Yarn production in general involves a series of processes. After harvesting, retting and drying, the successive steps are breaking and scutching (§7.1.1), possibly softening (§7.1.2), hackling (§7.1.3), preparation for spinning (§7.1.4) and finally spinning (§7.1.5, 7.2).
The Figure below shows a schematic overview of the main processing steps (dark blue/dark grey) and the resulting (intermediate) products (light blue/light grey), starting with the hemp straw that is harvested. This diagram also shows how many kg of product are usually obtained during each step.
§7.1.5 Spinning of long fibres
§7.1.6 Yarn numbering and naming
Further information
SSUCHY project, 2019. ‘SSUCHY HEMP processing: from plants to aligned fibres’
EU project on hemp cultivation and processing up to hackling sliver.
https://www.ssuchy.eu/ssuchy-hemp-processing-from-plants-to-aligned-fibres/
HOGENT, 2023. ‘Hemp4Textiles: Fibre hemp for textile applications’
Research project aiming at optimising cultivation technique, harvesting, retting and primary processing for the production of long hemp fibres for textile applications. This Vlaio project is coordinated by HOGENT in collaboration with UGent – Faculty of Bio-engineering Sciences, INAGRO, several actors from the agricultural sector, primary processors (flax scutching companies), constructors of harvesting and processing equipment, and textile sector. Duration 2021-2024.
https://onderzoek.hogent.be/projecten/hemp4textiles-vezelhennep-voor-textieltoepassingen1/
English at bottom half of webpage
HOGENT, 2023. ‘Hemp4Circularity: Hemp as a driver of circularity in the textile industry: from field to recycled fibre’ (Dutch)
This European Interreg project aims at applying long fibre hemp textiles at industrial scale in the European textile value chain. The project is a collaboration between companies and associations from 4 North western European countries and aims to accelerate the growth and independence of processors and manufacturers in these countries. Further, Hemp4Circularity focusses on sharing knowledge and expertise.