Monday, October 30, 2017

Why is Flax Linen So Expensive?? The Process Of Creating a Flax Linen Textile

This is a repost from 5 years ago. I wanted to share again because the process of creating flax linen is fascinating!

Imperial Trellis
Why is it so expensive?!


When Fran contacted me about making this shade for her two years ago I had not yet heard of Imperial Trellis. She sent me the fabric and I made the shade all the while noticing how FABULOUS this fabric was to work with. It did everything I wanted it to. It was flawless. I said to myself, "I have got to find out what this amazing fabric is!" So I looked it up and was so glad she didn't tell me its list price before I made it--it would have made me a little nervous. . .  

Normally when I sew a shade I first mark the measurements on it with a disappearing ink pen marking them at a 1/2" wider and longer than the given measurements because when we turn the fabric inside out after sewing the main fabric to the lining we lose some of the width and length in the seam. But with Imperial Trellis I can mark at the exact given measurements and when I turn it out it will be exactly what I measured. I have yet to find another fabric that will do that.

Mandarin


The current list price with Schumacher if you don't have an account  with them is $206.00 per yard!!! Often I get people that email me from my website saying, "You have Imperial Trellis listed with a three digit number for yardage! I think there is a typo." And I say, "Nope. That's what it costs. Painful, I know."

Citrine


WHY?
First and foremost it is a matter of supply and demand. The Imperial Trellis design itself is extremely popular right now. To meet the demand they have to increase the price.

Imperial Trellis is printed on 100% flax linen. Why is that so special, I asked myself. A quick visit over to Wikipedia tells me that flax is often retrieved from the earth manually as more of the stalk can be harvested that way vs. when it is mechanically harvested. 

There is a very long process the flax must go through before it is spun and made into its "thread form" for weaving into fabric. First it must be harvested. 
Then it undergoes a process called "retting" where the inner part of the stalk is rotted away but the coarse outer fibers and straw (flax) are still intact. 
Next, the flax is "dressed." This is the term used for the step when the flax straw is separated from the coarse fibers in what is left of the stalk.



Dressing the flax has a whole process in itself. It is difficult to do and so there are many methods to do it. You can "break" it by putting the flax stalks in a breaker machine which beats the stalks until they are soft and pliable. You can "scrutch" the flax with a scrutching knife by hanging the stalks vertically and striking the stalks with the scrutching knife causing the coarse fibers to break away from the flax straw. Or it can be "heckled." A heckle is a bed of nails that separates the flax straw from the fibers.

FINALLY, when all that is left is the straw, it is ready to be spun into linen!

Long story short (too late!) Imperial Trellis is printed on a natural fiber that undergoes a scrutinous process before it can even be spun. And that is why it is so expensive. But I will tell you from personal experience that it is so worth it. It is a fabulous product.

Java


While Shumacher has it listed at ridiculous dollars per yard, my girl Lynn Chalk has all the color ways available for $125! And, I never thought I'd say this about a triple digit number for yardage, but that's a steal!

navy

It is a very expensive fabric, but it is worth it. It is stunning to look at, has tons of fullness and adds a softness to any room. One of my favorites!!



Friday, October 27, 2017

Fabric Find- Lacefield Zoe


Fabric Find!!!

I have another fabulous fabric find for you!



It's a cotton fabric that drapes beautifully. And the 5.25" tall pattern repeat doesn't overwhelm the space. Here is what it looks like in action.




This fabric is great for extra wide shades because the pattern is very easy to match up.


It's also available in other colors. Here are some of my favorites. 

 Cocoa



The Peacock is on final sale and will be discontinued soon. Get your hands on it before it's gone it's gorgeous!


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Giveaway Tuesday! Holiday Pillow Covers!

Giveaway Tuesday!

Yesterday I posted a tutorial in One Yard Wonder on how to make an accent piece with a fabric that is too overwhelming to make a whole item out of. Today I would like to offer them as a giveaway item! These would make a great gift for that friend or family who member who is obsessed with Christmas!!! 


The giveaway is for a set of 16" square pillow covers made from white cotton for the base fabric and red metallic houndstooth custom made ribbon trim.


To enter, leave a comment below on the blog, Facebook or Instagram! In the comment, tell me which holiday decor item you plan to add to your collection this year.

Giveaway entries will be accepted through Thursday October 26th midnight ET.
Looking forward to hearing from you all!


Monday, October 23, 2017

One Yard Wonder Pillow

 One Yard Wonder
Pillow Cover

Do you ever find a fabric you love, but the pattern is too overwhelming to do one whole piece with it? I recommend making your own trim out of the overwhelming pattern an putting it on a solid fabric to make an accent pillow. And it only take a yard of fabric to make a pair! Here's how it's done!




First, measure and mark your pillow fabric. For a 16" cover. I do 16.5" by 16.5". Cut two of these for each pillow, front and back.


Then measure and cut your "overwhelming" fabric that you plan to use for your custom trim. For a 16" cover I did two strips of 4" wide by 18" long.



Because I am using a houndstooth pattern, I cut it so that when I lay the trims across each other the patterns will flow continuously in both directions,



Next, fold over the edges of your fabric and iron so that it is around 2" wide. Mine was around 2.25" wide. You can make it as wide or narrow as you want so that you can have as much of the pattern showing as you want.
(I have a layer of fabric in between my fabric and my iron because the fabric is metallic and the foil melts to the iron if direct contact is made).




Then mark on your fabric where you will place your trim. I put min inset 3". Then pin your trim in place. 



Sew on the trim. I sew as close to the edge as possible.



Sew in your zipper.




Erase all your marking with your iron. And if you're wondering how that works. . . . 



This is a product called "Frixion." It is an erasable marker. It is also available in pens. It erases because of the heat from rubbing the eraser against the mark. So I had the thought one day to see if iron heat wold erase it and it did! YOU'RE WELCOME! 
They are available at office supply stores. I buy them on Amazon.




Then turn your pillow out and fill it with the pillow form! Easy peasy!

These pillow covers will be offered tomorrow in GIVEAWAY TUESDAY!! Stay tuned to enter!



Thursday, October 19, 2017

Kinsale Quatrefoil and COUPON


It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been working on lots of upcoming projects like

  • Textiles by Melissa, a Window Treatments by Melissa fabric line

  • Expanding our service area to other countries

  • Expanding and improving the quality of our products

. . . and speaking of that. . .  if I have any followers in Canada that sew and would like to work with us, please email me! I'm in the market for more seamstresses!


 One of our new fabrics is called "Kinsale Quatrefoil." We currently offer it in metallics, but will be offering it in 13 other non metallic colors soon. Here are some projects we did in the Kinsale Quatrefoil.


One of my favorites!! This is black metallic Kinsale Quatrefoil. It looks great in this gray and white kitchen with black accents.

This relaxed roman shade is made from gold metallic Kinsale Quatrefoil. It is very soft and feminine in this little girl's nursery.

Silver metallic Kinsale Quatrefoil adds the perfect finishing touch to this teenagers retreat. And look at that light fixture!!!


Here's a sneak peak at the colors we will be offering soon in this pattern!


Are you entertaining for the end of the year holidays? Get your window Treatments order in now and use coupon HOLIDAY2017 in the Etsy shop to get 10% off. Coupon good through 10/22.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Fabric Find


Fabric Find:

Hello! I'm back to the blog after a long time away. There are too many wonderful things not to share with everyone!

There is a wonderful fabric a client sent me to make shades out of that I HAD to tell everyone about. Then when I went to find it fabric.com I discovered it's ON SALE!!! But that's because it is being discontinued soon. So get your hands on this before it's gone.



This is a shade made from the fabric. It's called Waverly Mermaid Jacquard Seaglass and is available on fabric.com.


The white design is raised, so the fabric has dimension. It is thick, smooth and shiny! Very feminine! 


It was too glorious not to share with everyone. Get it now before it is gone and send it my way for shade, pillows, duvets, you name it!