Spinning flax on an in-hand spindle

[@PG-wz7by]

When you spread the flax, I truly understood the term 'flaxen hair'.

[@szebibi]

Exactly my thought :)

[@barbararickman8543]

Can you do this with wool as well or is it wound onto a distaff differently? I have grown some flax and will process it this spring as the equipment is being made. I saw someone in another video on the floor doing this same thing, but your way looks much more comfortable. My knees do not much like the floor anymore.

[@josefinwaltin]

@@barbararickman8543 The wool would be dressed on the distaff differently. I hand-card batts and put them next to each other, slightly overlapping and in two or three layers. Then I roll them onto the distaff so that the direction of the fibers are perpendicular to the direction of the distaff.

[@Irish_Lass2024]

Had the same thought. :)

[@RM-fs8ub]

Me too...here in Africa.

[@jorgecalero6325]

Thank you for your work on these videos. I am a huge fan of practical history lessons, re-enactments and cultural preservation. We would lose so much if people like you did not keep the old traditions and methods alive.

[@944gemma]

I so agree. Forgotten knowledge is a sad thing.

[@michaelkaiser1864]

Truth!

[@jchollingsworth1389]

JUST A BIG "THANK YOU" I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON SPINNING FLAX UNTIL I SAW THE WAY YOU OPENED IT AND PUT IT ON THE DISTAF. UP TILL NOW I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BAFFELED. SPINNING FLAX JUST NEVER SEEMED TO HAPPEN FOR ME. THANK YOU AGAIN.

[@josefinwaltin]

That is lovely! Thank you for sharing your experience. 🌸

[@petersiliekrause2203]

I finally got, how Rumpelstilzchen could spin flax into gold. One must become almost 50 years old, to comprehend fairy tales. Thanks for enlightening me, and keep up your beautiful work. Regards from Germany

[@josefinwaltin]

Petersilie Krause Danke!

[@murieldenoixeaton8994]

Nah... I am 66 and believe me, you'll have other great discoveries, and I still expect the same for me!

[@onegreenev]

Grow the flax, harvest, process and spin into thread. Weave into cloth, sell the cloth for gold. That is how you spin straw into gold.

[@flamingpieherman9822]

It is ironic that you're taught all these fairy tales when you're young and when you get old you appreciate them what they really are

[@janinedear-barlow]

Have a look at Jon solos videos about fairytales. So interesting. You'll learn a lot more.

[@robertlombardo8437]

Thank you for your help. All of this is very applicable to my fiber of choice, desert agave. It grows in abundance where I live, mostly as decorative plants or in the wild. I hope one day I can make an outfit with it. Or maybe a little blanket for my first child.

[@lynnemartin2291]

What an amazing process. Linen is one of the most beautiful and durable fabrics. I can appreciate it so much more after watching the amount of work and skill goes into it. Thank you for teaching all of us about this fascinating craft.

[@loveeveryone8057]

Thank you so much for the upload. ...I have always wondered how this process was done and how it worked...... Very much appreciated....the light you share with others.

[@josefinwaltin]

VitaLux IUC Thank you! 🌸

[@grahamsengineering.2532]

Truly amazing old world skills.

[@ajessm]

There should be more videos like this to watch. It's teaching a skill which might otherwise be lost. It's also one of the most peaceful and relaxing videos on KZbin. Well done. Subscribing now.

[@cecipasttenseseesaw]

Fantastic video ! I was looking for something that vaugely showed the process, and this showed in it detail and answered questions I didn’t know I had ! Very thorough while still being accessible to laypeople :)

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@georgetempest9627]

I am amazed, I love watching anything about old craftsmanship. Thanks for the upload.

[@debbieb4252]

Your videos are so calming and instructive. I learn something from each one, and I am a seasoned spinner of many years. Thank you!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you Debbie, that means a lot to me.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

I am absolutely fascinated about this technology. When I think about all of the steps involved in the cultivation of flax, the processing of the plant fibers, then the spinning, and the weaving, my mind is blown. Our ancestors were geniuses. No wonder it took a thousand years to perfect it. They worked so hard to make a better world for their children. And they succeeded. We are their children and our lives are SO much easier. We need to be more grateful for the foundation they built for us. I'm SO grateful that these methods were preserved for us to appreciate.

[@josefinwaltin]

Yes, we have so much to learn!

[@glowilk5377]

This is the best demo on how to dress a distaff. No chatter. Great camera work, precise instructions. I cannot wait to get into rhe stricks that have been in storage. Now, on to finishing the two ply....

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you for this constructive feedback! :D

[@barbararickman8543]

I also have flax that I got almost 8 years ago and may try your method. Just now getting to learn how to weave flax. Grew some last year but it needs processing.

[@get-the-lead-out.4593]

Good ol' ways of the good ol' days If only each generation was responsible to keep the traditions taught to them by their parents, what a calmer and genuinely more enjoyable life we would all live now a days

[@juliajs1752]

"and use a longer ribbon" That was a nice giggle :) Thank you for the video, it'll help me a lot getting my flax spun properly!

[@ilanasharon30]

It's such a peaceful video, full of harmony and joy. Looks like this beautiful woman found the balance between chaos and Mama Nature.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! Spinning does bring me balance.

[@ilanasharon30]

@@josefinwaltin Spinning is a meditation and very creative process. Thank you for your response and shearing the video.

[@dinkburns6883]

Helpful video. How many people know how to flax dress a distaff?? Flax is a tricky fibre. The music is perfect for the presentation. Better than words.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 😊

[@rapunzeleh546]

beautiful that these crafts are being kept alive... with all that finger twiddling, you must have a handshake like Lou Ferrigno!

[@janinedear-barlow]

Or carpal tunnel.

[@sherynhodes7201]

THANK YOU I've been trying to find good directions for spinning vegy fiber on a distaff- this is the best I've ever seen I understand it now.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! :)

[@froggydoodle808]

What fiber are you spinning? I have some Indian hemp (dogbane) growing in my backyard, and I'm thinking of attempting to spin some of its stalks this winter. But I also have some brown flax seeds in my kitchen that were destined for smoothies... now I'm thinking they may be destined for my garden next spring instead!

[@gregwein1]

Wow! So many questions answered in a just six minutes!. Thank you for making it look so easy, And for sharing this beautiful art form with us.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you, I’m glad I could help 😊

[@EarthREALTOR]

It does look like hair. Yes, I can see the "flaxen hair". Amazing! Thanks for keeping the old traditions alive. Natural fibers keep you cooler, are healthier to wear and don't pollute our Earth.

[@birdkooistra1329]

I so enjoyed watching you spin. Such a peaceful smile.

[@joycejones1414]

It was amazing to watch you do this with so much patience. I know nothing about making linen but I enjoyed watching the process. Thanks for your knowledge.

[@josefinwaltin]

Joyce Jones Thank you! 😀

[@blackdog.6398]

Thank you so much for showing us a timeless art and a right that’s passed down to mother to child or father to son growing and. The different step in growing thank you for all that you guys do It’s a blessing ..🙏

[@josefinwaltin]

BLACK DOG . Thank you! 😊

[@blackdog.6398]

No I should be thanking you two for keeping it Alive , there’s like a wave of this I don’t care about anything but my cell phone or I deleted my messages al bongkers !..I seen the brake down in Familia values and it’s a shame. I think of the times my grandmother quilted , caned her fruit ,peaches , jams , and other things that would make my life simpler ,, i deed ,, I wished I paid more attention but there is all way the Firefox series of Books It helped a great deal , it sit there and think back to the days of cool mornings with my Coffee, or my earl gray tea ,, or a breakfast bag of some good ole Zingger,....I meant what I said if you don’t take the time and sit there and listen to the stories ,,,of ole , sweet a du, ,, and top of the morning to ya!,,,,..Black Dog Down....cheers

[@neekr3052]

Thank you for such a clear and nicely paced video. I have never had a go at spinning flax as it seems pretty daunting, but I think now I may just give it a go

[@josefinwaltin]

Yes, do it! 😊

[@joelcrunk651]

It's the ability to do this with your hands that makes this intrinsically pure...

[@kimberlycomstock2819]

What a lovely video! I'm eager to learn everything I can about flax from seed to fiber. Growing my first crop of flax and building some processing tools. Hoping to learn to spin and weave as well. Local fiber, local clothing! Thank you for sharing.

[@josefinwaltin]

Yes, yes and yes!

[@catsinq5726]

Unbelievable. No wonder people owned only one or two changes of clothing. How would you ever make enough thread for a whole garment??

patience :-) - therefore you also had some appreciation of this clothing you had..

[@flummoxladida6524]

People were always doing something constructive. I'm old enough to remember ''Hope Chests'', where young women would start very early in life making soft furnishings, clothes, etc. for when they set up house after marriage.

[@barbararickman8543]

In the days when all things were done by people, that was what you concentrated on. No TV, computer, iPhones and such to take up valuable work time. EVERYONE worked, including children as soon as they could walk and talk. Noone was without a duty or a task. So LOTS of work got done and done well at that. Would that we were as industrious.

[@RM-fs8ub]

Makes one feel rich...even in 3rd world Africa!

[@sawmill123456]

I can see if you were a noble how the common man would envy you. He would know how much work went into making the things you took for granted.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Excellent video - I appreciate the pacing, the tips you give, length of video etc. Great job.

[@josefinwaltin]

Gemology for Schmucks Thank you! 😊

[@kidabulestime9290]

My grandma used to do the same with sheep wool, she had special gadget for this, we should not forget this skills, thanks for this video

[@edearthling9298]

Алена Чеботарева don’t do it to sheep sheep hurts

[@dk2614]

Lovely. BTW in parts of the video it looks like you're strumming the thread producing that lovely guitar sound. Makes me think that most of the trappings of this modern world have lost their meaning whereas hand-spun linen has never lost its intrinsic value.

[@josefinwaltin]

D K Thank you! 😀

[@bpcj4891]

I thought so too! It looked like she was making the background music 😂

[@josefinwaltin]

@@bpcj4891 Yup, that's me, the spinning guitarist.

[@janinedear-barlow]

I thought that too

[@stevenwintersnight1036]

ancient and blessed. The skein that connects daughter to mother going back before memory.

[@josefinwaltin]

Yes! 😊

[@bethfrazier414]

I own a very well made flax skirt with cross pattern. Made by my great aunt in North Carolina. I will value it more now.

[@josefinwaltin]

Lovely!

[@carolynrigheimer1574]

You look so peaceful. Thank you for this lovely video. I am looking forward to giving this a try myself.

[@josefinwaltin]

Spinning usually does that to me 😊

[@elizaduckie7110]

I can see why they invented the flax wheel! This is laborious. But thank you so much for showing us how. Especially for the excellent how to properly load a distaff!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 😊

[@amandajarboe1131]

This was fascinating! I have heard about spindles and distaffes and never seen them! Makes my fingers itch to try spinning my ownself!

[@josefinwaltin]

Do it! :)

[@lizmortensen5678]

What a delightful and informative video. Thank you so much for your time making this and for all of the knowledge you shared!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 🌸

[@Panda74gofaster]

Very nice and pretty, like watching an angel living on our plane, beautiful woman. Thank you...

[@josefinwaltin]

Panda Clears Thank you. I hope you liked the content of the video too.

[@Wilkersonw1]

I agree with you Panda, as I watched the video, I was struck by the lovely expression on her face as she spun. When I scrolled thru the comments I was pleased that someone else noticed it as well.

[@murieldenoixeaton8994]

Yeah, it would make a fantastic ASMR video... :o)

[@ilanasharon30]

@@Wilkersonw1 It's a harmony. She is really beautiful blessed Artist.

[@lez7767]

Thank you. The people must have been incredibly patient to produce this thread, but the pace of life was much gentler then instead of the instantaneous times we have now. Plus they had no telly. and all the other rush of this technological progressive era. Amazing really. What would happen if suddenly we lost the modern 'convenience' that we are so used to ? I suspect we would be walking around in rags as very few have this knowledge and skills that go with making things we take so very much for granted. Best wishes. LeZc @@

[@murieldenoixeaton8994]

Something tells me history is one of your favorite subjects. However, I think you realize that, in fact, life at the level of the spinning (and shepherding too why not?) young women of yore was probably not as gentle a pace for them. You'd agree those poor souls had more to do and spinning was among the activities AT REST. You are right about the "no telly" part - at least their day's program did not change every half-hour and you were used to wait for things to happen before you could do or get whatever you wanted (in the sense of "needed").

[@janinedear-barlow]

You should watch the anime Dr Stone it shows just that.

[@maurioraaroha9490]

Oh wow... I love this. Thankyou so much for sharing your knowledge. Was such a serene calming video. This is a lost art , and im very keen to learn how to do this . Superb work ..😊😊

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 🌸

[@sylviahertel8223]

My mother spun wool, and fur from other animals, with a spinning wheel, but I've never seen it done with a destaff before. This is really fascinating. Thank you.

[@angeltrott6792]

This is magical! I’m a cotton spinner, but want to spin flax now. Thank you so very much! 🥰

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you and happy spinning!

[@kokonana4086]

Incredible. Thank you very much for sharing this impressive hand spindling skill with us.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 🌸

[@mariannacoleman3432]

OMG you make it look so easy. Thanks for the tutorial. I have to give it a go now.

[@mariannacoleman3432]

Is it possible to use the drop spindle on flax as one would with wool?

[@josefinwaltin]

Do it! 😊

[@josefinwaltin]

@@mariannacoleman3432 Try and see how you like it. I prefer a hand held spindle when I use a distaff (which I need with flax), but if you spin tow for example you could definitely use a suspended spindle.

[@Raylee-H]

Thank you so much you are very tallented and informative . 😀 I really enjoyed watching this amazing !

[@josefinwaltin]

Rose Hubbard Thank you! 😊

[@inezharrell1231]

Thanks so much for sharing Inez Arnetta

[@sharonsmith5511]

Now a profound appreciation for the simple clothing I wear..thank you.

[@tfuntowatch]

My late mom and aunt used to do the same thing with sheep wool.

[@944gemma]

Don’t you just love to spin? So relaxing and satisfying.

[@josefinwaltin]

Yes I do 😊

[@patrickscannell6370]

Amazing. Flax thread is thought to be the oldest thread in the world.... the oldest discovered fiber was flax, 36000 years old, in Kartvelia (Georgia). The video had me hypnotised.Thanks for posting!

[@janinedear-barlow]

3,000 b.c. Archeologists discovered evidence that flax was cultivated in ancient Babylon as early as 3,000 b.c. Today, in Europe and Asia, a tall variety of flax is grown primarily for its fibers, which are used to make linen.

[@MrDavidrex]

Wow, I'm moved. Truly speechless dear woman, thank you.

[@josefinwaltin]

Dave Todd Thank you! 😀

[@Acroballistics]

Thanks for the tips! The spreading of the fibers was my missing step , very helpful.

[@josefinwaltin]

Acroballistics Glad I could help! 🌸

[@sarayost2986]

What a beautiful art! Thank you for sharing this video, I am inspired!

[@josefinwaltin]

Sara Yost Thank you! 🌸

[@joeinlondon1]

wow - very beautiful - really enjoyed that ! and so educational

[@marykatemcteigue3651]

I can't imagine what mine would look like. You are so graceful. This is mesmorizing.

[@josefinwaltin]

Mary Kate McTeigue Thank you! 😊

[@Rocketman88002]

Nice! Nice! Nice! Beautifully documented!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 😊

[@udaykovai428]

Even banana/ plantain stem is converted to yarn and used for weaving cloth. It is said, it is like silk.

[@josefinwaltin]

I've heard that too :)

[@michellefleury4201]

You do it with so much respect, it is beautiful.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you!

[@bee-hg8eu]

What a wonderfully made video! You look fantastic! I'd love to learn the process of making linen. I bought some seeds to grow, and hopefully I'll have enough to process into beautiful yarn like yours!

[@josefinwaltin]

Katie Pole Thank you! I have an experimental flax patch and after four years I think my flax is actually spinnable. Good luck! 😊

[@bee-hg8eu]

That's amazing, and thank you!!

[@ChristopherJones16]

You could be one amazing Banjo player.

[@JudithProctor]

Both informative, and surprisingly relaxing to watch!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@JudithProctor]

@@josefinwaltin I've just shared it with my friends on Dreamwidth, along with a video on growing, retting and schutching flax.

[@gofigure6653]

Thank you for this delightful informative video.lt was amazing to see how the flax was spun....l had never realised.Thank you

[@josefinwaltin]

go figure Thank you! 😊

[@BenjWarrant]

Wow. That must have taken ages. Those bright red ribbons totally faded by the end....

[@djboulier1819]

looks like your playing a stringed insterment, love the accomping music!

[@livetwice7702]

I look on flax now with different eyes , Irish linen is the most beautiful in the world , I also bought some really nice natural linen table cloths in Estonia too

[@josefinwaltin]

Lovely! 🌸

[@ormelling]

Thank you so much for your videos. Excellent help with research for a novel but also beautiful just to watch. (Why on earth would people give thumbs down? Are there idiots in every corner of the Web?!)

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@rialand6016]

Thank you for your immediate response!😇

[@eleazarbonkuri3872]

Iam amazed how it turns in to single thread...couldn't understand it..if anyone can comment on this ...great work..so wonderful 👏

[@josefinwaltin]

By turning the spindle and drafting the fibers I insert twist in the fibers and align them in a yarn. By wetting the fibers in the drafting I activate the flax fibers’ own ”glue” which help the yarn stay balanced and not untwist itself.

[@michaelkaiser1864]

Beauty. Simple and pure.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 😊

[@ArcadiaOccult]

I'm a wool spinner but I'm giving a thumbs up in spinning solidarity! ✌😁

[@josefinwaltin]

Arcadia Occult Curio Shop Autumn Storm Hp Thank you! 😊 I consider myself a wool spinner first and foremost too.

[@ArcadiaOccult]

@@josefinwaltin TOO COOL!

[@Scimuffin33]

This was so beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[@josefinwaltin]

Cannot open funnelcake Thank you!

[@francescaa8331]

Lovely tradition. Flaxen hair, I can really see where that term came from.

[@deepquake9]

I’m a protein fibre spinner. Hats OFF to you! Much respect.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 🌸

[@jenniferjones-paull1548]

Truly AMAZING, thank you for sharing.

[@josefinwaltin]

Jennifer Jones-Paull Thank you! 😊

[@craigmouldey2339]

I'm so amazed watching this stuff. To think garments and cloth is made from plant fiber that actually looks like hair.

[@josefinwaltin]

It’s an amazing fiber!

[@doralevitt2879]

I have top whirl spindles, can I spin flax the same way as I would wool?

[@josefinwaltin]

Flax is quite different from wool. You need to spin it so that you first make the draft and then add the twist, a worsted spin. The flax fibers are also usually a lot longer than wool fibers. You need to spin flax with a distaff - it is a necessary tool to keep the fibers in order. I think it is possible to spin flax with a suspended spindle, but I wouldn't recommend it. An in-hand spindle (like the one I use in the video) or an flax wheel would be better suited to spin flax fiber.

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Fascinating. And kind of amazing.

[@elliealuinn807]

Enjoyed the video but found the font hard to read because of the background. 💕

[@josefinwaltin]

Ellie Aluinn I am aware of the bad match between titles and background. I know better now 😊

[@rebeccaharcus-duus9803]

Thankyou for replying 💖 I really learned quite a bit from you.

[@markhodgson2348]

Very nice idea the craft

[@BroomClosetArtistry]

Casually in your pocket I love that

[@jennymossa9492]

Thank you for making this video!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you for watching it 🌸

Women are so amazingly patient. If men had to spin flax, wool, etc back in the early days everyone would have been naked.

[@josefinwaltin]

William Mitchell I’m not sure patience is gender specific. I think it has more to do with social order. Girls were taught to do domestic and textile work at a very early age. I see no reason why a man can’t be a skilled spinner.

[@DeltaDonnaLynn]

That was wonderful!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! :D

[@davidcanatella4279]

There’s a little magic in this

[@josefinwaltin]

There is! 😊

[@staffanlindstrom576]

Enjoyed watching this.

[@corriedebeer799]

I now know where the Debussy song the Girl with the flaxen hair's inspiration came from

[@SooziinCa]

Fascinating, THANK YOU!

[@wildmtnthyme9057]

why aren't you spinning the spindle like a drop spindle, as you would for wool? does doing so add too much twist? or is it just personal preference

[@josefinwaltin]

My hands need to be close to each other for control. The fiber hand needs to prepare the flax for the drafting zone and the spindle hand needs to take over from the fiber hand and make sure the semi-spun fibers go smoothly into the twist. Spinning with a spindle with a long suspension (drop spindle) won't allow that close relationship between the hands.

[@hawkieandcawkie5188]

thanks for this therapeutic video .. you have the most beautiful skin ! I could imagine knitting this yarn that you have made , but how does Irish Linen arrive from here ? I love Irish linen .

[@josefinwaltin]

Linen fabric is woven with a lot thinner yarn. I haven't come that far in my flax spinning yet. :)

[@Catlady77777]

The lady has skills!!

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you! 😊

[@msf60khz]

These are wonderful skills.

[@megvand7]

It's super cool that you offer spinning classes! But I see they are for intermediate to advanced spinners...any idea where a total beginner could get started?

[@josefinwaltin]

Have a look at Long Thread Media, learn.longthreadmedia.com/collections?category=spinning

[@timjones1583]

Wow.. Our ancestors must have worked 18 hours a day.

[@josefinwaltin]

Probably :)

[@josefinwaltin]

Some things were better, some weren't. But in this day and age I think it is even more important than ever before to do things with our hands and feel the natural materials.

@@josefinwaltin and as you show in your short insight - it is a sort of meditative hand work - something that most of us today also have lost..

[@josefinwaltin]

Stefan Krüger I think it is even more important to find these moments in today’s stressful society. Textile crafts used to be a necessity to keep us clothed. Today it is a necessity to keep us balanced.

[@mangot589]

Yeah, huh? Imaging having to clothe your 8 kids, aside from the adults😱

[@myday805]

That was great to watch. Thank you.

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you!

[@flamingpieherman9822]

I'm wondering if would be easier to place the spindle in a jar and keep between your knees while spinning the flax? I really enjoyed watching and learning the process from you

[@josefinwaltin]

flamingpie herman I don’t think it would. I think it would ruin the flow with this technique. However, spinning supported is a technique, but it is not suitable for a fiber as long as flax.

[@3EBstudio]

looks like shes also playing the tune

[@PermaPen]

Great to watch, thank you! Is your top made of knitted flax? Love it!

[@josefinwaltin]

Perma Pen UK Thank you! Yes, the sweater is knit in flax yarn (store bought, though).

[@svetlanakotenko-forte2435]

Thanks! Great video about very human lifestyle and activity.

[@josefinwaltin]

Svetlana kotenko-forte Thank you!

[@MrRotaryrockets]

wow that looks like a ton of work must be very hard on the hands,and wrists.

[@josefinwaltin]

It is a ton of work, but it is also something I love doing. If it hurts I just switch to another spinning tool or fiber preparation.

[@Kimscrochetandknits]

That's really awesome :)

[@josefinwaltin]

Thank you!