Flax & Linen Bibliography

bigbookofflax-coverFor a general overview of flax and linen, The Big Book of Flax by Christian and Johannes Zinzendorf is an excellent resource – history, legend, song, crafts, lesson plans, recipes and more.

Beyond that, here is a more in-depth bibliography concerning fiber flax and linen. We are always adding to this so if you have a suggestion, please contact us.

  • Arkwright, Richard. The Trial of a Cause Instituted by Richard Pepper Arden, Esq His Majesty’s Attorney General, by Writ of Scire Facias, to Repeal a Patent Granted on the Sixteenth of December 1775, to Mr. Richard Arkwright, for an Invention of Certain Instruments and Machines for Preparing Silk, Cotton, Flax, and Wool for Spinning ; before the Honorable Francis Buller … on Saturday the 25th of June 1785. London: Printed for Hughes and Walsh, 1785.
  • Baines, Patricia. Flax and Linen. Princes Risborough: Shire, 1985.
  • Baines, Patricia. Linen: Hand Spinning and Weaving. London: Batsford, 1989.
  • Beaumont, Joseph. Mathematical Sleaing Tables Or, the Great and Only Mystery of Weaving Linen Cloth Explained. … Published by the Special Order of … the House of Commons, and by Order of the … Trustees for the Improvement of the Linen Manufacture in This Kingdom. Dublin: Printed by S. Powell, for John Watson, 1754.
  • Becker, Helmut. “Flax Glossary of Terms with Illustrations.” Academia.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2016.
  • Caldwell, Samuel Andrew Gailey. The Preparation and Spinning of Flax Fibre. London: Emmott, 1931.
  • Cole, George S. A Complete Dictionary of Dry Goods and History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool and Other Fibrous Substances, including a Full Explanation of the Modern Processes of Spinning, Dyeing and Weaving, with an Appendix Containing a Treatise on Window Trimming, German Words and Phrases, with Their English Pronunciation and Signification, Together with Various Useful Tables. Chicago: W.B. Conkey, 1892.
  • Coons, Martha, and Katherine Koob. Linen-making in New England, 1640-1860: All Sorts of Good Sufficient Cloth. North Andover, MA: Merrimack Valley Textile Museum, 1980.
  • Dewilde, Bert. Flax in Flanders throughout the Centuries: History, Technical Evolution, Folklore. Tielt: Lannoo, 1999.
  • Domier, K. W. Flax Straw Processing and Utilization. Edmonton, Alta.: Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, 1997.
  • Domier, K. W. Retting, Processing and Characterization of Flax Fibres. Edmonton, Alta.: Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, 1997.
  • Dujardin, Albert. The Retting of Flax. Belfast: Flax Development Committee, 1948.  Duncan, Molly. Creative Crafts with Wool and Flax. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1971.
  • Durie, Alastair J. The Scottish Linen Industry in the Eighteenth Century. Edinburgh: Donald, 1979.
  • Erf, Mary Elva Congleton. Shaker Towels for the 21st Century. Glastonbury, CT: Blackburn, 2005.
  • Eriksson, Karl-Erik, and Artur Cavaco-Paulo. Enzyme Applications in Fiber Processing. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1998.
  • Foulk, J.A., D.E. Akin, R.B. Dodd, and D.D. McAlister III. 2002. Flax fiber: Potential for a new crop in the Southeast. p. 361-370. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
  • Gallagher, Constance Dann. Linen Heirlooms; the Story and Patterns of a Collection of 19th Century Handwoven Pieces with Directions for Their Reproduction. Newton Centre, MA: C.T. Branford, 1968.
  • Gallagher, Constance Dann. More Linen Heirlooms. Boston, Mass: Weavers Guild, 1982.
  • Gaustad, Stephenie. The Practical Spinner’s Guide: Cotton, Flax, Hemp. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Gilroy, Clinton G. The History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool, and Other Fibrous Substances including Observations on Spinning, Dyeing, and Weaving. Also an Account of the Pastoral Life of the Ancients, Their Social State and Attainments in the Domestic Arts. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1845.
  • Glossary of Technical Terms Used in Flax Cultivation and Processing. London: Ministry of Supply, Dept. of the Director-General of Scientific Research and Development, 1944.
  • Gordon, Beverly. Shaker Textile Arts. Hanover, NH: U of New England, 1980.
  • Gregg, Nathan, Leslie G. Hill, and James Wassermann. Final Report: Assess the Feasibility of a Processing Plant Method of Retting Flax Straw in Saskatchewan. Regina: Agriculture Development Fund, 2004.
  • Handy, Virginia. Flax Craft: A Collection of Newsletters, 1993-1999. Fargo, ND: Flax Institute of the United States, 2002.
  • Harmond, Jesse E., and Leonard M. Klein. Deseeding of Fiber Flax. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1951.
  • Heinrich, Linda. Linen: From Flax Seed to Woven Cloth. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2010.
  • Hoppe, Elisabeth, and Ragnar Edberg. Carding, Spinning, Dyeing: An Introduction to the Traditional Wool and Flax Crafts. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1975.
  • Horner, John. The Linen Trade of Europe during the Spinning-wheel Period. Belfast: M’Caw, Stevenson & Orr, Limited, 1920.
  • Klein, Leonard M., and Jesse E. Harmond. Scutching Machine for Fiber Flax. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1955.
  • Kozlowski, R. Flax in Europe: Production and Processing: Proceedings of the European Regional Workshop on Flax, Held in Poznan, Poland, 19-21 June, 1989. Poznan, Poland: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1989.
  • Lemire, Beverly. The British Cotton Trade, 1660-1815. London: Pickering & Chatto, 2010.
  • Lundell, Laila, and Elisabeth Windesjö. The Big Book of Weaving: Handweaving in the Swedish Tradition: Techniques, Patterns, Designs, and Materials. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square, 2008.
  • Meek, Kati Reeder. Reflections from a Flaxen Past: For Love of Lithuanian Weaving. Alpena, MI: Penannular International, 2000.
  • Mormul, Michelle M. The Linen and Flaxseed Trade of Philadelphia, 1765 to 1815. N.p.: n.p., 2011.
  • Muir, Alister D., and Neil D. Westcott. Flax: The genus Linum. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2003.
  • Oelke, Ervin A., and Sherri Johnson. From Flax Straw to Linen Fiber. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Extension Service, U of Minnesota, 1987.
  • Patterson, Joan. Weaving with Linen. Corvallis, OR: Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State College, 1958.
  • Peddie, Alexander. The Linen Manufacturer, Weaver, and Warper’s Assistant: Containing a New and Correct Set of Tables, Drafts, Cordings, Arithmetical Rules and Examples, Adapted to the Present State of the Woollen and Linen Manufacture and Household Customary Weaving: With a Description of the Sliding Rule, and the Application of It to the Art of Weaving. Glasgow: Khull, Blackie, 1822.
  • Pfefferkorn, Richard. Oregon Fiber Flax for an American Linen Industry: A Discussion of the Oregon Fiber Flax Industry with Special Emphasis on Processing Methods Here and Abroad, and on the Outlook for Developing a Permanent American Linen Industry. Corvallis, Or.: O.S.C. Cooperative Association, 1944.
  • Pringle, Alexander Vernon. The Mechanics of Flax Spinning. Belfast: H.R. Carter Publications, 1951.
  • Pringle, Alexander Vernon. The Theory of Flax Spinning. Belfast: H.R. Carter Publications, 1949.
  • Proceedings of the Hemp, Flax and Other Bast Fibrous Plants–Production, Technology & Ecology–Symposium: The Meeting of the FAO Extraction and Processing Working Group: 24 and 25 September, 1998, Institute of Natural Fibres, Instytut Włókien Naturalnych, Pozna?, Poland. Pozna?, Poland: Institute of Natural Fibres, 1998.
  • Ryan, John Allen. Growing, Marketing, and Processing Flax in Texas. N.p.: n.p., 1948.
  • Sharma, H. S. Shekhar., and C. F. Van. Sumere. The Biology and Processing of Flax. Belfast: M Publications, 1990.
  • Taylor, James L. The Processing of Domestic Flax for Textile Use. Atlanta, GA: n.p., 1946.
  • Tod, Osma Gallinger. Raising Flax and Weaving Linens. Guernsey, PA: Creative Crafts, n.d.
  • Warden, Alexander J. The Linen Trade: Ancient and Modern. New York: Cornell University Library, 2009.
  • Weston, H. Claude. A Study of Efficiency in Fine Linen Weaving. London: H.M. Stationery Off., 1922.
  • Wilson, Kathleen Curtis. Irish People, Irish Linen. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2011.
  • Woodhouse, Thomas, and Peter Kilgour. Spinning, Weaving and Finishing of Flax and Jute. London: Pitman, 1929.
  • Worst, Edward F. How to Weave Linens. Milwaukee, WI: Bruce Pub., 1926.
  • Worst, Edward F. Weaving with Foot-power Looms. New York: Dover Publications, 1974.
  • Zinzendorf, Christian, and Johannes Zinzendorf. The Big Book of Flax: A Compendium of Flax Facts, Art, Lore, Projects and Song. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2011.