Editing Linen (section)

=== Production method ===
{{Main|Flax#Preparation for spinning}}
{{Further|Textile manufacturing#Flax}}

Linen is laborious to manufacture.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hakoo |first=Ashok |title=Linen Fiber and Linen Fabrics from the Flax Plants |url=https://www.textileschool.com/2632/linen-fiber-from-flax-plants-and-the-linen-fabrics/ |website=TextileSchool |date=28 March 2018 |access-date=15 May 2020 }}</ref>

[[File:Linum usitatissimum - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-088.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Details of the flax plant, from which linen fibers are derived]]
[[File:LinenMechanicalHarvesting-Summer2009-Belgium.JPG|thumb|upright|Mechanical [[Baler|baling]] of flax in [[Belgium]]. On the left side, cut flax is waiting to be baled.]]

The quality of the finished linen product is often dependent upon growing conditions and [[harvesting]] techniques. To generate the longest possible fibers, flax is either hand-harvested by pulling up the entire plant or stalks are cut very close to the root. After harvesting, the plants are dried, and then the seeds are removed through a mechanized process called "rippling" ([[threshing]]) and [[winnowing]].

[[File:Rhof-flachsbearbeitung.ogv|thumb|Retting, scutching, and heckling (narration in German)]]
[[File:Bäuerliche Leinenweberei - 4. Die Herstellung von Leinwand.webm|thumb|Handweaving of linen (narration in German)]]

The fibers must then be loosened from the stalk. This is achieved through [[retting]], a process which uses bacteria to decompose the pectin that binds the fibers together. Natural retting methods take place in tanks and pools, or directly in the fields. There are also chemical retting methods; these are faster, but are typically more harmful to the environment and to the fibers themselves.

After retting, the stalks are ready for [[scutching]], which takes place between August and December. Scutching removes the woody portion of the stalks by crushing them between two metal rollers, so that the parts of the stalk can be separated. The fibers are removed and the other parts such as [[Linseed#Flax seeds|linseed]], [[shives]], and [[Tow (fibre)|tow]] are set aside for other uses. Next the fibers are [[Heckling (flax)|heckled]]: the short fibers are separated with [[heckling comb]]s by 'combing' them away, to leave behind only the long, soft flax fibers.

After the fibers have been separated and processed, they are typically spun into yarns and woven or knit into linen textiles. These textiles can then be bleached, dyed, printed on, or finished with a number of treatments or coatings.<ref name="classifications" />

An alternate production method is known as "cottonizing" which is quicker and requires less equipment. The flax stalks are processed using traditional cotton machinery; however, the finished fibers often lose the characteristic linen look.