The concept of using the common stinging nettle to make clothes comes from fairy tales and folklore, archaeology, historical fact, and anecdotal evidence. It is easy to make inaccurate assumptions about when, where and how this book took place because so little is known about these customary practices. This book brings together as much evidence as possible in order to show how nettle fibre was used in many countries around the world from the earliest times up until the Second World War, and with an acknowledgement of the current revival of interest.
The third edition includes further examples of nettle fibre use uncovered by archaeological investigations and historical documents and includes a special section on Allan Brown's recently created Nettle Dress.