From Flax to Linen

Flax was an important crop to Early Americans, although it involved at lot of work. For the best quality linen, the flax is harvested just prior to maturation. If the flax is being raised for linseed oil, then it is left in the field longer. The plant grows best in cool damp climates and isn't tolerant of extreme heat. It can be grown in many areas, however, by adjusting when it is planted. After harvesting, it is usually tied in small shocks and allowed to dry for a few weeks. Then, it's soaked in water until it begins rotting to break down the woody, outer fiber, and this causes a foul odor. The usable fibers, or straw are dried and run through something to further remove the unwanted parts.

Flax fibers are spun on a small spinning wheel like the one Rapunzel used in the fairy tale. Linen threads are fine, and if a coarser thread is needed, they can be spun again, joining the finer threads. The threads are dyed if colors are needed, and then they are woven into linen cloth on a loom. In some areas, flax and wool were mixed together to form linsey-woolsey. 

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