Blog #9
Flax & How Linen is Made
Linen fabrics are made from the flax plant. Flax is the only natural fiber still being cultivated on a large scale in western Europe. The best flax plants are grown between Kahn in France and Amsterdam in Holland because of the climate and ideal soil conditions. The flax plant grows to be about four feet. After blooming the plants are shades of violet blue or white. The plant is harvested in July to preserve the full potential of each plant. Flax is never cut, but must be uprooted as the flax fibers are not only in the stem of the plant, but also in the roots. Harvesting is done by mechanical gruppers which pull and lay the flax plant on the fields. During the retting process, flax is exposed to moisture to break down the pectins that bind the fibers together in the stem. The flax is exposed to rain, dew, and sunshine on the fields and this is when the dying and turning process starts where they get their unique natural color. This interaction turns the flax plants regularly in order to dry and get an even retting. Then it’s removed off the field in bales.
After this they enter the mechanical stage, called scutching and hackling, where they are brought in and spun into flax yarns. Europe produces 120,000 tons of flax yarns on average. Spinning is next as they are separated by thickness and then they become soft. The weaving stage takes the flax yarns and delivers them to the weavers, where they are examined, certified, and then woven. After being woven, it’s taken to be made into a warp beam and wound up to ensure that no imperfection is detected but also to make sure that no product is improperly disposed of or wasted. Weft yarns are crossed with the warp yarns at high speeds and machines detect faults and monitor efficiency control. Mending occurs next to control the fabric has to errors or imperfections after weaving. The looms after inspection often get finished naturally to avoid breakage and keep structure. After finishing, they are rolled, which is the thorough and final stage of quality control. They also automatically package the fabrics up here after cutting them to reasonable sizes. They are then stocked or shipped to customers.
The fabrics and linens can be used for many things and in so many ways such as interior decoration, upholstery and drapery, household linen, apparel, artist canvas, and technical fabrics. For centuries, Belgian linen has had a worldwide reputation based on years of knowledge and expertise, traditional craftsmanship, and local production. The Belgian linen quality label is an internationally registered trademark. Belgian linen is known around the world as the finest available. Ecologically, flax is the most natural fiber in the world as growing flax requires no irrigation and very little use of chemicals. Every part of the plant is used as well so there is no waste and little to no negative impact on the environment. Many consider flax to be “the fiber of the future”.
ONE STEP FURTHER:
Because of how much the video talked about the environmental positives of linen and the flax plants ecological benefits, I wanted to research exactly what those were and learn more about linen and flax. The environmental positives of linen includes its natural and renewable properties, such as minimal water or pesticides for cultivation, and its biodegradability. Linen is also moth-resistant and can be used in various applications, from clothing to home furnishings. However, the negatives include its tendency to wrinkle, higher cost, and potential chemical use in production. Overall, linen is highly durable, breathable, and eco-friendly, offering comfort in various climates. It is also more sustainable.
Links:
What Are Advantages and Disadvantages of Linen? - Knowing Fabric
This is a really nice blog, Grace! It was very interesting to learn about the process of flax and how it compares to how wool is made into fabric. I thought it was very interesting how, although they are both natural fibers, the processes are very different. I especially found it interesting that flax plants are never cut, but are uprooted because the fibers are also in the roots. I also thought it was interesting how the mechanical process included scutching and hackling. I looked more in-depth at these processes and included some links I found below. Great job!
ReplyDelete-https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/flax-to-linen-breaking-and-scutching-zbcz1707/
-https://homeplaceearth.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/flax-to-linen-hackling/
Hi Grace, I really enjoyed reading your post this week. You did a great job discussing how linen is made. Your one step further section was all very educational. I loved learning more about the properties of linen. This is great to know, especially when specifying materials for upcoming projects. I was interested in comparing linen to cotton. I found a scholarly article that compares the comfort properties of linen and cotton. The conclusion of the study was that comfort properties of linen can be improved by applying enzyme and softening processes. I really hope you enjoy this article!
ReplyDeleteÖzkan, Esra Taştan. "Comparing sensorial comfort properties of cotton, cotton/linen and linen knitted fabrics." Journal of Natural Fibers 21, no. 1 (2024): 2364262.