dogbane net, floats and weights

[swamp monkey]

This is a net made with one inch mesh measuring 3 feet by three feet.  It took well over 300 feet of cordage to be able to weave just this.  The floats are Water Tupleo (from the swollen butt) and we took real plummets to attach.   Attaching the plummets was the idea of an archeologist because that was what he said they were for.   I tied the plummet by trying an overhand knot around the section with the groove (near the top of the plummet)  A light bounce on the string and the plummet was out.  So I developed a cradle to hold the plummet.  Kinda makes me wonder if that is what the natives did. If attachment was so important A) I would not use a nicely polished plummet, b) I would make something with a hole in it and be confident in it staying where I placed it.  But I was not alive back in the Archaic period so I cannot say for sure. 

Regardless it was something I wanted to share.  enjoy. 

[Pat B]

I started making a cast net years ago and never got very far...and I was using store bought materials.    I can only imaging how much work goes into a totally abo net.

[jamie]

that is so awesome. ive been asked to replicate nets several times. my answer is always no. the amount of dogbane you prepared is incredible. did you do it by hand or drop spindle.? great work

[HoBow]

That is awesome. I'm with Pat.  The idea of a project like this is nice, but I'm sure mine would never get finished      Congrats for staying with it!

[mullet]

 that look's like a heck of a lot of work. It's time consuming just repairing cast nets. The plummets I've seen used for nets all had grooves carved around one end for the cordage to lay in.

[swamp monkey]

that is so awesome. ive been asked to replicate nets several times. my answer is always no. the amount of dogbane you prepared is incredible. did you do it by hand or drop spindle.? great work

The work was all hand work.  I have not learned to do drop spindle work.  I should mention that seven of us contributed cordage to this project.  We each made bundles about 20 feet at a time.  That would fit on the weaving stick nicely without being too fat. 

If I ever did another I would go with a larger mesh size!

[Sparrow]

Wow ! Nice ! !  I am impressed. Thanks for sharing it.  '  Frank

[65x55 swedis]

   that is impressive i have made nets out of man made fibers but never tried to make it out of nettles or dogbane keep it up wish you luck

[skyarrow]

Drop spindles are easy to use and make I'm not sure how big of one you would need to make that style of cordage I have the mats to make some medium size ones. My wife and I crochet so she make some nice looking yarn from a drop spindle

[swamp monkey]

that would be interesting to learn more about.

[stickbender]

     Skyarrow; 
     How about some pictures, and instructions on your spindle?    Could you ? Hmmmm?  could you?  Hmmmm ?  huh, could you? I know it is somewhat fairly simple.  I have seen quick glimpses of them being used in films.  Thanks.

                                                                                     Wayne

[Hillbilly]

That looks great. I made a small net bag from dogbane once, so I can appreciate the work that went into it. It seemed to take forever to make enough cordage for just that small project.