“Flax to Linen, Seed to Fibre” - Online course
Welcome to our online course "Flax to Linen, Seed to Fibre", where we will teach you to grow and process your linen fibre!
Linen is a natural textile fibre that humans have grown and used for thousands of years. Still, in recent decades, knowledge of producing this fibre on a sustainable small scale has slowly diminished and almost disappeared.
By creating this course, we hope to make this knowledge accessible to a new generation. In it, you'll find comprehensive guides, step-by-step instructions, and videos of the entire process.
From selecting flax varieties to cultivating and harvesting, our step-by-step guides will teach you to grow and process flax to linen in your farm, backyard or community garden.
Let's start!
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About GatewayCrafts
GatewayCrafts is an Erasmus+ project proposed by Saber Fazer, with CRU Creative Hub and Materahub as partners. Learn more about our project.
GatewayCrafts is an Erasmus+ project proposed by Saber Fazer, with CRU Creative Hub and Materahub as partners. Learn more about our project.
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About this course and how to use it
Before starting, let us tell you why we created this course and how to use it!
Before starting, let us tell you why we created this course and how to use it!
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Linum usitatissimum - the most useful
What’s in a name? The scientific name of the flax plant - Linum usitatissimum - meaning “the most useful”- encapsulates its longstanding utility and importance throughout the ages.
What’s in a name? The scientific name of the flax plant - Linum usitatissimum - meaning “the most useful”- encapsulates its longstanding utility and importance throughout the ages.
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What does the flax plant look like? What is it made of? How does it grow?
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Flax cultural varieties
Did you know that there are thousands of different flax plants? Let’s learn about the different varieties so that you choose the right one for your crop.
Did you know that there are thousands of different flax plants? Let’s learn about the different varieties so that you choose the right one for your crop.
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The Linen fibre
Linen is what we are looking to get out of this. Let’s learn about some of linen’s characteristics.
Linen is what we are looking to get out of this. Let’s learn about some of linen’s characteristics.
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What Flax needs - Cultural conditions
Flax is quite an easy crop to grow but only if you know the plant’s needs and preferences in advance.
Flax is quite an easy crop to grow but only if you know the plant’s needs and preferences in advance.
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Which flax seed? Choosing your flax variety
Before you start, you must make the right choice regarding the flax variety to use.
All flaxseed looks very similar from the outside, but as you know now, different varieties will give you different results.Before you start, you must make the right choice regarding the flax variety to use.
All flaxseed looks very similar from the outside, but as you know now, different varieties will give you different results. -
Conditions, materials and equipment - everything you need to start
Let’s take a moment to check all the conditions and list the tools you’ll need to grow and process your flax.
Let’s take a moment to check all the conditions and list the tools you’ll need to grow and process your flax.
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When to start - choosing the right time to sow your flax
The day we select to do the flax sowing is one of the most important days of the process, as it will mark the beginning of the cycle. So, how do we choose the right time to sow our flaxseed?
The day we select to do the flax sowing is one of the most important days of the process, as it will mark the beginning of the cycle. So, how do we choose the right time to sow our flaxseed?
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Your Seed to Fibre timeline
When should you start? How long does it take? This timeline will help you understand the timings of flax growth and processing.
When should you start? How long does it take? This timeline will help you understand the timings of flax growth and processing.
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Phase 01 - Soil preparation
Soil preparation is one of the most important phases when producing linen fibre. Let’s get it right.
Soil preparation is one of the most important phases when producing linen fibre. Let’s get it right.
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Phase 02 - Sowing
There are a few points to consider when sowing flax: plant density and technique. Let’s see how it is done.
There are a few points to consider when sowing flax: plant density and technique. Let’s see how it is done.
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Phase 03 - Flax growth cycle
Watching your flax plants grow is the easy part! Let us show you how your plants will grow and develop before harvest.
Watching your flax plants grow is the easy part! Let us show you how your plants will grow and develop before harvest.
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Phase 04 - Harvesting
Approaching the end of its cycle, our flax crop should be completely mature. It should have lost its green colour and taken on a more yellowish hue. It’s time to harvest.
Approaching the end of its cycle, our flax crop should be completely mature. It should have lost its green colour and taken on a more yellowish hue. It’s time to harvest.
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How to collect your flaxseed
You will need the seed for next year’s crop, so let us show you how to collect your flaxseed.
You will need the seed for next year’s crop, so let us show you how to collect your flaxseed.
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Phase 05 - Retting
Before we can obtain and process our linen fibre, we have to put our flax through the retting process, separating the textile fibre from the woody core.
Before we can obtain and process our linen fibre, we have to put our flax through the retting process, separating the textile fibre from the woody core.
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Let’s dry our retted flax before proceeding to the next phase.
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Phase 07 - Breaking
To extract the fibre, we will need to break the stalks. The woody part will break into small pieces by the action of a flax break, but the long and flexible fibres remain intact.
To extract the fibre, we will need to break the stalks. The woody part will break into small pieces by the action of a flax break, but the long and flexible fibres remain intact.
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Phase 08 - Scutching
Scutching is how we separate the fibres from the wood shives, obtaining long linen fibres.
This process can be done by hand, using a wooden scutching knife, or with a scutching machine (scutcher).Scutching is how we separate the fibres from the wood shives, obtaining long linen fibres.
This process can be done by hand, using a wooden scutching knife, or with a scutching machine (scutcher). -
Phase 09 - Heckling
Heckling is the final step in linen fibre production and consists of combing the linen fibres. After heckling, fibres will be aligned and clean, ready to be spun into yarn.
Heckling is the final step in linen fibre production and consists of combing the linen fibres. After heckling, fibres will be aligned and clean, ready to be spun into yarn.
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Who made this course?
What you will find in this course
- 20 lessons to teach you how to grow and process your linen fibre from seed
- Instructive videos for each phase of production
- Step-by-step clear instructions with high-quality images
- Downloadable resources that you can keep forever
- Useful resources to expand your knowledge beyond this course
FAQ
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Our online courses are available on our e-learning platform and are always accessible through our website. To access the course, just head over to the course's page and sign up. You will then receive an email to confirm your registration and will have full access to the course.
The course contents are available on any device: computer, tablet or phone.
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No, you can use a phone or a tablet to access our courses.
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GatewayCrafts online courses are forever free. This includes all its online and downloadable materials.
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Yes! Our online courses are always available on our platform, which means you can access at any time, anywhere in the world.
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Both GatewayCrafts online courses include videos, comprehensive guides with step-by-step instructions, and downloadable resources that you can print out and keep forever to help you during your learning process.
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The GatewayCrafts online courses were created by Saber Fazer in partnership with CRU Creative Hub and Materahub.
These courses were created as part of the GatewayCrafts Erasmus+ project. A project that consists of preparing pilots to facilitate access to technical knowledge in small-scale manufacturing and artisan work.
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You can send us an email to gatewaycraftsproject@gmail.com. We'll be happy to help you with everything we can!