Workshops at flaxland in Stroud  with Simon & Ann  (experienced growers, processing and spinning since 2008)

see bottom of page for travelling and large groups 

Discover Britain's Forgotten Crop    at Flaxland Stroud

- one day growing processing course.

Our base course and most popular, with lots of hands on activity, is an introduction to the flax, its history, uses and future. You will learn how to grow, ret and process flax into yarn ready for weaving, knitting, crochet, twine or rope making.

 Using hand tools learning the art of breaking, scutching and hackling flax, dressing a distaff with long fibres.    Introduction to spinning on a drop spindle. Using shorter fibres to create twine. The uses of flax seed. In season trip to flax fields.

The course is ideal for those wanting to grow flax in their own gardens as well as individuals or groups seeking to set up fibre based projects of their own.

Processing hemp and nettles are worked in the same way. 10.00 am - 4.00 pm group size 1-5 - larger groups please contact to discuss. £75 per person inc materials. Tea and coffee supplied, please bring your own lunch local food is available.

Program

Arrive 9.45 for 10 am start introduction about flaxland

Fibre twisting from distaff

History of flax growing, future of linen in the UK

Dual use of flax for seed and fibre (linseed/flax comparisons)

Growing, sowing, care of harvest and retting a crop

Coffee Break

Processing flax by hand on bench and outside with

traditional tools.

Breaking, scutching, hackling

Lunch

Breaking and scutching fibres with traditional tools  opportunity to work with our hand cranked rotor break and scutching machines which are designed to be gentle on the fibres and minimise the amount of broken fibres

Preparing longline and short fibres for spinning dressing distaff for spinning.

Hackling dutch scutched flax for longline and tow making flax sliver

Introduction to methods of use of drop spindle or wheel

Making a thick twine.

4.00 ends              

Note: craft, light activity handling dried straw,

Some dust when scutching and hackling - masks supplied if requested.    

Flax Spinning    one day for beginners and experienced

This is intended for those who have been on the growing processing course,  spinners seeking further knowledge with  long and short fibres   also for those who have never spun before.  The aim of the course is that participants will learn or gain further confidence in flax spinning on a wheel.

Last winter we installed a small water wheel in the stream adjacent to the studio. We are spinning flax with water powered electric spinners as well as the conventional wheel, a great wheel and drop  spindles.

The great advantage of the water powered spinner, particularly for beginners, is that we can teach drawing and spinning fibres without the need for students to learn to treadle a wheel at the same time.

Water powered spinning is controlled with a simple on/off foot switch so the spinner can concentrate fully on spinning and not have to worry about maintaining direction and speed of spinning as with the treadled wheel. Once a spinner has gained confidence in making a yarn they can then learn how to spin an the conventional  treadle wheel.

We are pleased we have a high success rate with our methods.

We run the course with up to 5 people with 5 electric spinners and 5+ spinning wheels so there is no need to share. Students are welcome to bring their own wheels.

You will learn final hackling for long line spinning, dressing  both a cone and lantern type distaff, flax spinning on a treadle wheel, preparing flax tow and spinning. Identify twist direction, understand yarn count (thickness).Practice with long-line, Dutch or English fibres.

£75 per person includes materials and tea/coffee but please bring your own lunch

Program 9.45 start at 10 am

Setting up spinning wheels first practice session twist direction

Dress cone distaff more practice twist per inch

Coffee

Understanding yarn thickness and further spinning sessions

Hackling for long fibre sorting into short medium tow. How to spin tow. Short fibre flax wool blends

Lunch

Afternoon

Spinning practice tuition, option of three types of distaff

Using sliver distaff

4pm finish

Combined 2 day growing processing spinning

Covering all aspects of flax growing, processing and spinning suits beginners or those wishing to gain more experience - a combination of the  two one day courses with the aim that you will go away able to use your own grown flax to spin long line flax fibres on a wheel.

 £150 pp

Travelling workshops for groups and community projects

 Group workshops at your venues for 10 to 20 people

We are now able to offer a one day travelling group workshop at your venue, this is ideal for community based projects, city farms,

spinning and weaving groups or schools and colleges.

Designed for beginners and those with some knowledge lots of hands on using your own crop or we can bring materials.

Typical day

Introductions - what is flax - its many uses - flax's multiple benefits to individuals and the planet - history and future of flax in the UK.

 Demo how to sow, grow, harvest and ret flax. Workshop  hands on sessions - harvesting the seeds, processing the straw, extracting fibres  - breaking -scutching - hackling -  make a twist of flax to take home or use. Dressing  a distaff introduction to drop spindle to spin line, twisting tow (short fibres)

to make a garden twine.

Contact us for details and terms