How to Hand Make String From Yucca Leaves

Learn the handicraft of spinning string from a natural fiber. With a little practice you can acquire the dexterity to make a strong cord from the leaves of the yucca plant. With this skill you can make a charm or bead bracelet for someone special. This art is also a useful survival skill as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knife
• Yucca leaves at least 12 inches long
• An 18-inch x 2 1/2-inch stick
• 6-inch log
• Bucket
• Water
• Screw hook

1. Find a yucca plant and cut off several of the sword-like leaves.

2. To separate the fibers immediately, place a leaf on the log and pound the yucca leaf until you puree the entire green portion. Alternatively, place the yucca leaves in a bucket of water. Put the bucket in a warm place and let them ferment for a week or two. The yucca fibers will then separate easily from the decomposed leaves. Rinse any residue from the fiber and then hang the yucca fibers out to dry.

3. Now comes the tricky part. Gather together two bundles of 3 to 5 yucca fibers. Tie the ends of the two bundles together. Make sure that one bundle of fibers is about 3 or 4 inches longer than the other.

4. In your left hand hold the base of the “Y” where the two bundles join together. With the upper bundle of fibers draped over your right hand take the lower bundle of yucca fibers and twist them clockwise as tightly as you can between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand until they just start to kink. Then with your remaining three fingers on your right hand hold the lower ply tightly so it doesn’t untwist.

5. Now, grasp the top bundle of the yucca fibers with your right thumb and forefinger and twist these as tightly as possible until they start to kink. Release pressure slightly with your left hand until you feel the completed cord wind up counterclockwise.

6. Move your right hand up the yucca fiber bundles a couple of inches and repeat the winding steps until you get to within about 3 inches of the end of the shorter ply.

7. Overlap an additional bundle of yucca fiber on the longer leg of the “Y” and twist these together to continue producing the yucca cord. This technique allows you to add fibers to lengthen the yucca cord without reducing its strength.

8. Repeat all these steps until your cord has achieved the length you need. You can also use this cord as plies in a thicker cord using the same twisting method.

Tips & Warnings

• Change hands in the instructions if you are left handed.
• String the cord with beads or charms and offer it as a gift bracelet to someone special.
• Keeping your fingers and the fiber slightly wet aids in twisting the bundles.
• Experiment with fibers from other common plants like milkweed, dogbane, flax, cattail or coconut.
• Gather yucca leaves only with permission.
• Be careful the tips of some yucca plants are needle sharp.
• Use a knife with caution.

Resources

• Spinning and felting fibers
• Photo of yucca plant

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on 12/4/2007 Wow! There is a use for a yucca plant. ;) Seriously though, this article is really cool. I love finding articles like this one that actually teach me something. 5 stars! Please keep the articles coming!