Linen is a naturally occurring fabric that is cool to the touch, silky, and adaptable. It is widely used for anything from summer clothes to absorbent dish towels. One of the first known natural fibres is linen, mostly prized for its luxury, grace, and toughness.
About Linen Fabric
Made from flax fibres, linen is a lightweight, environmentally friendly fabric. Linum usitatissimum, an annual blooming plant that reaches a height of three to four feet, is the source of flax. The seeds yield flax milk and linseed oil, while the taller types of flax plant produce fabric.
The longer the fibre, the taller the flax plant. It is significantly more durable than cotton and the strongest natural fibre in the world. The flax plant prefers full sun and moist soil, grows quickly in temperate areas, and is ready for harvesting after 100 days.
Nowadays, linen is mostly produced for a small number of textile items; it is essentially a niche commodity. The lengthy and difficult procedures required to produce linen have made it unpopular despite its rich heritage. Ironically, production issues were what first made linen production unprofitable thousands of years ago. Although the difficulties modern producers face are very different from those faced by their ancient counterparts, producing this fabric is still tough and costly.
Production Process Of Linen Fabric
Flax fibre makers begin by removing the fibres from the woody interior of the flax stems in order to prepare for the production of linen. In the past, manufacturers would soak raw flax stalks to complete this procedure, but in the present day, manufacturers might utilise chemicals instead. These chemicals are removed by washing before flax fibres are spun into yarn, although leftover harmful materials could still be present on chemically separated flax fibre. These are the steps:
- In order to preserve the length of the fibres, flax plants are taken from the ground as opposed to chopped.
- After that, the plants are left in the field to partially degrade, which facilitates the separation of the flax plant’s fibres.
- To soften even further, the removed fibres are kept inside for a few months.
- The flax fibres are combed after they have softened to remove further dirt and debris and to separate the long and short fibres.
- To create a softer yarn, the long fibres are twisted and spun when wet. Clothes and bed linens are made from these longer fibres.
- Much stronger linen becomes the end result when the short linen fibres are twisted together after drying. These shorter fibres are utilised for stitching strong materials like leather or for upholstery.
Uses Of Linen Fabric
Manufacturers are capable of using linen to create almost anything typically made of wool or cotton. This fabric, for example, can be used to create a wide range of formal and casual clothing items, including dresses, skirts, jackets, blazers, vests, and shirts. Furthermore, linen is still your go-to fabric for nightgowns and dressing robes, as well as lingerie and undergarments.
Another area where cotton has essentially replaced linen is bedding, while linen sheets and pillowcases are still available. One benefit of using linen for bedding is its durability. You can use more thread counts in linen than in cotton without worrying about it wearing out. The manufacture of painting canvases is one of the few industrial uses for linen.
Beyond the clothing industry, linen is still a popular material for home furnishings. While cotton is more popular these days for towels, linen is still a frequent material for napkins and tablecloths. Hand towels, kitchen towels, and bath towels consist of linen also.
Types Of Linen Fabric
Different types of linen can be identified by their weave pattern, texture, and method of weaving. They include the following:
Damask linen
Damask linen is a delicate and elaborate type of linen fabric woven on specialised looms. The cloth has an embroidery-like appearance. Instead of making use of it for clothing and other purposes, it is typically employed in craft goods.
Plain woven linen
Hand towels, dish towels, and cotton towels are what you can frequently make from plain-woven linen. It doesn’t significantly lose durability because of its very loose weave, which makes it highly durable.
Loosely woven linen
Although loosely woven linen is the least lasting kind, it is quite absorbent. Sanitary napkins and reusable diapers are two prominent uses for it.
Sheeting linen
This tightly woven fabric is frequently used to make linen bedding and clothing. Its surface is soft and lacking in roughness. Generally speaking, the thread count is high, creating a sturdy, thick fabric.
Linen blend
Combining the greatest features of cotton and linen, linen blend material used with cotton improves wearability and softness while reducing the likelihood of wrinkles. In addition, linen blends are more affordable than pure linen.
Cost Of A Yard Of Linen Fabric
In Nigeria, you can buy a yard of linen fabric for as low as N7,023 and as high as N16,500 or more. It all depends on the type of linen fabric, vendor and exchange rate of dollar at the moment.
You can check out these online stores for quality and original linen fabric:
Satin Fabric: Types, Characteristics, Uses And Cost
Chiffon Fabric: Types, Uses And Cost
Lace Fabric: How Much Does A Yard Of Lace Cost?
Organza Material: How Much Does A Yard Cost?
Life Insurance Policy: Types And Cost
Crocs: How Much Does A Pair Cost In Nigeria?
MTN 5G Router: Price And Benefits
Current Price Of 10kg Mama’s Pride Nigerian Parboiled Rice
Solar Panel Systems: How Affordable Are They?