growing linen and spinning it

[watervole]

For some reason, all these videos are really relaxing to watch.  Enjoy!

 I found this fascinating, so some of you may too.  How to make your own linen thread from scratch - a delightful gentleman (who used to work i the linen industry and now helping at a heritage centre, shows the entire process from seed to fibre.  Pleased to say that I already knew what 'scutching' meant - I'll bet a fiver to the charity of your choice that no one else knows the possible connection between scutching and sword dancing... (it's only a possible connection, but has a little bit of plausibility)

"LINEN - Making Linen Fabric from Flax Seed - Demonstration Of How Linen Is Made" (Watch on YouTube)

Now, to spin your flax. Because flax has a very long staple, it needs less twist than wool, so the lady here is using her spindle in a way I haven't seen before.

"Spinning flax on an in-hand spindle" (Watch on YouTube)

and, finally, another lady weaving a linen tea towel (very restful to watch)

"Vera weaving linen tea towels" (Watch on YouTube)

Modern linen production (which is also quite interesting to watch)

"How Linen Is Made" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[ranunculus]

Thanks! That was really interesting. Can absolutely see myself doing every step up to the spinning part.

[watervole]

That's pretty much me!

I'd love to grow it, but the spinning looks like really hard work.

I could just see my husband making his own gadgets for scutching, etc.