Latest news with #flax
RNZ News
04-08-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Chinese Kiwi students find limewater effective in preserving flax
From left: Kay Wu, Annie He and Linda Chen Photo: Supplied A trio of Chinese Kiwi students from a North Auckland school have taken home a science award for their research into preserving flax. Annie He, Kay Wu and Linda Chen from Pinehurst School, all 15 years old, won the Cambridge Science Competition's Country Award for identifying limewater as an effective preservative. Inspired by kaitiakitanga, a Māori term meaning guardianship and protection of the natural environment, the team aimed to find out an efficient way to preserve traditional Māori flax artifacts. The group identified limewater, sodium bicarbonate solution and sodium hydroxide solution as potential alkalis they wanted to test. Flax soaking in different alkalis, allowing the students to measure and compare the effectiveness of different treatments. Photo: Supplied Using different cuts of flax, the team measured the change in mass of the flax before and after being added to the different alkalis, pH of flax before and after the treatment, the flax's fibre quality as well as their tensile strength. The team found that among the three solutions, limewater minimised mass loss, maximised tensile strength and maintained fibre health during storage. Judges praised the students for their cultural conservation and treatment of the flax in a sustainable way, according to the competition's website. Team member Kay Wu said they chose the topic of flax preservation to spread awareness about the growing challenges in protecting cultural artifacts. "This project deepened my scientific understanding and inspired me to become a more eager learner," Wu said. Annie He said the limewater must be diluted to a safe concentration. She said the team were looking forward to further investigating factors affecting flax preservation involving limewater, including optimum soaking duration, temperature, concentration of the solution and long-term preservation. "We believe this method has potential to preserve flax on a larger scale, as limewater is readily available and environmentally friendly," He said. "However, we don't recommend attempting this at home as we have only investigated the short-term effectiveness," she said. "In the long term, there may be different results." Sandy Liu, a teacher at Pinehurst School, applauded the students' teamwork and dedication. "Their efficiency and collaboration were outstanding," Liu said. "They treated the flax with care and respect, showing both curiosity and responsibility."
CBC
25-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Supreme Court of Canada gives thumbs down to emoji contract appeal
A Saskatchewan farmer hoped the Supreme Court of Canada would overturn an earlier decision that found the thumbs-up emoji he sent to South West Terminal counted as a legally binding acceptance of a contract to sell his flax. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Specially grown flax crop used to create Lizard art exhibition
A plant normally used for making linen clothes has been specially grown and processed in Cornwall to make unusual sculptures are made from the dried stems and spun fibres of flax plants, and form part of a new exhibition at Kestle Barton on the artist, Alice Fox, sowed the flax seeds in the flower meadows of the art gallery in spring said: "'Flax is something we're really familiar with in terms of linen in our clothing, but we don't necessarily know where it comes from. "I work with plant fibres, so for me to know exactly where my materials have come from - taking it from seed, nurturing it, processing it, and then creating it into the final artwork – it's satisfying, immensely time consuming, and there's also a sustainability element to it."Since sowing the seeds, Ms Fox returned each season to tend, harvest, dry and spin the flax before building the artworks for the also created works out of dried blackthorn, made inks from the plants in the gallery's garden, and used mud from the nearby Frenchman's creek on the Helford Ryya Bread, curatorial director of the site, said Ms Fox is "naturally attuned to the ethos and aims of Kestle Barton"."She has a keen interest in the natural world. She possesses important knowledge of traditional skills in both textiles and growing.. her finished pieces are steeped in a sense of the familiar, and yet offer up something utterly new – a hybrid of nature and human design," she exhibition is free to enter and runs from Saturday until the end of August 2025.
Vogue
31-05-2025
- General
- Vogue
How to Wash Linen the Right Way
There's nothing cooler than wearing linen in the summer. That's not hyperbole: Science says that linen truly is the most comfortable fabric to wear in warm temps—even more so than cotton or silk. It makes sense: 'You can usually feel the texture: slightly crisp, cool to the touch,' says Melia Long, executive laundry professional at Poplin. 'It softens beautifully with time and wear.' As breezy as the fabric may be, taking care of your linen dresses, shirts, and matching sets doesn't always feel so effortless. Linen is prone to shrinking, wrinkling, and—because it often comes in white—staining. Why must all good things come with a catch? Not to fear. Below, laundry and fabric care experts share tips for how to wash linen, as well as tricks for preventing shrinkage and removing stains without stress. Let the easy-breezy days of summer—linen dressing—begin. What is linen made of? Linen is a natural fiber that comes from the flax plant, the same plant from which we get flax seeds. Flax has been grown for food and fiber for millenia—archealogists say there's evidence that people were cultivating it at least as far back as 36,000 years ago. 'It's one of the oldest and most sustainable textiles in the world,' explains laundry expert Alicia Sokolowski of AspenClean. 'The flax stalks are harvested, dried, and processed to extract long fibres, which are then spun into yarn and woven into fabric. Linen is natural, biodegradable, and loved for its strength, texture, and ability to wick moisture.' Does linen shrink? Linen can definitely shrink—'especially if it's not pre-washed before the first cleaning or if it's exposed to high heat,' Long says. The good news? Most linen clothing is made from pre-washed linen. Still, it's a good idea to exercise caution, since linen is a natural fiber and all. 'It's best to wash it gently in cool or lukewarm water and avoid high dryer settings to preserve its shape and size,' advises Sokolowski. Can you machine wash linen? Save your dry cleaning budget: Linen can be washed in the machine. 'Linen holds up well in the wash, and most modern linen pieces are machine-washable,' explains Long. 'Just make sure to use a gentle cycle, cold or lukewarm water, and a mild detergent. Over-agitating or using hot water can lead to shrinkage or fraying, especially along seams.' Can you put linen in the dryer? While you could put linen in the dryer, Long says it's 'not ideal if you're trying to preserve the garment long-term.' If you really want to speed up the drying process, however, she recommends using the dryer on low for a few minutes, or 'just enough to loosen up the wrinkles.' From there, you can hang the garment or lay it flat to dry. 'Linen dries quickly, so you don't need much heat to get the job done,' says Long. Is it best to hand wash linen? While it never hurts to be gentle with your favorite linen pieces, Sokolowski says that 'hand-washing your linen isn't necessary.' She advises doing it only for extra delicate or embroidered pieces. If you do decide to go the hand-washing route, use lukewarm water and a mild, natural detergent. 'Avoid wringing to prevent damaging the fibers,' Long adds. Do you ever need to dry clean linen? Most everyday linen items—like your wardrobe essentials, napkins, table cloths, and bedding—don't require dry cleaning. The exception? Tailored pieces featuring complex construction. 'Structured items like linen suits, jackets, or lined dresses may benefit from professional care,' says Long. 'Always check the care labels for guidance.' How to get stains out of linen? The key to getting stains out of linen is to act quickly. 'The sooner you treat the stain, the better,' Sokolowski says. Below, a step-by-step guide to getting stains out of linen:
