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Flax Scutching turns plants into cloth Before clothing stores, textile mills, and Eli Whitney’s gin, there was linen. For thousands of years, people have been turning fibers of the flax plant into linen cloth. When Europeans settled the American frontier, flax was one of the first plants cultivated. Flax scutching turns flax fibers into linen cloth. The Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival demonstrates the process as it has been practiced for more than 250 years in the Ligonier Valley. Here are the basic steps:

Flax is pulled from the ground - not : The fibers are held against a vertical cut.Harvesting: (The roots contain some of the finest fibers.) board,Scutching where they are scraped with a scutching paddle, causing the woody pith to fall away, leaving long, glossy fibers. : Harvested plants are spread thinly over aRetting field to absorb dew, rain and the sun’s heat, which rots the pith and loosens the fibers – a two : Fibers are drawn through rows of iron to three week process known as “dew retting”. spikes, working from coarser (larger, wider spaced) teeth into finer (smaller, closer) teeth, to remove remaining pulp along with the shorter, coarser a two day celebration of early-Americana : Retted plants are placed atop a frame calledDrying a “kiln” over a low fire until they become, strands of fiber. according to pioneer tradition, “as dry as tinder”. : The fine fiber is spun into linen thread, Saturday & Sunday whichSpinning is wound onto a bobbin. SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2021 : Dried plant stalks are pummeled by Monticue Grove in Stahlstown, PA aBreaking “breaker” which has opposing wooden blades hinged at one end, to break the woody pith and Finally, the bobbin is placed in a shuttle, www.flaxscutching.org | Find us on Facebook Weaving: Web: www.flaxscutching.org Web: loosen the fine fibers. which is threaded back and forth through a linen Email: [email protected]

P.O. Box 77, Stahlstown, PA 15687 PA 77, Stahlstown, Box P.O. loom to make cloth. Flax Scutching Festival Oldest in the Western Hemisphere FUN! This is the oldest active festival of its type in the Today the festival continues to reflect all of these Homespun Western Hemisphere. The centennial anniversary rich traditions: • Learn how linen was made was celebrated in 2007. • Drawing upon more than 250 years of oral tradition, • Enjoy live country, bluegrass and gospel music Dating to the first settlers back in the 1770s, flax Ligonier Valley residents still demonstrate how flax • Children’s area – young and old, for the kid has been raised and scutched in the Ligonier Valley. plants were turned into linen cloth. The National in each of us Traditionally, farming families would gather after Park Service and other historical groups have come Saturday & Sunday the harvest to share the labor-intensive chore of here to observe this vital pioneer craft. SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2021 • Eat buckwheat cakes and sausage turning flax fibers into linen. Their gatherings • Other folk crafts and vintage farming Monticue Grove in Stahlstown, PA • See the Indian Raid – a festival tradition quickly became social events with shared food equipment are displayed. Stahlstown is located on PA Route 711 and folk music. • Marvel at the antique farm machinery • Living history experience. Admission: $4.00 per person In 1907, local Justice of the Peace, Elmer N. 12 and under free • Sample homemade soups and fresh-pressed Miller, conceived an annual reunion to celebrate • The mock Indian Raid remains a festival feature. apple cider the valley’s history of homey pleasures. A mock • Traditional foods provide delicious tastes of FOR MORE INFORMATION: “Indian Raid” commemorated several actual • Observe demonstrations of blacksmithy, the past. www.flaxscutching.org raids that occurred here in the 1770s and ‘80s. pottery-throwing, and flax demonstrations Find us on Facebook Homemade foods, traditional music, displays Email: [email protected] • Outdoor worship Sunday morning of antiques and demonstrations of folk 724-593-2119 arts offered tastes of the past. And the • Stop at the kitchen for sandwiches, sides and event was centered around flax scutching plate lunches to preserve this disappearing folk craft. Great Family Entertainment! • Wander in the Flax Scutching Historical area • Experience various re-enactors/encampments