In a message dated 11/17/2004 5:01:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I've also heard that the specially cultivated long thin flax varieties were lost when farmers stopped growing them. So, even a hobbyist can not, today, grow a patch of it for self use. Lacemakers who visit Belgium should put the Flax Museum on a list of important places to visit. This museum is in the city of Courtrai, an important market town west of Brussels . There you can see the entire historic process of making linen thread, starting with large scale pictures of women and children on their hands and knees sowing the tiny flax seeds. The plants were indeed planted close to each other and staked in order for them to grow tall. Only tall plants were allowed to grow-- small ones were removed, so there was a gradual culitvation of taller plants. When the stalks were harvested, they were 'retted' , that is, soaked in the river Lis that runs through that part of the country, The river water is said to have the perfect qualities to soften the fibers. After soaking, the stalks are beaten to remove the hard outer covering and soften the. inner parts, Alll these procedures are depicted in tableau scenes of life-size figures of workers dressed in authentic old clothing.using antique tools. The scenes show exactly how the flax fibers are turned into rope, cords, and finally the very fine thread for making lace.
Elaine Merritt The Lace Museum 552 South Murphy Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
