Proper raffia comes from a palm tree, so you probably won't be able to grow your own. If it's only short lengths you want, you can try strips of the leaf of some sort of bulb, or a grass or reed.

Hi there C-L

Well, a palm tree . . . . some palm tree type things do grow here in west Cork, the same type that grow in Devon and other west country counties. I don't have one though! But I might look out for one around the place and see if I can get some fallen leaves. I have tried various ordinary grasses, but none of them are at all strong. Raffia is very strong, it's quite amazing stuff. I've not tried bulb leaves, and I can't think of any, that I have anyway, where the leaves seem very strong. But it's an idea, and I will keep an eye on future leaves.

Thanks!
Claire

it kind of depends what lengths you want to go to the raffia palm (Raphia farinifera) comes from madigascar so it would most likely want greenhouse conditions so its not really feasable. there are a lot of native species you can make cordage from stinging nettle, willow herb,willow or lime bark to name but a few but they are all a bit lobour intensive to make but if you are interested i can post some methods? i would go for cordyline or yucca leaves which can be torn into strips of the desired width and gently brused with a stone or hammer and then allowed to dry you dont have to bruise them but the cordage will be less supple.agave are also good if again a little more difficult to make you take a whole leaf and gently pound it until you see the fibres starting to seperate ,remove as much of the pulp as you can by gentle scraping you can then plat or twist it into string(i have only tried this once as i did'nt want to ruin my nice agaves) i have waffled on a bit but i hope this helps
steve

Hi Steve

No  not waffle at all - IÂm really interested to hear! Thinking on, you saying about nettles/willow herb etc, makes so much sense. People would have had to make string type stuff out of something in "the olden days". Whether or not I would ever have time to carry out any of the labour intensive methods IÂm really not sure (dratted job, it takes up all your time, eh?!).

But, I would be very interested to hear how you make cordage out of nettles, if you wouldnÂt mind. I would really like to give it a try, just to see. I used to do various crafts like lace making so am fairly deft with my fingers. As for agave and cordyline, I donÂt have any of those. Next time I visit my mum she has a cordyline, I will nab a leaf and try what youÂve suggested, with the gentle bruising.

Many thanks
Claire

I was thinking of cordyline too. Otherwise, have you got any phormiums? Apparently they have been used by the Maoris to make woven items so the leaves must be quite flexible.

I actually don't have anything like that in my garden, phormiums or cordylines or anything similar! But to make woven items, yes they'd have to be flexible wouldn't they. Phormiums, hmmm. I may have to get a couple! I wonder, would you use just the fresh leaves? I imagine so . . . .