Linen Flashcards
Why’s type of fibre is linen and where does it come from
It is a natural fibre and comes from the flax plant
Why is it an expensive fibre?
It is not grown widely and it is time consuming to produce
What type of soil are flax seed grown in
in good soil and germinate and grow quickly, about 100 days to maturity.
How high do the plants grow
1.2 metres high
What color are their flowers
blue or white and each flower only blooms for one day. After the flowers dry and fall off
When the flowers fall off what are you left with
roundish pods which contain the flax seeds.
What happens when the flax plants are ready for harvesting
they are pulled right out of the ground together with the roots as the long fibres extend into the roots. The pods with the seeds and the leaves are removed
Before the fibres can be extracted from the stems what process do they have to go through ?
Retting
What happens during retting?
The plants are placed in ponds of pure unchlorinated water
How long does retting last?
They lie in the water for a number of days till the outer layers of the stems soften and the fibres within can be extracted. If the flax is grown in areas where there is a good rainfall the plants are just laid in the fields for the rain and dew to effect the retting process.
Hat is scrutching?
This is where the thick woody outer layers of the stems are broken in order to remove the flax fibres within.
Why does scrutching have to be done carefully
So that it does not to damage the flax fibres
What is hackling?
This is where the fibres are combed to make them smooth and parallel to each other. The short fibres are usually separated from the long fibres
Why is the yarn smooth
Because the flax fibres are long
What happens to the residue?
The flax seeds which are separated from the plants are eaten by man, sometimes sprinkled over muesli or used in smoothies. They are beneficial to the health. They can also be crushed and the oil extracted. The oil is called linseed oil and is used in paints and varnishes.. The residue is protein rich and used as animal fodder.
