Today we visited the Flax Studio where our teacher showed us some of the properties of flax and the process of transforming it from a stiff piece of flax to something resembling a thread.

 

Many tools are used in this process.

For example, tools to beat the flax to remove the husk; 

tools to comb the flax neatly; 

tools to wind the flax to collect it, and so on. 

 

Some of these were handmade by the teacher himself, and I love that. Often the tools you make yourself are more satisfying.

 

We also visited the raw materials and process of linen dyeing, which uses natural substances to extract the colours and is more environmentally conscious.

 

The reason I didn't choose flax for my stuff is that the way it's moulded is usually through weaving, which takes a lot of time and effort, and I don't think this is a very good way to mould it.