Flax Processing Workshop

Learn to Make Your Own Linen!

Join Fanshawe Pioneer Village's textile artisans to learn how to process flax plants into fibers for spinning and weaving into linen cloth. No prior experience is required!

Before the dominance of cotton, linen was an important textile in 19th century Upper Canada. Linen is made from the long, sturdy fibers of the flax plant. Although linen is still worn as a luxury fabric today, handwoven linen is superior in sturdiness and longevity when compared to factory-produced linen. Learning to make linen is a great project for historical costumers with an eye for authenticity, spinners and weavers looking for a new project, or any creative folks interested in heritage arts!

Lesson Plan

Working in a small class of four, you will be provided with line flax plants grown and harvested by the Village's historical interpreters. You will learn the steps of braking, scutching and hackling. At the end of the lesson, you will take away the flax you have processed to spin into yarn at home, if so desired.

This workshop will run from 10:00am-12:00pm. Check-in is at 9:45am.

Ticket Sales

Tickets cost $25.00 each, before tax and Eventbrite fees.

Ticket sales will close one week before the event (Saturday, August 29th at 10:00am).

Wait List

If tickets are sold out, please feel free to join the wait list. We will contact you if a ticket becomes available.

Physical Requirements

Participants must be at least sixteen years of age. Please be advised that processing flax involves physical exertion and loud noises. Participants will need full range of motion in their arms and the ability to bend over. Please also be advised that we are on a large site with gravel and grass pathways. About ten minutes of walking to and from the workshop will be required. As we are located at a Heritage Village with farm animals, participants may be exposed to heat, sun, dust, pollen and insects. To learn more about accessibility at the Village, head to: Village Accessibility — Fanshawe Pioneer Village.

Getting Here

Fanshawe Pioneer Village is located inside Fanshawe Conservation Area in London, Ontario. Enter at 1424 Clarke Road, located at the Veterans Memorial Parkway and Clarke Road intersection. There is a sign that says “Upper Thames River Conservation Area”.

Upon entering Fanshawe Conservation Area, please let the Conservation Area tollgate attendant know you are attending the workshop at Fanshawe Pioneer Village and they will direct you to the museum. Follow the Directional Signs through the conservation area to the Village.

When using your GPS, specifically enter the address of 1424 Clarke Road. Some GPS’s will try to take you to our mailing address (2609 Fanshawe Park Rd.) unless you enter the correct address. The mailing address will take you to a locked gate and does not lead to the Heritage Village.

You may park in the large Visitor Parking Lot, located just before the reach the Spriet Family Visitor Centre. There is also an Accessible Parking Lot directly beside the Visitor Centre.

Check-In

Check in is at 9:45am at Fanshawe Pioneer Village's Visitor Entrance / Toll Gate. It is the wooden building beside the Spriet Family Visitor Centre with the orange sign.Tell the attendant you are here for the workshop when you arrive.

Please have a copy of your ticket ready on your phone or printed out when you arrive for check-in.

Make It A Day

Tickets to this workshop include admission to Fanshawe Pioneer Village's Textile Fair special event (Saturday, September 5th). We are open from 10:00am-4:00pm. This pilot event features demonstrations of various heritage textile skills and vendor booths. To learn more about the event, head to: Textile Fair — Fanshawe Pioneer Village.

As the workshop concludes at lunchtime, you are welcome to bring along a picnic lunch and make use of the picnic tables around site (they are available on a first-come-first-served basis). Coffe, tea, cold drinks, baked goods, ice cream and other snacks are also available in our Denfield General Store. A water bottle refill station is located beside the washrooms.

To learn more about visitor services at the Village, head to: Planning Your Visit — Fanshawe Pioneer Village.

Materials

You are not required to bring any materials, as they will be provided by the Village. Please dress for the sun.

Weather

This workshop will go ahead rain or shine. It will take place outdoors, but will be moved indoors if there is inclement weather.

Cancellation

If you need to cancel your participation, please contact the Public Programming Coordinator using the information listed below as soon as possible. This way, we can open up your spot to someone on the wait list.

A refund will not be available for this workshop if you cancel your participation. This is due to the large amount of manual labour, time and specialized skill required by our staff to prepare for this workshop. Thank you for understanding.

In the event that this workshop needs to be cancelled due to extreme weather or an emergency, participants will be contacted and refunded as soon as possible. Please note that refunds do not include tax or Eventbrite fees.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Programming Coordinator at programming@fanshawepioneervillage.ca.