When you see it, you know. Quality linen is like no other fiber. It resists dirt and stains, has no lint or pilling and feels cool to the touch. Did you know that linen is stronger wet than dry?
Linen is created from the fibers of the flax plant, with the best conditions for growing flax being the coastal areas of northwest France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Belgian linen has long been considered to be the best.
The French company, Good Ideas, produced a fascinating short film called Be Linen, from which the photos below are taken.
It describes the entire process of making linen, from the flax sowing, pulling and retting...
to its scutching,...
combing and carding.
During the entire production of linen, no chemical is used- no added oil, nothing. The original green fiber.
Linen weaving is an ancient art, with flax fibers having been used at least four thousand years ago.
We had the privilege of seeing beautiful linen firsthand during our trip to France last fall. You can find gorgeous examples at Sharon's My French Country Brocante and with Karin at LaPouyette.
To watch the Be Linen video, click here.
Are you a lover of linen?
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Oh, yes! I am indeed a lover of linen, all kinds! Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteOh Annie, YES! I love linen, I have several pieces that I hang on to, cutting them as needed to paint on. I also love waxed linen thread.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post Annie.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE linen - I wear it, have it as covers on my furnishings, have it at the table and of course have linen tea towels. Nothing - absolutely nothing - compares to a linen tea towel when drying crystal or glass.
Bisous