Flax and Linen by Baines, Patricia

(Princes Risborough: Shire Publications, 2003) 0852637276. 210 x 148 mm; saddle-stitched laminated pictorial wrappers; pp. 32; several illustrations. Fine condition. "Flax has been cultivated for thousands of years to produce the fibre to make linen. The characteristics of flax fibres have made linens among the most useful textiles throughout history but the same characteristics have made linen lose popularity in the modern age of man-made fibres and easy-care fabrics. This book gives an account of the processes and tools involved in the production of linen from flax. The traditional methods, when the work was done by hand, are described, as well as some of the improvements and machines that have been developed." .