Flax Processing Demonstration - October

Hosted by the PA Flax Project. (Free, no registration required) The PA Flax Project is back at the Wyck Historic House and Garden to show you how the flax crop becomes spinnable fiber! Shortly after the city of Philadelphia’s founding in 1682, it became known for its textile manufacturing industry - particularly in the Germantown area. That being said, manufacturing was still mostly small scale at the time, accomplished primarily by growing an acre or two of fiber flax in any one location and hand-processing at home and/or in small stores. At the same time as this industry boom, the Wyck House was being built and developed. There is evidence that during the residential years of this house, the families within it took part in the Germantown culture of growing and processing fiber flax in order to make household goods such as hand towels, undergarments, and more. The PA Flax Project has been hosting hand processing events at the historic Wyck house since 2022, and we will be back this fall to continue the centuries-long tradition of turning fiber flax from crop to spinnable fiber on their grounds.