Why I Love Quilting With Linen - From Men's Dress Shirts

See My Current Work

My Favorite Tools:
CUTTING

RULERS

PRESSING

0:00 - Intro
2:06 - Benefits of Linen Soft
4:21 - Stretches, Crinkles, Creases
6:11 - Hypoallergenic
6:40 - Con? Open Weave
8:03 - Fraying
10:44 - Pressing and Starching
15:09 - Well Baby Quilt - Mostly Linen
19:50 - Ironing and Non-ironing
26:10 - Suggestions for Quilting
29:20 - Outtakes

[MsAmberSunshine]

I’m going to watch video again. I missed weather using 100% linen or a linen blend. Love, love, love the baby quilt or lap quilt. Just precious ❤

[kellydiver]

I was taught to pull a thread where I want to cut in order to keep the grain aligned.

[patrickfrericks]

Linen is my favorite to sew with. I make quilts, clothing and collect antique homespun linen sheets. I use some of the sheets as batting in my quilts. The best way to press linen is a dry iron, remove the linen before dry. Don't use steam.

[nannettepiasini]

From the northern coast of the lower 48. Wisconsin. Thank you for calling out the elephant in the room. Grainline. Love linen. Linen, like cheese and wine... improves with age.

Thank you for the topic.

[danaandcompany]

You don’t have to baptize your fabric. LOL! You are such a pleasure! Thank you for your sweet channel.

[Amritadivya]

In past centuries linen was used for the sails on vessels because linen is stronger when wet and last longer than cotton. As a spinner, I know that linen can be spun wet or dry. If it is spun dry then the resulting fabric will have a more coarse appearance and be lumpy/bumpy. The linen that has a darker appearance if left "natural" was laid out in a field to "ret" or rot off the outer fibers. While water retting leaves a lighter color. traditionally, flax was spun using saliva rather than water in some areas as it held the fibers together better and gave a smoother yarn. If I remember correctly, there is something like 15-20 steps in processing flax into linen fabric. That is one big reason for the high price tag--linen is labor intensive to produce. If you live in a dry climate it would be important to refold linen items and wash them even if not used because they can eventually "break" on a fold line from dryness(since it weakens the fibers). Thanks for the quilting ideas! I am thinking of using soft old linen towels sewn together as-is for a quilt back.

[jenedelwilcox]

I have a tote full of linen clothing harvested (love that term) from resale shops. I read somewhere it's good to use a larger seam allowance because of the ravelling. Thanks for your videos. I have also harvested men's cotton shirts. I made a quilt from denim, shirting, and silk ties, in the bow tie pattern. I called it "Casual Friday." Keep up your good work.

[ladyflimflam]

IKEA carries linen dish towels that I’ve been buying. Love them. I have some dead stock Irish linen sheets I discovered in my grandmother’s basement that I’m hoarding.

[naturegirl]

I've just recently come across your videos and didn't want to watch them at first as thought Id never make a quilt out of old clothing. But I am so glad I decided to watch at least one. You share lots of great information and are the most delightful person to listen to. I am a novice at quilting and love linen fabric. It is soooo expensive to buy here in Australia. $25 to $30 a meter so I'm off to the Opp Shops tomorrow to see what I can find. Have you ever made a quilt out of linen? i would love to see it if you have.

[patrickfrericks]

Linen that is woven for the "fast clothing" market it not woven very tight, which is why it wrinkles so easily. I personally do not make quilts from linen clothing. I buy linen by the yard and use at least 7.5oz weave. Or I use antique/vintage linen because it is a tighter weave which will not wrinkle hardly at all. BTW I truly enjoy your videos.

[teresacesario]

Excellent video thank you so much! And that quilt for Wells is gorgeous!

[LoriTianSailiata]

What a beautiful linen postage stamp quilt. I would be tempted to English Paper Piece that. 💕💕💕

[nancymathisen]

The term towhead, referring to a blonde haired person, derives from a word used in the linen making process, because of the resemblance to blonde hair of the fibers before spinning.

[AnitaSouthall]

Great discussion. I mix all types of fabric and sometimes I have linen in the mixture.

[tinkerbell]

Hi Cathy, love the Diane Keaton look! I am totally a coastal Grannie with 5 grandchildren! I wear lot of linen, and some I have had a long time. It just wears to a soft buttery fabric, and is so lovely. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from UK

[coreygilles]

I love when quilts get all crinkly and soft

[ag]

Thanks Kathy! Wow this was wonderful lessons on linen which convinced me it’s not for me! I do remember wearing linen, ironing the heck out out of it and after I put it on it was wrinkled again, 😂. I did go to the thrift store yesterday and found 2 linen shirts which were striped and yes, I left them there because I didn’t think anything would match the colors. After watching your informative video I’m glad I didn’t buy them. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and providing another excellent video.

[renatekauker]

Dear Kathy, thank you so much for this video. I actually have a nice amount of linnen but always was scared of using it.
And I am keen on going to the benefit store to get some more, but have to wait 3 weeks to get there, because I had broken my leg the other day. So I hope there will be left enough for me 😅
Warm greetings from Germany, Renate

[argyle]

Every time I brush my grey hair, I will think it’s just like linen, special and beautiful

[sueharber]

Oh wow! I actually got a linen shirt to "harvest" ( my daughter hates it when I say that 😂😂) and now I can't wait to use it, I have a baby quilt to make, so its obviously going to be washed a lot, and I'm going to use that linen shirt - thank you!!