How to Process Kudzu for Spinning & Weaving

Gather the longest vines you can find. Cut the vines with a very sharp machete or heavy-duty tree pruning knife, strip the vines of all leaves and wind the vines into a coil. Tie the cut coils of kudzu vine to prevent unwinding during transport.

Uncoil the vine bundle and lay the vine out on a wooden cutting board or block. Cut the vine lengthwise into strips with a very sharp knife, cutting the strips pencil-thick and up to 15 feet long.

Coil or bundle the strips of vine so that they will fit into a large kettle. Cover with water and bring to a boil. When the water reaches the boiling point, turn the temperature down and simmer for 2 hours. Turn off the heat and allow the kettle to cool. After the kettle has cooled, set it aside outdoors for 5 to 7 days. The liquid foams and ferments, presenting a strong, rather unpleasant odor. After the fermentation process, drain and discard the liquid. Repeatedly rinse the coils with cool water. When the coils are adequately rinsed, they will smell like fresh cut hay, earthy and green.

Open the bundles and spread out the vines. Peel the bark off of the vines and separate the fiber strands. Rinse the fiber strands again and hang on a rack to dry.

Use the kudzu fibers as the weft on hemp, cotton, linen or flax warp to make table runners, mats and purses and totes, or spin them into yarn.