FLAX TO LINEN: STRAW TO CORDAGE
WITH SHANNON WELSH
Sunday, September 13th, 2026
9:00am - 4:00pm
Before flax becomes linen, it goes through a series of processes that turn straw into usable fiber. In this hands-on workshop, students will take retted flax straw through the traditional steps of breaking, scutching, and hackling to reveal soft, strong linen fiber. From there, we'll learn to hand-twist that fiber into real cordage, no spindle or wheel needed, while talking along the way about how flax becomes linen, from field to fabric, and the history behind it.
Class Details
Age Requirement: this class is for adults and youth 10-17 (with patience and stamina for a full day class) if their parent or guardian is also registered for the class.
Location: Wade Hardware (400 SW 2nd St)
Students bring: work/gardening gloves (optional, if available). Wear comfortable clothes that can get dusty, and closed-toe shoes. Flax processing tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have them (brake, hackles, etc).
Tuition: $90
Materials fee: $15
Please email info@tarweedfolkschool.com to join the waitlist for a sold out class.
Accessibility note: some hand strength and dexterity needed for pulling fiber through the hackles and hand-twisting cordage. Breaking and scutching stations involve standing and bending; hackling and cordage-twisting can be done seated. The process creates dust from the flax shives.
Need a scholarship to attend a class? We offer full and half tuition awards (scholarships do not apply to class materials fee). Email info@tarweedfolkschool.com to register.
Tarweed Folk School values increasing access to practical arts and place-based skills. Our goal is to make our classes accessible to anyone with an interest in learning. Please consider that our classrooms take place inside and outdoors with varying amenities (think of parking, seating, walking surfaces, and bathroom options, for example). We are happy to provide any information or answer any questions about accessibility or accommodations for any of our classes and locations. Please email us if you have comments, concerns, or questions.
