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This information is reprinted from the Beginner Topics
column of Hand Papermaking Newsletter #61 (January, 2003).
To learn how to order Hand Papermaking bi-annual magazine
and quarterly newsletter, click
here.
Making Paper from Milkweed
If you read this in January and the weather where you are
brings snow and ice, you may wonder why my topic relates to
natural fibers. I admit to a strange passion: milkweed. And
I love to process it in Winter.
This common plant (Asclepias speciosa) provides
the willing papermaker with a ready source of bast fiber.
Milkweed is easily identifiable from mid-season on by the
bulbous pods and the stems that exude a "milky" white,
sticky sap. When processed, the stems of the plant produce a
beautiful paper which varies in color and texture according
to the season of its harvest. Collecting the milkweed stalks
in winter means the retting and cooking procedures are
lessened. The weather eases the work of the papermaker.
The simple preparation measures used for milkweed may be
used for other common annual and perennial plants. The only
caution is to be certain you know your plant, as parts of
some plants are poisonous.
Five pounds of collected stems will yield about one-half
pound of "paper" fiber. The stems should be soaked until
they feel slightly soft and the fiber peels away. This could
be three weeks to two months (longer for early summer
harvests). To speed this process, a small amount of septic
tank enzyme may be added to the soaking pot. When soft, the
stalks should be thoroughly rinsed and the fiber stripped
from the core of the plant. This will be almost unnecessary
for Winter harvested fiber.
Next the fiber is placed in an enamel cook pot
(inexpensive in hardware and farm stores). The fibers are
covered with cold water and one-half to three-quarter cup of
caustic is added. Caustic may be soda ash, lye, wood ash, or
lime. Soda ash is most commonly used and is available from
papermaking suppliers. Cooking should be done in an open
area and all tools used to stir fibers should be wood or
enamel.
After four to six hours of cooking the fiber is soft and
can be easily pulled apart. It should be thoroughly rinsed.
The fiber can then be pounded with a wooden mallet or
processed in a kitchen blender. The processed fiber is ready
when a small amount of fiber placed in a jar of water, and
given a shake, looks like a cloud. The fiber is then added
to a vat (dish pan or shallow plastic tray) in a ratio of
approximately one-third cup of fiber to four cups of water.
Sheets may be formed using a Western or an Eastern sheet
forming technique.
A formation aid may be added to the vat. Formation aid
may be purchased from papermaking suppliers. It may also be
produced using cut pieces of okra placed in a sieve and
soaked. The resulting "goo" is added to the vat in small
amounts to help the sheet form easily. A thinner, more even
sheet may be produced this way.
I hope you have a bountiful winter harvest and enjoy the
beautiful silk-like quality in your finished sheets.
Copyright 2003 Hand Papermaking, Inc.
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