SOAKS, AS FLAX is a phrase that refers to the process of soaking flax in water to make it easier to spin into linen thread. This process is known as retting and is done by submerging the flax in water for a period of time, allowing bacteria to break down the pectin that binds the fibers together. The resulting material is then dried and combed to remove any remaining impurities. The end product is a strong, durable linen thread that can be used for a variety of purposes.