The Linen Quilt - Is It Right For You?

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CUTTING

RULERS

PRESSING

PENS

[DeniseSchultz]

As for the rumplies of linen: I wear unironed linen, Horrors. It embarrasses me a little bit, but I’m almost 70, and I like it. •When I have time, instead of machine drying it, I like to tug the damp seams taut. An 80 year old man, who had a 3 ft x 5 ft world map on his dining room wall, covered with pins for all his hundreds of travels, showed me this. He had me take his linen shirts and pants, and do ‘tug’ ironing.
•When damp from being washed, each seam gets tugged taut, then each pattern piece gets tugged taut. So tugging seams of sleeve, then whole sleeve, seams of back, then whole back, etc. Then hang to dry on a padded hanger.
•That is my favorite way to treat linen garments. It is a little stiff when you first put it on, but in five minutes, it is draping wonderfully. Not sure how I would do that with a linen quilt, but I hope to find out 😉.

[CalicoJungle]

It is all your fault. . . When I shopped for linen clothing for summer 2024, I made sure I bought colors I could live with in my space. My plan is to wear the clothes for a couple of summers and then make a linen quilt. I bought 4 blouses in a beautiful blue.😊

[sandrapapke]

One of my friends loves old, soft, well-used linen. For Christmas one year, I made her a linen bath towel. Custom-sized to her specifications. Mitered corners in a beautiful beige color, which is one of her favorite colors. She HATED it! Too rough, too hard. I explained that it was new linen and that it needed breaking in by washing and using. I told her to just wash it every time she washed a load of towels or sheets. Just keep washing until it is soft. She thought that was TOO much trouble. I have never seen the towel again, she has never mentioned it again. And, by the way, she did not thank me for what I felt was a very unique and thoughtful gift. And I would have made a whole set for her, if she liked it. So no more handmade gifts for her from me. Linen is one of my very favorite fabrics, but you are spot on that it isn't for everyone. Inspired by your linen quilt, I am collecting linen shirts to make a linen quilt for myself. I love your videos.

[SewTeresa]

Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge with us. I have started finding linen shirts from the thrift store and now I have chosen my pattern or my first linen quilt. I mentioned in one of my quilting, Facebook groups that I was making a linen quilt and ask if anyone else was. One of the responses told me to check out the catbird quilts because she makes linen quilts and has a lot to say about it😂 I think the word has gotten out and I’m so grateful for your videos. I always love watching them. On a sidenote, my youngest daughter who also lives in Birmingham and loves to thrift is coming for a visit soon and I told her to be on the lookout for linen shirts so I’m hoping she brings some.

[JohannaVanWinkle]

I'm waiting for a package to arrive from Etsy. It is linen large scraps and the colors are so soft. You have inspired me to make a lap quilt with linen using that same pattern!

[barbarachattin-mcnichols]

🎶 Oh, I wish I lived in the land of linen. I don’t find much of it in the Pacific Northwest but the stash is growing slowly. Two beautiful linen shirts I found fit my husband perfectly, so he has them. He should probably worry if I seem to be contemplating his closet.

[helenberry]

Cathy, you are a wealth of knowledge on all things linen. Thank you for all the great tips on sewing with linen. I am getting ready to sew a few garments in linen and will use your tips. Thank you for remembering the rest of us who use the metric system.

[shannoneaster]

Love linen clothing and love linen sheets, so I’m certain to love a linen quilt. Thank you for the tips today! ❤️
And additionally, Paul’s fabulous video production is so professional and enjoyable! You two are quite the team! I love watching both of you shine in each video. Bravo dream team!🏆

[eunicehehir]

"Relaxed" is the perfect description of the feel of linen ... that's how I know I'm touching a linen garment.

[christinahall]

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! The PINK linen quilt! I don’t have a great deal of pink linen so now I am on the search for pink linen shirts. What an informative video. I am still working on getting all of my linen starched. WHEW! Love you sis!

[annstheclaf]

You’ve inspired me to collect linen shirts and make a nap quilt! Sadly, we have more linen/cotton blends in Michigan, but I take what I can get.

[bbymks]

Linen is epitome of relaxed structure!

I love how wrinkly crinkly your quilt is...like a little shar pei puppy!

[coreygilles]

❤ i was snuggled under my linen quilt watching this and I love all the descriptive words you used for linen. I would only add one more..."squidgy" which is the word i use to describe the qualities of linen. ❤

[DeviousKnitter]

In Scandinavia I slept under linen and cotton blend sheets. They wear like iron! From what I was told, they are also left in people Will's. I love linen too, and have a lot of summer wear I made from yardage. Maybe I will try making a Linen quilt one day!!

[katherinegowan]

I want to look classy, even in the hot Alabama humidity. Time to find a linen shirt!
Thanks for the tip! 😊

[diannenaworensky]

Cathy, I have watched documentaries on how Linen is made. It is a very interesting process. I love the fact (like cotton) that it is totally a natural fiber that is made into cloth. I have several different outfits that are Linen and I Love them. They really are soft. So if you are bored and looking for something to do 😉😉 then give YouTube a look. P.S. This was all BEFORE YOUR CHANNEL. ❤❤❤

[angielovett]

Wow! That was great, super helpful, thank you! After watching your linen videos I have started wearing linen shirts and I love-love how comfortable and cool they are! Seriously a game changer on a hot day. I’ve also been collecting linen shirts for a quilt because I know I will love the weight of it…

[debbietrapp]

Good morning Cathy! I just love your description of your linen quilts, makes me want to snuggle up in one right now, except it’s in the high 90’s here today 😊. So many great tips and tricks for working with linen. I will have to go looking for a linen shirt and start with a pillow. Happy Friday, and hope have a wonderful weekend filled with some sewing. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[debbieleverne]

Thanks! Very helpful information.
On the topic of that dousing reminds me of my mom submerging her cotton nurse uniforms in a dish pan of starch. Then rolled them up, squeezed out the excess liquid and refrigerated in plastic until time to iron.
I still have one of the big white squares that she later ironed and folded into nursing caps. #I am old😂

[bethliebman]

Such a lot of good pointers and explanations! The word I would use for linen is crispy rather than rough. I haven't done any sewing with linen, but I wear it a lot--yes, it does wrinkle. I always iron and starch my linen clothing after I wash it. My mom, may she rest in peace, would be tut-tutting, if I didn't. To me it is worth it, I'm doing my best to get away from plastic-y polyester. I follow some clothing historians and found out that for millennia women wore a linen chemise between their skins and their stays and clothing. Linen kept them cool and dry and allowed them to frequently wash their chemise, and not have to launder the outer garments so much. I was out today in the heat and humidity, wishing I had a linen chemise to keep me cool. Another wonderful video, Cathy. I always enjoy.