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About the technology
| Technologies / Tools / Machines | hand-held technique |
|---|---|
| Text source |
| Organization name | Detail |
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soaking
Processing of flax and hemp, in which the woody part of the stem rots under the action of bacteria and is separated from the fibers. Natural depressions in swamps, depressions in meadows near rivers and streams or inlets of watercourses were used for soaking. Pits called vats were dug near surface water sources. Flax and hemp were placed in vats in bundles and weighed down with logs, stones or tufts of grass. The length of soaking depended on the air temperature; the warmer it was, the shorter the soaking time. The condition of the stems had to be checked especially towards the end so that the fibers did not get wet and thus damaged. Flax and hemp were not mixed in the vats, and male and female hemp plants were also separated. After sufficient soaking, the bundles were rinsed in clean water, dried thoroughly and moved to a covered area. The fibers from the soaked flax stalks were light brown to yellowish in color, while the hemp fibers were creamy yellow to pale or silver gray in color.
