retting
Decomposing plant stalks
Retting is the process of soaking plant fibers—typically flax, hemp, or jute—to decompose the woody tissue and separate the usable fibers.
The stalks are submerged in water or exposed to moisture and bacteria until the outer material breaks down: After retting, the flax fibers were ready for spinning.
The process produces a distinctive, unpleasant smell.
Combing raw fibers
- breakingComing apart suddenly
- strippingRemoving outer layers
- softeningBecoming less firm
- separatingDividing into parts
loosening · fermentation · decomposition · biodegradation · microbial · enzymatic · bacteria · fungi
Saturated with liquid
- saturatedThoroughly soaked through
- soakedThoroughly wet throughout
- dampSlightly wet
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
stagnant · warm · humid · anaerobic · submerged · pooled · temperature · duration
Completely saturated with liquid
- submergingPutting fully underwater
- immersingPlunging completely into
- steepingSoaking to extract flavor
- pondingWater accumulating in place
flax
Fiber and oil crop
bast · ramie · nettle · stalks · stems · straw · cellulose · pectin · gum · woody
hackling
Combing raw fibers
separating · loosening · fermentation · decomposition · biodegradation · microbial · enzymatic · bacteria · fungi · anaerobic
waterlogged
Saturated with liquid
moisture · stagnant · warm · humid · anaerobic · submerged · pooled · temperature · duration · timing
soaking
Completely saturated with liquid
- submergingPutting fully underwater
- immersingPlunging completely into
- steepingSoaking to extract flavor
linen
Flax-derived textile
cordage · burlap · hessian · spinning · weaving · carding · yarn · thread · cloth · fabric