Making your own paper is one of those crafts that feels like magic the first time it works, and hemp makes an especially strong, durable sheet. All you really need is a mold and deckle and a blender. Here’s how to do it at home.
What you’ll need
- Hemp fibers (cotton or flax work too)
- Water
- A blender or food processor
- A mold and deckle, or a frame fitted with screen or mesh
- A press or rolling pin
- A drying rack or flat surface
Preparing the fibers
Start with fibers that have had their outer bark stripped away and been dried. You can buy these from a supplier, or harvest your own by cutting hemp stalks and stripping off the outer bark.
Once your fibers are ready, blend them into a pulp using a blender or food processor. Add a little water to help everything mix into a uniform consistency. To soften stubborn fibers, you can also cook them first in an alkaline solution, which is as simple as stirring some baking soda into water.
Forming the sheet
Now you’ve got pulp. Mix it with more water to make a loose slurry, then pour it onto your screen or mold. Set the mold in a vat of water and let the water drain through the screen; what’s left behind is a thin, even layer of fiber. Repeat until you reach the thickness you want.
If you don’t have a proper mold and deckle, an old picture frame works. Just swap the glass for screen or mesh. Set the frame on a flat surface like a table or counter, pour the pulp over it, and use a press or rolling pin to spread the pulp evenly across the surface.
Releasing and drying
Once the pulp is spread evenly, carefully lift the frame and flip it to release the new sheet. If it sticks, gently tap the mold to loosen it.
Lay the sheet on a drying rack or flat surface. To speed things up and pull out excess water, press it between layers of fabric with your press or rolling pin. After the paper is fully made, it’s often pressed and dried between alternating layers of cloth.
When the sheet is dry, you’ve got hemp paper. Repeat the whole process for as many sheets as you like.
The bottom line
Making paper with a mold and deckle is a fun, rewarding project, and it lets you create your own unique sheets from hemp or other fibers. With a little practice, you’ll be turning out paper that’s strong, durable, and sustainable. And if all of this sounds like more than you’re up for, we sell hemp paper ready to go.