Flax Spinning
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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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