People in Scarborough urged to help revive process of turning flax to linen

Coast and Vale Community Action is looking to start an experiment in April

Author: Karen LiuPublished 14th Feb 2022

People in Scarborough are being asked to take part in an experiment of growing flax and then turning it into linen.

Coast and Vale Community Action is hoping to revive the process in April and it is giving away packets of the seeds.

It says the knowledge and skills required to grow and process flax to turn it into textile are still around but they are in danger of dying out.

David Stone, who is from the charity, said:

"As we're trying to work out the circular economy in Scarborough, what better way of doing that than seeing if we can actually produce materials that has an use in our lives that won't be relying on outside companes, won't be producing anything that's detrimental to the environment and just having fun during the process.

"I mean growing the flax is just the first step, after that there are several different steps which includes drying it, breaking the fibre and getting the fibre out. There are people who know how to do this stuff but that's the whole point, we'll learn as a bunch of people who just interested in this idea."

CaVCA is urging people to only ask for seeds if they are committed to doing their very best to produce a good crop and then getting involved in the processes to produce linen.

The charity would also love to hear from people who are interested in spinning, weaving and making the tools used in the linen-making process.

Anyone who is interested can contact David on 07799 646300 or email david.stone@cavca.org.uk

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