51 Yarns — 9: Spinning Bast (Flax)

This week it's "Bast" and having spun my first sample of flax, I'll show you the tips and tricks I learned along with some of the resources I found useful. Saffy and Dexter are back and causing chaos, although I have to applaud their comic timing!

*****CORRECTION!*****
It turns out banana fibre *is* counted as bast. My mistake!

Next week's spinalong topic (starting Monday 4th June) is "Semi-Worsted". Hope to see you again then!

[sharoncarpenter]

Always believed spinning flax was very hard. Watching you has made me want to try it.

[graceswan]

I found this video because I heard that some of the oldest woven fabrics we have were made from oak bast! Oak trees! So here I am learning about types of bast.

I've also made my own yarn from rose stems before so I wonder whether that would be considered bast. It was a bit of a fail though because I didn't know what I was doing, but I still used it to tie things like how you could use twine

[onegreenev]

My initial desire to learn spinning was from wanting to learn about flax and other fibers used to make clothing. But in order to learn how to spin flax I figured I should learn how to spin period. Meaning I should learn to spin wool yarn. So off I went knee deep and then just dove head long into this. I have two wheels, 5 fleece and one completed project. Lots of samples and getting a solid feel of the process of spinning. Youtube has become my friend. Google has become my friend to find articles on cleaning, spinning and where to find things. My first attempt to spin flax was with flax tow. Not the first type of flax fiber you want to learn with. I began by growing a 20x20 plot and am now ready to break the plants into fiber after retting. Heading out to Chico Flax to get a tour of the facility in Chico California. I intent to make an article of clothing from this project. From seed to finished piece of clothing. Starting out well. Thanks a bunch for your video on this. Every little bit helps for those interested in Bast Fibers.

[hazeluzzell]

I believe that flax naturally ‘curls’ anti clockwise, and hemp ‘curls’ clockwise. That is how textile experts can tell which is which in archaeological textiles.

[abittwisted]

Dampened fingers help give grip as you pull fiber for spinning. I feel it is more or less used for grip vs getting wet. I use a wet sponge to wet the fibers when I finish ply the thread.

[jenm]

That was so funny 😅😅😅 your cats I mean. The rest of your content is fascinating!

[remembrancespottery]

Incidentally, I had to give a little chuckle when you were talking about the distaff on some antique wheels. I spin on an antique with no distaff (it's what was in my budget when I first bought a wheel) and in the last month, TWO of my sons' friends (18 year old males, mind you) have looked at it and said "where's the sharp bit you can poke your finger on like in the disney movie?". HAHAHA. I was actually surprised they at least knew what it was for, in today's technology-based kids.

[rebekkah]

Thanks for this (and all) episode! As a weaver, this appeals to me. Perhaps more than cotton, in part because it looks like it's a lot easier to master an even, smooth yarn with flax than with cotton. I have visited a weaving studio on a local studio tour that hosts a maker who has a flax project. I believe it involves every step of the process, and might involve a book at the end. In any case, every time I visit they have handwoven linen towels on display and sale, and it is amazing to feel how well linen woven improve with age. They start out scratchy and stiff, and after a year of use are soft, flexible, and extremely absorbent. I think I'm going to have to weave more with linen, and then perhaps work my way up to spinning with it.

[pjd]

Love your kitties, they are beautiful! Great job on the series too, very interesting!

[robinmccamont]

Great podcast, Becks!!! I learned quite a bit from this one (mind you, I generally learn something from each of your podcasts!) Thanks for taking the time to do this series of podcasts. For a relatively "newbie" spinner, I always look forward to all of your podcasts, and watch them as soon as they pop up in my queue. Your cats are adorable (even though they are somewhat mischievous!) Take care...!

[remembrancespottery]

Becks! THANK YOU! This was a faulous episode (as usual). Spinning flax is something that has always been in the back of my mind since I started spinning. I did try to plant a tiny patch of seeds once, but didn't get a harvest. I have since watched a few videos and learned some helpful hints to try again next summer. I so badly want to go from seed to garment, no matter how long it takes me. We have a fiber festival in October about 2 hours from where I live. For the past few years I have been a vendor, so I haven't had a chance to look there for flax fiber (it's a proper fiber festival with straight from the farm fleeces of all types, mixed with indie dyers and spinning, rug hooking, etc) but I think it's my best bet for finding some in person so I can touch it and feel it and get a look at the quality before buying some, so this year I am attending as "just" a buyer and flax is my #1 priority. I have to say, I usually watch podcasts while working, but for this one, I dropped everything and put you on the full screen. It was positively mesmerizing to watch those tiny strands go in. You have me super excited to give it a go.

[sharoncarpenter]

Every person I have met have said that flax is very difficy

[WistfulCreative]

Thank you for the great video...I must have a strick because my fibers are all in line and smooth? Love the cats, what breed are they?

[frederiquehinse]

What spinning wheel is that? I would like to know where to purchase one. Thank you!