FLax Field to Linen Fabric
Building D
Saturday

Cathleen Jackson

Check out this demonstration of making linen out of flax..

Their demonstration is based on the old Finnish way of processing flax; much of the equipment they use is old or a reproduction of an old piece.

The process begins with the planting of the seed, followed by the flax harvesting. After drying, a flax “brake” is used to crush the straw and release the fibers. The fibers are then “scutched” using a wooden knife to remove the remnants of the hard pithy core from the fibers. The long fibers are combed (hackled) to put them in alignment and remove the short fibers (tow). Once combed, the flax is ready to be spun into linen thread (or yarn).

In most languages, a single word is used to refer to the flax, whether in the field or as a completed garment. In English, however, it is flax until it is spun into thread, when it then is referred to as linen.

They complete the process by weaving a small piece of cloth using some of their handspun flax.