Flax Spinning
Aperçu des sections
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Sowing:
Flax was traditionally planted in October, along with the first rains, as with all cereals. It wasn't common to sow it in spring because it is susceptible to damping-off disease. Before sowing, the farmer would mix the seeds with soil in a sack and then scatter them in the field. With this technique, they achieved uniform sowing, preventing dense plant growth!
During its growth, flax goes through various stages of development. Initially, it produces thin, shiny green leaves that later may take on a hue depending on the variety. As the plant matures, its stem becomes sturdier and taller, forming a slender, tall, and light-colored stem. This stem can be relatively thin yet resilient. Flax then develops flowers. Its blossom is small and of a light blue hue. When the wind blows, it creates beautiful undulations, resembling the sea. The people of Crete likened blooming flax to a field of the sea.
During its growth, flax can develop a stem that appears quite dense and large, especially when it reaches the final stage of its development. The root of flax is slightly thick and penetrates vertically into the soil. Besides the main root, there are also some thin hairs that extend laterally. The fruit of flax is concentrated within a small capsule that is about the size of a chickpea. Inside, the flaxseed is found, which is the seed used for the reproduction of the plant.
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Harvesting:
Flax harvesting typically occurs after the plant has dried out. Around April or May, when the flax takes on a beautiful golden hue, the harvesting process begins. Usually, the plants are cut close to the ground—essentially pulled up—because cutting them would damage the fiber.
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Flax Processing:
After pulling up the flax plants, they were bundled together, as much as could fit into the handfuls of two hands. They were lightly shaken to remove any soil from the roots, and then they were tied together with the flax itself.
Afterward, they let them dry before extracting their useful parts. Once the flax had dried well, they took each bundle and placed it with the side that had the 'heads' on top of a stone. With a wooden mallet, they lightly pounded the heads to break them and release the flaxseed. Pounding the flax to remove the seed had to be done carefully to avoid breaking and rendering it unusable.
Flax has a central woody part and an outer fibrous part. To rid it of the woody part, which is useless and can hinder the spinning process, growers submerged the flax bundles in water for 15 to 25 days until the woody bark of the flax rotted well. The soaking of flax could be done either in water tanks, rivers, or seas. They used to "stone" the flax, meaning they placed heavy stones or logs on top of it to ensure it remained submerged in water. This process, helped to separate the fibers from the woody part of the flax, making the fibers more flexible and suitable for further processing and spinning.
Then they removed them from the water and stacked them upright in the sun to dry for approximately 10 to 15 days. After drying the flax, a series of processing steps follows until only the clean fibers remain, which can then be spun into yarn.
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The tools for spinning flax are shown below:
Flax Break:
A flax breaker is a wooden tool consisting of two parts that can open and close, with grooves and teeth on the inside. This tool, also known as a flax brake or flax hatchel, is used in the processing of flax to separate the fibers from the woody core and to remove the seeds. The two parts can open to allow the worker to place the flax inside and then apply pressure to remove the seeds from the fibers. The teeth on the inside assist in removing the seeds during the breaking process.
Scutching Swords:
Wooden long sword, similar to the swords of ancient Greeks!
Flax hatchel:
A flax hatchel, also known as a flax comb or flax hackle, is a tool used in the processing of flax fibers. It consists of a wooden frame with numerous steel pins or teeth set into it. The pins are typically arranged in rows and are evenly spaced. The flax hatchel is used to comb through bundles of flax fibers, separating and straightening them while removing any remaining impurities such as bits of straw or seed fragments. This process results in smooth, uniform flax fibers that are ready for spinning into yarn or thread.
Distaff:
It was a tool about one meter in height used to secure processed flax. Initially made of wood, it later became predominantly metallic. At the top, it had two or three branches where the flax tuft was held. In Crete, it was common to use plants from the countryside as a distaff.
Spindle:
A spindle is a stick with a weighted bottom that is used to twist fibers into yarn.
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Flax Processing Stages:
1. Removal of Flax Wood:
Each bundle, thoroughly dried in the sun, was placed on a "δαγκάνα" or flax brake. By moving the jaws of the flax brake up and down with force, typically using a hammer, they broke the wooden part of the flax, allowing the majority to fall away. This stage was perhaps the most difficult and exhausting part of flax processing and may have given rise to folklore and proverbs about the suffering of flax.2. Flax Breaking:
After passing all bundles through the flax brake, the next stage was "flax breaking." Holding the "flax sword" with the right hand, they started to break the bundle of flax as it hung, until all the small pieces of the woody core were removed.3. Combing of Fibers:
Using "χερόκτενα" or hand combs, they combed the fiber strands to further thin and soften them, removing useless pieces of flax tissue, rough, and tangled fibers remaining from the previous stages. At the end of this processing stage, only the clean, equal, untangled, and strongest fibers remained.4. Winding on the Distaff:
In the next stage, the spinners wound the flax onto the distaff. Now free from any unnecessary pieces, the flax could be evenly spread around the distaff, awaiting the next phase of being turned into yarn.5. Spinning or Twisting:
Spinning was a task requiring technical skill, patience, and practical experience. It was common for experienced, usually older, women to undertake this task. They separated a quantity of flaxen wool or flax fibers, allowed it to take length, and then twisted it with their fingers to create the thread. Depending on the desired density and quality of the yarn, the spinners adjusted the amount of material they used. Gradually and steadily, the distaff diminished, and the yarn swelled around the spindle. This technique required stability and dexterity, as well as the ability to perceive differences in the thickness and quality of the yarn. The result reflected the skill and experience of the spinner, as an experienced spinner could produce finely spun, well-twisted, and uniform yarns.
After the conversion of flax fibers into threads, the weaving process on the loom would begin. In earlier times, both the warp and the weft were made from linen yarn. However, later on, hemp yarn started to be used for the warp and linen for the weft. This method resulted in what are called "linen-cotton" fabrics.
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An ancient characteristic of flax that constantly resurfaces in modern societies is its sacredness. In Egypt, there were a series of rules regarding this matter. Priests were required to dress only in linen garments, just like the deceased. The beliefs of the Egyptians that wool is impure while linen is pure were not unknown in ancient Greece but have not faded even in modern Greece. Flax, as a primordial belt, tightly embraces ancient civilizations and connects yesterday with today. For the past 10 years, the Penelope Gandhi mission of the University of Mountains revives the sacred Minoan ceremony of flax harvesting.
The Ceremony of Solidarity and Reciprocity of Flax, a ritual of gratitude towards God and nature, automatically awakens our inseparable relationship with vegetation, fertility, the ripening of fruit, and the creation of thread, instilling faith in knowledge and the continuation of creation.
This ceremony constitutes a small study, inspired by ancient Crete, which is simultaneously a modern proposal for prosperity in the future. It is a study that teaches the new generation a brave yet tranquil way of life, in harmony with nature, awakening our inseparable relationship with sowing, growth, fertility, and the fruitfulness of nature. It is a worship, a language lost in the depths of time, between myth and woman, the Great Mother.
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