Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Linen

Linen - A fabric made from linen fibers obtained from inside the woody stem of the flax plant. Linen fibers are much stronger and more lustrous than cotton. Linen fabrics are very cool and absorbent, but wrinkle very easily, unless blended with manufactured fibers. Linen is one of the oldest textile fibers.
 

Countless times I have driven past The Cloth Shop, it is within a stone's throw from where the teenagers go to school, but until yesterday I had never set foot inside this gem of a fabric store.  They seem to have a something for everyone.  Including me!

I walked away with a small sampling of some of their pure linen fabrics, my current obsession.  I have been hesitant to use it because its airy weave makes it so much more difficult to sew with than cotton fabrics. But I love the look, the feel and the drape of light weight linen fabric, and therefore feel compelled to give it a try.
The linen has been gently soaked in a tub of warm water with SOAK wash, spun in the washing machine, and line dried.  The loosely woven linen and their frayed edges are my nemesis, but a worthy challenge.


19 comments:

  1. I look forward to seeing what you make with it. The colours are just gorgeous!

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  2. Very pretty! Those frayed edges would drive me crazy!

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  3. oh, i love the colors of them!! sooo lovely!!

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  4. awesome colors! If you use a spry starch like Mary Ellen's Best Press after you cut the treads, the edges will be less likely to ravel!

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  5. Looking forward to seeing the creations - yes, gorgeous colours!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  6. Oh, those are beautiful. Do you have any tips for sewing with linen? I'm getting way way ahead of myself, but am thinking of sewing my wedding dress out of linen or a linen blend. We'll see about that as I have yet to make the muslin and have not ever sewn anything more difficult (clothing-wise) than skirts and pj pants.

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  7. there's something so satisfying about sewing with linen - it makes me feel like I've done 'proper' sewing.

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  8. Looking forward to seeing an end result

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  9. Gorgeous colors! Looking forward to seeing your new projects.

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  10. Those colors are absolutely gorgeous!! I love them! Aren't you glad you stopped in?

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  11. Can't wait to see what you make with it! I just love the feel and texture of linen. And such lovely colors you found!

    http://minivanlife.wordpress.com

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  12. these are such lovely colors. i can not wait to see what you create with them

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  13. looks like a good challenge.. if anyone can handle the linen.. its you!!

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  14. Ooh can't wait to see what you do with these, what gorgeous lineny colours xo

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  15. Lovely colors! I can hardly wait to see what you do with it.

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  16. I have a special place in my heart for linen since I reenact the Revolutionary War, I use it a lot to make clothing from the period. If you want linen in all different weights and for a really good price, check out this site (I have ordered almost all my linens here, ILo19 is a good medium weight, but they also has really thin, handkerchief weight that is divine!): http://fabric-store.com/

    Cheers!
    Rachel

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