- Most of you probably do know, how linen is produced; from Flax into Linen.
- Flax is the world's oldest fiber plant with a lovely flower that varies from white to intense blue. Below this post you find several Flax and Linen informative links. Also you can find out more about the top linen fiber producing countries in the world today.
- Well, Horst in the province of Limburg, my Birth Place, was such an important Flax producing town and we used to have lots of home weavers and also several Flax Fens. One was only half a mile away from my Parents' home; called 't Rotven (Rotting Fen).
- On October 17, of 2005 we did make this photo of a work of art called: ' Linen yarn drying '. The bronze work refers to the many home weaving mills that Horst once knew. The yarn was placed into water to get the tannins out. Then the yarn got dried on sticks. Hans Stoffels and Mia Daenen created this bronze piece of art work.
- With our friends Johnny and Hannah from Dublin, Georgia, we did travel in The Netherlands and we made this photo.
- Too bad that the art work has been moved away from this spot. No longer is there water around it... a pity as it did signify exactly what it was all about.
- In 1950, the last of the hundreds of home weavers quit his job. But in the 1700s it was a thriving home industry.
- Love for Linen
- Below this post you find a link that reads: Top Ten Wedding Gifts, where Quality Sheets ranks 3rd and Fine Table Linens ranks 6th. So there still is a LOVE FOR LINEN!
This is from the Dutch magazine, NOUVEAU AUGUST 2010
- New developments and those trusted wrinkles make the age old linen the ultimate material for making it cool and elegant through summer.
- Soft, smooth, chic and flowing: linen is wonderful material that feels great on our skin...
Napkins for the King...
- Do you love linen as much as I do?
- Nowadays there is so much linen being used in interior design, such as linen jute or burlap as we know it. Even on my Zen Cart powered on line boutique Mariette's Back to Basics, I offer lots of French made jute linen gifts.
- It makes me very happy to see a comeback of this noble fiber with the longest history on this earth of any fibers.
- Linen makes an impressive comeback. Isabella Rossellini was one of the first that discovered linen as a graceful taste maker in the 80s. 'Now you are an eco-fashionista when wearing it, but I simply found it comfortable' she said.
- What is damask? Linen is the material, damask is the pattern weave that is only visible when the light falls upon it.
- Smoothly starched or slubby?
- Linen fiber is twelve times stronger than cotton and absorbs very strongly; It can soak up 20-25% of its own weight in moisture before feeling moist itself.
- Because it is a lose weave, the moisture dries up again fast, thus feeling cool to the touch in warm weather and warm when it gets cooler.
- Linen does not pill, has just like silk a natural shine and can be worn by almost anyone: pure linen does possess anti-allergic qualities.
- For the cultivation of flax there is a significantly less need for pesticides and fertilizers than for other crops. The fibers can be recycled and are biodegradable in nature. (Making it Eco friendly!)
- Italian linen does have a more silky finish than for instance Irish linen, which is more 'slubby: that means that it is more irregular, with little imperfections that makes the fabric more alive. The most slubby linen currently comes from Poland and Russia.
- Nowadays linen often is being blended in with rayon or cotton: Armani and Calvin Klein love to use these blends, because they wrinkle less.
Royal table linen
One of the prettiest and most famous linen pieces is the wedding gift that Queen Wilhelmina from The Netherlands in 1947 gave to then princess Elizabeth of England. It was a complete table set of three linen damask tablecloths with 96 napkins, designed by referral of the Queen by Miss Kitty van der Mijl Dekker. The set is still being used.
In search of lovely linen... Sanny de Zoete is specialized in custom woven damask tablecloth of 100% linen after designs of Dutch artists. She does sell linens, gives mangle and laundry tips, does programs and wrote books. She has a FB Page: Sanny de Zoete Damast. World's Prettiest Antique and Designer Linen Damask.
Hoping you enjoyed reading about this favorite fiber!
Related link:
Top Ten Wedding Gifts | Quality Sheets ranks 3rd and Fine Table Linens ranks 6th
{Clothing around 1850 - Museum de Kantfabriek} | previous post by me
{Michelle Obama & Print Unlimited from Horst} | previous post by me
{Museum Lace Factory - Antique Lace Toer or Poffer} | previous post by me
HISTORY OF LINEN | also quite informative
Top Flax Growing Countries Of The World | Linen Fiber Production
Museum de Kantfabriek Horst aan de Maas | video on Youtube
i liked the artwork depicting the old art of making linen. and i like the word 'slubby'. perfect sounding word for what it is. :)
ReplyDeleteDear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful the Artwork is depicting the Old Linen Weavers town and shame that it has been removed.
I too love linen and it always looks so good - thanks for sharing the post.
Happy rest of the weekend
hugs
Carolyn
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI love wearing linnen trousers in the summer, they're kind of breathing and I love the light material. Great post with beautiful pictures, it's interesting to read about other places.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Eva
Hello Mariette, You were clever to pick a hometown with such an interesting history and related product. I used to like some linen shirts which were very comfortable, but I have to admit the wrinkles finally got to me--I am not too handy with an iron.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the sculpture fountain--I was immediately attracted to the subject, and amused by how the yard "dripped" into the fountain.
--Road to Parnassus
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich bestätige die lobenden Worte meiner Vorgänger.
Sonnige Sonntagsgrüße
Elisabeth
Good Morning Mariette, I was reading your words and looking at the photographs and it took me a moment to realise what I was looking at was a Bronze piece of artwork. What a shame it is not there any more, it is such a stunning piece. As one of your previous commenter's mentioned the way the fabric was draped over the chair was just so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you for teaching me so much about Linen, it was really interesting.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Best Wishes
Daphne
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich liebe Leinenwäsche. Leider gibt es sie kaum noch.
den meisten ist das aufwendige Bügeln zu vie. Dabei gibt es
nichts schöneres, als in frischer Leinen-Bettwäsche zu schlafen.
Und ein tisch mit gestärkten Leinen Decken ist etwas ganz besodneres.
Liebe Grüße schickt dir
Irmi
Linen is a wonderful material, and what a beautiful linen artwork. In the kitchen, I use linen towels which are over 100 years old for they are much better to wipe the disk.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for so much information on linen, many details about it I didn't know..
Sometimes I cover Moses baskets with Italian linen, it's wonderful to work with.
I love wearing linen tops, it keeps me cool in the hot Dubai summers.
I find that white linen doesn't show the creases too much.
Your pictures of the bronze artwork looks great! a pity that it is not there anymore.
Hugs,
Angela.
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love linen, it is my favorite fabric. I looks great in any setting formal or casual. As for wearing, it is perfect, SO comfortable. This is a lovely and, as always, most informative.
Love to you, Ginger
Ik heb weer iets geleerd vandaag. Ik wist niet dat er in Nederland zo'n levendige Linnenindustrie was in vroeger tijden.
ReplyDeleteIk hou ook wel van linnen. Een (h)eerlijk natuurlijke stof.
Fijne dag en een lieve groet, Mea
Hola Mariette. Paso para desearte una feliz semana. Besos, amiga.
ReplyDeleteInteressant verhaal, ik dacht dat linnen alleen uit Belgie kwam, wist niet dat het hier ook geproduceerd werd.
ReplyDeleteYou always have interesting information to share. We often don't think of where items come from or how they are made. Such a shame when the old ways of making things fall to the wayside. Best wishes, Tammy
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I have always been interested in fabric and looms. Indian cotton is still my favourite. A
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, I have learnt things and liked the photos...........thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteGreat info on linen. I have always loved linen, just not the wrinkles. Lol. At least they are flattering wrinkles.
Have a great week.
Hugs, Celestina Marie
Dearest Blogger Friends,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visits and I'm glad that you enjoyed reading this information about linen in my city of birth and in the world today.
Hugs to you,
Mariette