It’s no secret that we are lovers of linen here at Spool of Thread. Linen is durable, breathable, and extremely versatile. While it might make you think of breezy summer clothes, linen is really suitable for all seasons, as it retains warmth from the body while releasing excess heat. It also gets bonus points for being environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
Linen is a dream to sew with, but does require a little extra love and care before you get going. So to help your linen garments stand the test of time, we wanted to share our care practices to get you on your way:
- Linen is prone to shrinking so make sure to pre-wash your fabric before sewing! We know it’s tempting to skip this step, but it will avoid future-you from intense disappointment when your beautiful me-made linen garment no longer fits after the first wash. Think about how you plan to wash the finished garment and treat it in the same way.
- Once you have pre-washed your linen, it’s time to dry. You’ll want to avoid the tumble drier to prevent more shrinkage, and instead opt to lay your fabric flat to air dry. The good news is that you don’t need to be too patient, because linen dries fast!
- Linen is prone to fraying. You might want to consider finishing the raw edges of the fabric before pre-washing to reduce fraying in the wash. When sewing your garment, make sure to follow the pattern instructions on finishing your seams to keep the fray at bay.
- Linen is also prone to wrinkling. This might be a style choice that you embrace, but if you do choose to iron your linen consider pressing the fabric while it is still a little wet, and only until the wrinkles disappear. It’s also a good idea to iron on the wrong side to avoid fading and/or shiny patches on the fabric.
So if you’ve been afraid to sew with linen we hope to have put your fears to rest. And if you’re now feeling inspired to sew your next garment with linen, be sure to check out our linen selection; including the Essex linens, Ceres yarn-dyed linen, and Ellis washed linen (pictured above). With linen garments spanning from the beach, to brunch, to the board room, you can let your imagination run wild!