steps in processing cotton/flax

steps in processing bast fibers

1 rippling

2 retting

3 scouting

4 hacking

steps in processing cotton fibers

1. opening

2. carding

3. roving

4. drawing

5. combing

what is the first step for bask fibers

rippling- removes the seeds from the bask fiber through a rippling comb

what is the second step for bask fibers

retting- process of bacterial rotting of the pectin in the stems to get the fiber

what is the 3rd step for bask fibers

scutching- separating impurities, such as the stems

what is the last step for bask fibers

hacking- splits and straightens the flax fibers as well as removes the fibrous core and impurities 

first step for cotton fibers

opening- loosens fibers from bale and cleans and blends the fibers

second step for cotton fiber

carding- staple fibers drawn together in somewhat parallel arrangement form weak rope called carded sliver

third step for cotton fiber

roving- drawn sliver reduced in size becomes more parallel and small twist inserted

4th step for cotton fibers

drawing- sliver passes through rollers, straightening fibers and making them more parallel

last step for cotton fibers

combing- removes staple fibers and arranges them into flat bundle where all fibers go in the same direction