenness of fiber
>has a strong resemblance to the thick and thin appearance of
>linen but at a reduced cost. In addition, it is softer with
>better dyeability. "
>
>HTH,
>
>Beverly
>
I looked at Wikipedia's article and illustration. I swear I have a
similar nettle growing as a nasty weed in my yard here in
Pennsylvania, and have been painfully scratched up with the stuff.
Knowing that it has a cousin that is the basis of a fiber makes it a
little more tolerable.
Thanks for enlightening me.
Sharon
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