Category: Flax and Linen

Sparto Weavers Spanish Broom

Sparto (Sparta) Spartium junceum also called Spanish Broom or Weavers Broom is an almost forgotten textile plant that is native to Mediterranean countries. Spanish Broom was introduced to North America and other countries where it has spread in many areas and has become a menace. However, Sparto was once a very useful textile plant. There … Continue reading “Sparto Weavers Spanish Broom”

Madder Root Dye

Madder Root Dye Recipe for Linen, Cotton and Cellulose Fibres All cellulose fibres, yarns and fabrics must be scoured prior to mordanting or dyeing. Please see my previous article on how to do this. How to Scour Linen For these samples, I used several different linen and cotton fabrics as well as wool yarn. Unbleached … Continue reading “Madder Root Dye”

Distaff Spinning

Both flax and hemp are usually sold in roving form or tow, where the flax has been heavily processed into short 2-4 inch lengths. The flax or hemp roving has often been bleached or dyed. This type of flax and hemp are quite easy to spin as a roving, using a short draw. A distaff … Continue reading “Distaff Spinning”

Spin Flora – Bamboo Top and Staple

Bamboo fibre for handspinning is now available in 2 forms – one is a smoothly combed viscose top and the other is a rougher staple fibre. These require different methods of spinning.

Flax: blclipart11

Craft clipart – flax retting, flax drying

Nettle Yarn

Did you know stinging nettles can be handspun into yarn.

linen weaving: aa022002

Examples of fine linen weaving

Peat Moss Yarn

Fabric made from peat moss, peat moss yarn.