Abaca Twine: Two-Ply Reverse Wrap from Manila Hemp

Abaca, Manila hemp, is a banana plant whose leaf-sheath fibre is stronger than hemp and stands up to salt water, which is why ships' ropes were made of it. Its fibres are 1.8 to 3.7 metres long, so a twine twisted from them needs few splices. This twine is made by the same two-ply reverse wrap as our bark rope. The picture: abaca fibre drying on a line among the plants, Costa Rica.