[Artemisia] Cord Question

[Sue Clemenger]

What would they have used in period? What about something like hemp cord? or
jute? I know hemp would be appropriate; although I don't believe jute would
be, it would look less glaringly "modern," since it's a natural fiber.
You might also try something braided, or plied cable-fashion.  Or done with
a lucet--lucet cords are great for lacing things, because of the
squareness....
Heck, for that matter, depending on how long you need it to be, what about
an extra-tough, braided bootlace in a non-obnoxious color? Or some of the
cord you can get at places like Army-Navy, that's used for rock climbing and
such? They're probably all of modern manufacture, but I bet a lot of them
are abrasion-resistant, etc.  Or cord used to lace awnings into place
(*that* stuff is tough!)
--Maire

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael the Loud" <hanhebin at yahoo.com>
To: "Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list" <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 12:19 PM
Subject: [Artemisia] Cord Question


> I was making a small spring pole lathe for my desk and
> came to the point of adding cords.  Being an archer I
> first went to bowstring material as mundane
> competition bowstring doesn't stretch and is extremely
> strong however that didn't look or feel right.  I then
> tried sewing thread and that didn't hold up turning
> the wood or between the treddle arm and the pole.
>
> Does anybody have any suggestion for a fine cord
> material that looks period but strong enough to take