Weaving Yarn - Linen

Linen is a strong natural fibre from the cellulose family. It is a bast fibre, meaning it comes from long fibrous strands of the stem of a plant, in this case flax. Linen is highly favoured for high strength, coolness, moisture wicking and a soft handle that only gets better as it ages.

Napoleon, concerned about the French linen industry, offered 1,000,000 francs to whoever could modernise flax production. Before this, as all labour was done by hand up as machines were not yet invented that could process, spin and weave linen without it breaking. This is because the strength of linen makes it very inelastic. The industry joined the industrial revolution only four years after Napoleon’s offer, with the advent of wet spinning and weaving in especially designed machines.

Traditionally, linen is harvested and then ‘retted’, either in a damp field or a water source such as a pond or stream. This process can take anywhere from 14 to 28 days, and is crucial if the lignin that binds the bast fibers to the outer core is to be broken down enough for processing.

The invention of a purpose built retting tank, inspired by the steam engine, cut this down from a month to a maximum of 8 days.

Linen is a versatile and sustainable fiber choice for strength, durability and longevity, whether used as warp for a rug or tapestry, loose garments and interior furnishings or bags and napkins. It can be plied together to create strong rope, braid and twine. Linen yarns and garments should be washed in a lukewarm or 40 degree water and hung to dry so as to let the fabric crease naturally. It can be ironed at a hot temperature, and pre-washing/wet finishing before sewing is recommended.

Linen 9/2 - theweavingroom Linen 9/2 - theweavingroom
View Quickshop
Linen 9/2
Regular price $25.50
Maurice Brassard Linen Sample Card - theweavingroom Maurice Brassard Linen Sample Card - theweavingroom
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Habu N-24B Raw Silk Wrapped Paper Habu N-24B Raw Silk Wrapped Paper
View Quickshop
Habu N-24B Raw Silk Wrapped Paper
Regular price $14.95
Linen 12/2 - theweavingroom Linen 12/2 - theweavingroom
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Linen 12/2
Sold Out
Euroflax Lace Euroflax Lace
View Quickshop
Euroflax Lace
Regular price $67.50
Euroflax Linen Euroflax Linen
View Quickshop
Euroflax Linen
Regular price $63.00
Habu A-60 Shosenshi Viscose Habu A-60 Shosenshi Viscose
View Quickshop
Habu A-60 Shosenshi Viscose
Regular price $36.00
Linen 12/4 - theweavingroom Linen 12/4 - theweavingroom
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Linen 12/4
Regular price $18.50
Habu N-94 Silk Wrapped Paper White & Navy Habu N-94 Silk Wrapped Paper White & Navy
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Kalinka Linen Kalinka Linen
View Quickshop
Kalinka Linen
Regular price $37.90
Linen Thread Linen Thread
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Linen Thread
Regular price $20.00
Habu N-98 Knitted Linen Tape Natural Grey Habu N-98 Knitted Linen Tape Natural Grey
Add to Cart
Quickshop
Habu NS-12 Naturally-dyed Paper / Raw SIlk Habu NS-12 Naturally-dyed Paper / Raw SIlk
Add to Cart
Quickshop