Retting and Nettle

[kirfkin]

I know that nettle can be processed for fiber without retting (or even threshing).

However, given how long retting can potentially take... Does retting result in more fibers, or is it simply labor saving?

[JP_Finn]

Extracting nettle fiber by hand takes considerably more active labor, and produces approximately 90% of what retted nettles would give.

[Galgana]

For players who aren't engaging in agriculture to grow fibre crops (or don't plan on stealing those crops from settlements), harvesting a stockpile of raw nettle plants is a viable strategy that guarantees you'll have the supplies to craft yarn if the need should arise during wintertime (when retting becomes impossible because of icy cold water).