I just found your channel! This was cool and cooler yet, you grew and processed the flax! The growing and processing is an art all in itself! Someday I will spin flax. Probably won't grow it though. Thanks for sharing!😊
Do you have a video showing your plying through water? Today was my first day spinning flax. Big learning curve! You video has helped me quite a bit! I’m spinning basically dry and short pulls. That has stopped the breakage I was experiencing. Thanks.
Ann, Yes, spinning flax is a big learning curve. I don't have the video yet but I will soon. Im actually not plying through water but I do have a wet sponge I let the fibers glide over so they get damp or wet at the point of plying. It works great. I have a bette sponge than what I used before. I just wanted to know things were going well plying with the new sponge before I film the video. It too will be a close look at plying wet. I do use saliva to dampen the fingers to get some wetting but it is mostly for creating grip on the fibers which helps pull them from the drafting triangle. Ask any question you want. If I know the answer I'll let you know and if I don't know I research and find out the answer. Hands on is the best way to know. fb.me/naturesyarn
I will do that as well. I have tried a few ways. My wife purchased me a distaff and it is one that I got to work for me. I once made a cone and then laid out the flax as seen by others then rolled the cone over the flax and then tied the top to keep the fibers held and sitting on the cone. It worked pretty good. That would be suitable for most. However my distaff has no cone or cage so I just hang it. The distaff has sections that are narrower than others and the ribbon keeps the fiber from sliding down the distaff as I spin. It is required from time to time to tighten the ribbon as the fibers get used up. I assume the laying out of fibers as shown by others is to allow the fibers to not just pull straight down but to make them run across other fibers catching them as you draft your fiber. A key component is well processed fibers. If you have fibers that are still like a ribbon rather than separate fibers you will end up with a very thick section if you happen to draft one. I try to remove any obvious ribbons of fiber as they were not well processed and will muck up a nice thin spin. If you are doing thicker thread it is not as much an issue. I spin very thin lace weight for my singles. It is important to have well processed fibers. It is a learning process. I'll show the issues as well.
Im using the linen thread for weaving but there are plenty of people who actually knit with it as well. Ive seen some pretty fine garments knitted with linen. It does not stretch like wool so Im sure knitting takes a special touch and technique.
it might be "slow fashion" but it is totally yours from start to end. I would love to try the whole process at some point.
Yes this is the very definition of slow fashion! Shirt grown and made completely from scratch. I want to try this one day
I just found your channel! This was cool and cooler yet, you grew and processed the flax! The growing and processing is an art all in itself! Someday I will spin flax. Probably won't grow it though. Thanks for sharing!😊
This is fascinating thank you for showing this!
Love your content👍😊.
Do you have a video showing your plying through water? Today was my first day spinning flax. Big learning curve! You video has helped me quite a bit! I’m spinning basically dry and short pulls. That has stopped the breakage I was experiencing. Thanks.
Ann, Yes, spinning flax is a big learning curve. I don't have the video yet but I will soon. Im actually not plying through water but I do have a wet sponge I let the fibers glide over so they get damp or wet at the point of plying. It works great. I have a bette sponge than what I used before. I just wanted to know things were going well plying with the new sponge before I film the video. It too will be a close look at plying wet. I do use saliva to dampen the fingers to get some wetting but it is mostly for creating grip on the fibers which helps pull them from the drafting triangle. Ask any question you want. If I know the answer I'll let you know and if I don't know I research and find out the answer. Hands on is the best way to know. fb.me/naturesyarn
Nice!
Very interesting, I hope to try this sometime!
Next question as this is so helpful, what about a video on loading a distaff? There is so much varied information. What works for you?
I will do that as well. I have tried a few ways. My wife purchased me a distaff and it is one that I got to work for me. I once made a cone and then laid out the flax as seen by others then rolled the cone over the flax and then tied the top to keep the fibers held and sitting on the cone. It worked pretty good. That would be suitable for most. However my distaff has no cone or cage so I just hang it. The distaff has sections that are narrower than others and the ribbon keeps the fiber from sliding down the distaff as I spin. It is required from time to time to tighten the ribbon as the fibers get used up. I assume the laying out of fibers as shown by others is to allow the fibers to not just pull straight down but to make them run across other fibers catching them as you draft your fiber. A key component is well processed fibers. If you have fibers that are still like a ribbon rather than separate fibers you will end up with a very thick section if you happen to draft one. I try to remove any obvious ribbons of fiber as they were not well processed and will muck up a nice thin spin. If you are doing thicker thread it is not as much an issue. I spin very thin lace weight for my singles. It is important to have well processed fibers. It is a learning process. I'll show the issues as well.
Is the spun flax only used for weaving?
Im using the linen thread for weaving but there are plenty of people who actually knit with it as well. Ive seen some pretty fine garments knitted with linen. It does not stretch like wool so Im sure knitting takes a special touch and technique.