Megan’s adventure began in early spring. With soil freshly prepared, she broadcast flax seeds mindful of the plant’s need for well-drained earth and full sun. As the days warmed, tiny green shoots emerged.
Flax is known for its resilience but demands patience. Megan learned to recognize the subtle changes as the crop matured, its blue blossoms dotting the field, signalling the promise of fibres within.
Come midsummer, Megan faced the critical task of harvesting. Flax must be pulled, not cut, to preserve the full length of the fibre. With gentle hands, she uprooted each plant, laying them out to dry in the warmth. The sight was both humbling and inspiring—a field transformed into bundles of possibility.
The next stage was retting, a process that separates the valuable fibres from the woody stalk. Megan experimented with dew retting, spreading the flax on the grass so natural moisture and microorganisms could work their magic. Over several weeks, she monitored progress, turning the bundles and testing their readiness by feel—a skill passed down through generations. She also utilized water retting which was a quicker process but still required careful attention to when it was ready to pull from the tank.
Once the fibres loosened, Megan carefully gathered the flax, ready for the next phase.
With the flax dried and retted, Megan moved to mechanical processing. First, she broke the stems, using a traditional wooden tool to crack and separate the outer stalk. Next came scutching, where the inner fibres were scraped free from woody fragments. Finally, hackling involved combing the fibres through metal teeth, untangling them and ensuring uniformity.
The result: silky, golden strands ready to be spun into linen thread—a tactile reward for months of patient work.
Using her spinning wheel, Megan twisted the flax fibres into a fine, strong thread. The rhythm of the wheel and the softness of the fibre offered a meditative connection to the land and its traditions. With thread in hand, Megan began weaving, creating cloth on her handloom. Each shuttle pass was a testament to the journey from seed to fibre to fabric.
Her linen had a unique texture and sheen, speaking to the care invested at every stage.
Megan’s linen became the foundation for her handwoven pieces—scarves, tea towels, and wall hangings. The natural variations in the cloth reflected the story of the flax, the Canadian climate, and Megan’s artistry. Each creation was both practical and beautiful, infused with warmth, heritage, and the spirit of sustainable craft.
Megan’s journey growing flax and crafting linen was transformative. She learned not only the technical steps but also the value of patience, connection to nature, and respect for traditional skills. Her handwoven linen creations stand as a celebration of Canadian fibre arts—a legacy woven from earth, effort, and creativity