Linen Curtain

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Linen

Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather. It is superior to cotton in this regard.

obey">http://www.himfr.com/buy-obey_shirts/">obey shirtsTextiles in linen weave pattern made of cotton, hemp and other non-flax fibers may also be loosely, if improperly, referred to as "linen", which can make the exact meaning of the word linen, depending on the context. Such fabrics generally have their own specific names other than linen, for example, fine cotton yarn in linen weave is called Madapolam

The collective term linens is still often used generically to describe a class of woven and even knitted bed, bath, table and kitchen textiles. The name linens is retained because traditionally, linen was used for many of these items. In the past, the word "linens" was also used to mean lightweight undergarments such as shirts, chemises, waistshirts, lingerie, and detachable shirt collars and cuffs, which were manufactured almost exclusively of linen.

Linen textiles appear to be some of the oldest in the world: their history goes back many thousands of years. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibers, yarns, and various types of fabrics which date back to about 8000 B.C. have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Linen was used in the Mediterranean in the pre-Christian age.

Linen was sometimes used as currency in ancient Egypt. Egyptian mummies were wrapped in linen because it was seen as a symbol of light and purity, and as a display of wealth. Some of these fabrics, woven from hand spun yarns, were extremely fine, and cannot be matched by modern spinning techniques.

Today linen is usually an expensive textile, and is produced in relatively small quantities. It has a long "staple" (individual fiber length) relative to cotton and other natural fibers. [1]
Flax fiber

Flax fibers vary in length from about 25 to 150 centimeters (18 to 55 in) and average 12-16 micrometers in diameter. There are two varieties: shorter tow fibers used for coarser fabrics and longer line fibres used for finer fabrics. Flax fibers can usually be identified by their “nodes” which add to the flexibility and texture of the fabric.

The cross-section of the linen fiber is made up of irregular polygonal shapes which contribute to the coarse texture of the fabric. [2]

Highly absorbent and a good conductor of heat, linen fabric feels cool to the touch. Linen is the strongest of the vegetable fibers, with 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton. It is smooth, making the finished fabric lint free, and gets softer the more it is washed. However, constant creasing in the same place in sharp folds will tend to break the linen threads. This wear can show up in collars, hems, and any area that is iron creased during laundering. Linen has poor elasticity and does not spring back readily, explaining why it wrinkles so easily.

Linen fabrics have a high natural luster; their natural color ranges between shades of ivory, ecru, tan, or grey. Pure white linen is created by heavy bleaching. Linen typically has a thick and thin character with a crisp and textured feel to it, but it can range from stiff and rough, to soft and smooth. When properly prepared, linen fabric has the ability to absorb and lose water rapidly. It can gain up to 20% moisture without feeling damp.[citation needed]

When freed from impurities, linen is highly absorbent and will quickly remove perspiration from the skin. Linen is a stiff fabric and is less likely to cling to the skin; when it billows away, it tends to dry out and become cool so that the skin is being continually touched by a cool surface. It is a very durable, strong fabric, and one of the few that are stronger wet than dry. The fibers do not stretch and are resistant to damage from abrasion. However, because linen fibers have a very low elasticity, the fabric will eventually break if it is folded and ironed at the same place repeatedly.

Mildew, perspiration, and bleach can also damage the fabric, but it is resistant to moths and carpet beetles. Linen is relatively easy to take care of, since it resists dirt and stains, has no lint or pilling tendency, and can be dry cleaned, machine washed or steamed. It can withstand high temperatures, and has only moderate initial shrinkage. [2]

Linen should not be dried too much by tumble drying: it is much easier to iron when damp. Linen wrinkles very easily, and so some more formal linen garments require ironing often, in order to maintain perfect smoothness. Nevertheless the tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of the fabric's particular "charm", and a lot of modern linen garments are designed to be air dried on a good hanger and worn without the necessity of ironing.

A characteristic often associated with contemporary linen yarn is the presence of "slubs", or small knots which occur randomly along its length. However, these slubs are actually defects associated with low quality. The finest linen has very consistent diameter threads, with no slubs.

The standard measure of bulk linen yarn is the lea. This is a specific length, or indirect grist system, i.e. the number of length units per unit mass. A yarn having a size of 1 lea will give 300 yards per pound. The fine yarns used in handkerchiefs, etc. might be 40 lea, and give 40x300 = 12,000 yards per pound. The symbol is NeL.

More commonly used in continental Europe is the Metric system, Nm. This is the number of 1,000 m lengths per kilogram.

In China, the English Cotton system unit, NeC, is common. This is the number of 840 yard lengths in a pound.

The quality of the finished linen product is often dependent upon growing conditions and harvesting techniques. To generate the longest possible fibers, flax is either hand-harvested by pulling up the entire plant or stalks are cut very close to the root. After harvesting, the seeds are removed through a mechanized process called “rippling” or by winnowing.

The fibers must then be loosened from the stalk. This is achieved through retting. This is a process which uses bacteria to decompose the pectin that binds the fibers together. Natural retting methods take place in tanks and pools, or directly in the fields. There are also chemical retting methods; these are faster, but are typically more harmful to the environment and to the fibers themselves.

After retting, the stalks are ready for “scutching”, which takes place between August and December. Scutching removes the woody portion of the stalks by crushing them between two metal rollers, so that the parts of the stalk can be separated. The fibers are removed and the other parts such as linseed, shive, and tow are set aside for other uses. The short fibers are separated with heckling combs by 'combing' them away, to leave behind only the long, soft flax fibers.

After the fibers have been separated and processed, they are typically spun into yarns and woven or knit into linen textiles. These textiles can then be bleached, dyed, printed on, or finished with a number of treatments or coatings. [2][3]

An alternate production method is known as “cottonizing” which is quicker and requires less equipment. The flax stalks are processed using traditional cotton machinery; however, the finished fibers often lose the characteristic linen look.

Flax is grown in many parts of the world, but top quality flax is primarily grown in Western Europe. In very recent years bulk linen production has moved to Eastern Europe and China, but high quality fabrics are still confined to niche producers in Ireland, Italy and Belgium.

Over the past 30 years the end use for linen has changed dramatically. Approximately 70% of linen production in the 1990s was for apparel textiles whereas in the 1970s only about 5% was used for fashion fabrics.

Linen uses range from bed and bath fabrics (tablecloths, dish towels, bed sheets, etc.), home and commercial furnishing items (wallpaper/wall coverings, upholstery, window treatments, etc.), apparel items (suits, dresses, skirts, shirts, etc.), to industrial products (luggage, canvases, sewing thread, etc.).[1] It was once the preferred yarn for handsewing the uppers of moccasin-style shoes (loafers), but its use has been replaced by synthetics.

A linen handkerchief, pressed and folded to display the corners, was a standard decoration of a well-dressed man's suit during most of the first part of the 20th century.

Currently researchers are working on a cotton/flax blend to create new yarns which will improve the feel of denim during hot and humid weather.[4]

Linen fabric is one of the preferred traditional supports for oil painting. In the United States cotton is popularly used instead as linen is many times more expensive there, restricting its use to professional painters. In Europe however, linen is usually the only fabric support available in art shops. Linen is preferred to cotton for its strength, durability and archival integrity.

In the past linen was also used for books (the only surviving example of which is the Liber Linteus). Due to its strength, in the Middle Ages linen was used for shields and gambeson (among other roles such as use for a bowstring), much like how in Classical antiquity and Hellenistic Greece linen was used to make multi-plied Hoplite cuirasses. Also because of its strength when wet, Irish linen is a very popular wrap of pool/billiard cues, due to its absorption of sweat from hands. Paper made of linen can be very strong and crisp, which is why the United States and many other countries print their currency on paper that is made from 25% linen and 75% cotton.

Linen has been used for table coverings, bed coverings and clothing for centuries. The exclusivity of linen stems from the fact that it is difficult and time consuming to produce (flax in itself requires a great deal of attention in its growth). Flax is difficult to weave because of its lack of elasticity, and therefore is more expensive to manufacture than cotton. The benefits of linen however, are unmatched.

The Living Linen Project was set up in 1995 as an Oral Archive of the knowledge of the Irish linen industry still available within a nucleus of people who were formerly working in the industry in Ulster . There is a long history of linen in Ireland.

The use of linen for priestly vestments was not confined to the Israelites, but from Plutarch, who lived and wrote one hundred years after the birth of Christ, we know that also the priests of Isis wore linen because of its purity.

When the tomb of the Pharaoh Ramesses II, who died 1213 BC, was discovered in 1881, the linen wrappings were in a state of perfect preservation - after more than 3000 years.

In the Belfast Library there is preserved the mummy of "Kaboolie,' the daughter of a priest of Ammon, who died 2,500 years ago. The linen on this mummy is in a like state of perfection. When the tomb of Tutankamen was opened, the linen curtains were found intact.

In olden days, in almost every country, each family grew flax and wove the linen for its own use; but the earliest records of an established linen industry are 4,000 years old, and come to us from Egypt. The earliest written documentation of a linen industry comes from the Linear B tablets of Pylos, Greece, where linen is depicted as an ideogram and also written as "ri-no" (Greek: ?????, linon), and the female linen workers are catalogued as "ri-ne-ja" (??????, lineia)[5][6].

The Phoenicians, who, with their merchant fleet, opened up new channels of commerce to the peoples of the Mediterranean, besides developing the tin mines of Cornwall, introduced flax growing and the making of linen into Ireland before the birth of Christ, but the internal dissensions, which even in those early days were prevalent in Erin, militated against the establishment of an organized industry, and it is not until the twelfth century that we can find records of a definite attempt to systematize flax production.

When the Edict of Nantes was revoked, in A.D. 1695, many of the Huguenots who had to flee the country settled in the British Isles, and amongst them was Louis Crommelin, who was born, and brought up as a weaver of fine linen, in the town of Cambrai. He fled to Ulster, and eventually settled down in the small town of Lisburn, about ten miles from Belfast.

During the late war Cambrai became well known as one of the centers of the most desperate fighting. The name "cambric" is derived from this town.

Although the linen industry was already established in Ulster, Louis Crommelin found scope for improvement in weaving, and his efforts were so successful that he was appointed by the Government to develop the industry over a much wider range .than the small confines of Lisburn and its surroundings. The direct result of his good work was the establishment, under statute, of the Board of Trustees of the Linen Manufacturers of Ireland in the year 1711.

In the Jewish religion, the only law concerning which fabrics may be used together in clothing regards the mixture of linen and wool. This mixture is called shaatnez and is clearly restricted in Deuteronomy 22:11 "Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together" and Leviticus 19:19, "'...neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together.'" There is no explanation for this in the Torah and any attempt to explain the restriction is generally considered futile. This is a type of law known as hukim, a statute beyond man's ability to comprehend.

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Croscill Fabric Shower Curtain Liner, Linen List Price: $15.00 Sale Price: $11.64 You save: $3.36 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Croscill's Fabric Shower Curtain Liners are 100% Polyester and water repellent. Use the tone on tone stripe curtain alone or as a protective liner for your decorative shower curtain. The curtain has leaded beads in the bottom hem and metal grommets to hang from at the top edge. Features Fabric shower curtain liner for an effective water barrier Use to protect a decorative shower curtain or hang it by itself 100-percent polyester; repels water and dries quickly between showers Metal grommets in the upper hem; leaded beads in the bottom hem Measures 70 by 72 inches; machine washable for easy care

InterDesign Carlton Long Shower Curtain, Linen List Price: $21.99 Sale Price: $17.85 You save: $4.14 (19%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Add a contemporary look to your bathroom's decor with the Carlton Shower Curtain. Made of 100-percent polyester this great looking shower curtain is both fade and wrinkle resistant. The reinforced button holes and hem to keep it strong year after year. Generously sized at 72 inches by 84 inches. Features Great contemporary design Reinforced top hem and reinforced buttonholes Colors will not fade after repeated washing 100-Percent polyester Generously sized at 72 inches by 84 inches

InterDesign York Shower Curtain, Linen List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $24.71 You save: $0.28 (1%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Our classic york shower curtain with it's timeless distinctive waffle weave adds simplistic warmth to your shower will enhancing any décor. Features Cotton/Poly blend combines look and feel of cotton with superior performance of polyester Reinforced top hem with rust proof metal grommets Elegant drape with a generous 72-inch width and 72-inch length Distinctive, double-sided waffle pattern will remain wash after wash in colors which match InterDesign's spa rugs Use of InterDesign's 100-percent waterproof polyester liner is recommended

Luxury Brown, Cream Beige with Floral Linen Window Curtain / Drape Set with Sheer Backing-treatment Draperies List Price: $63.99 Sale Price: $29.99 You save: $34.00 (53%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Window treatments add refinement and style to otherwise dull, boring windows. Shutters and awnings decorate the outside of your house, while blinds, shades, cornices, trim and draperies enhance the inside appeal. Update your home decor with our elegant designer selected window treatment. It will add ambiance details to any room in the house and present luxury and beauty of the home. Features Each curtain set include 2 panel and 2 tie back. Each panel size: 60" x 84" in inch. 18" Valance Drop. Sheer backing are attach to the curtain. Easy Care- Machine Washable Fabric Content 100 % Polyester < matching comforter set available >

Logan Large Scale Plaid Tailored Tier Curtains, 68-Inch-by-24 Inch, Linen List Price: $16.99 Sale Price: $10.97 You save: $6.02 (35%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Logan Plaid Tailored Tier Pair Of Drape Panels--Country style charm is what the Logan Plaid Curtain Program brings to your decorating style. The soft 100-percent cotton duck fabric creates a softer texture and smoother draping effect and that some times can't be achieved with inferior synthetic fabrics. You are sure to get a curtain that makes any room warm and inviting with the large scale 5 inch Monochromatic plaid pattern. Tailored Tier curtains are used to cover the lower portion of your windows or used alone on shorter length windows. They are commonly used in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens or any other windows where privacy is wanted. Tailored tier curtains can be combined with a choice of three coordinating Logan Plaid valance top treatments that are also available thru Amazon. Each curtain is constructed with standard rod pockets and 3 inch hems. Sold in pairs (2 Panels) Length is measured overall 24 inches from header top (above the rod pocket) to bottom of panel. Width is measured overall 68 inches per pair of panels (both 34" panels together) Also available are matching Tailored Pair Panels with Tiebacks, Valences, Throw Pillows, Chair Pads and Shower Curtain. Made in the USA, Dry clean only Features 100-Percent cotton duck fabric for smoother draping effect Standard rod pockets; 3-inch hems Large scale 5-inch Monochromatic plaid pattern creates a classic, warm and inviting feel to any room Measurements 68-inch overall width (both 34-inch panels combined) 24-inch overall length Made in the USA; Dry clean recommended

Logan Solid Color 68-Inch by 24-Inch Tailored Tier Curtains, Linen Sale Price: $16.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Logan Solid Color Tailored Tier Pair of Drape Panels--Simple yet elegant is what the Logan Solid Curtain Program brings to your decorating style. The soft 100-percent cotton duck fabric creates a softer texture and smoother draping effect and that some times can't be achieved with inferior synthetic fabrics. You are sure to get a curtain that’s beautiful, functional and long lasting. Tailored Tier curtains are used to cover the lower portion of your windows or used alone on shorter length windows. They are commonly used in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens or any other windows where privacy is wanted. Tailored tier curtains can be combined with a choice of three coordinating Logan Solid Color valance top treatments that are also available thru Amazon. Each curtain is constructed with standard rod pockets and 3 inch hems. Sold in pairs (2 Panels) Length is measured overall 24 inches from header top (above the rod pocket) to bottom of panel. Width is measured overall 68 inches per pair of panels (both 34-inch panels together) Also available are matching Tailored Pair Panels with Tiebacks, Valences, Tie Up Shade, Throw Pillows, Shower Curtain, Bed Skirts/Dust Ruffles and Shams. Made in the USA, Dry clean only Features 100-Percent cotton duck fabric for smoother draping effect Standard rod pockets; 3-inch hems; Simple solid color fabric creates an updated look and softer feel to any room Measurements 68-inch overall width (both 34-inch panels combined) 24-inch overall length Made in the USA; Dry clean recommended

Carnation Home Fashions 72 by 72-Inch Vinyl Window Shower Curtain, Linen List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $11.88 You save: $3.11 (21%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Vinyl Shower Curtain with Clear Window Features Lets light into the shower area while maintaining privacy Anti bacterial Features metal grommets Durable and long lasting design Standard size 72" x 72"

Maytex Linen Stripe Shower Curtain List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $17.13 You save: $7.86 (31%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Printed on polyester, this neutral striped fabric shower curtain is slighted puckered for textured feel. Features Single shower curtain from Maytex Mills Sewn from a polyester/linen blend; machine washable on cold setting; do not iron Features vertical neutral stripes; slightly puckered material for textural effect Liner and hooks not included Measures 70 inches wide by 72 inches long

Sheer Linen Mesh Window Curtain 116"x84" Pair - IVORY List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $39.99 You save: $10.00 (20%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Best Home Fashion introduces the new sheer linen mesh curtains. These curtains refresh windows in a linen-cotton weave that creates a beautiful dappled effect in direct light. Elegant shimmering panel curtain adds a hint of color to your home's decor. These value-for-quality sheers also look great layered with other curtain panels. Features Decorate every window with style and sophistication. Allows natural light to flow through the room Have pocket insert that create a clean, tailored look on a decorative rod. Hang with standard or decorative rod and brackets (not included) Each panel measures 58 inches wide x 84 inches long, 100% polyester, mashine washable.

Logan Large Scale Plaid Tailored Panel Pair Curtains with Tiebacks, 68-Inch-by-63 Inch, Linen List Price: $35.99 Sale Price: $32.30 You save: $3.69 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Logan Plaid Tailored Pair Of Drape Panels with Tiebacks--Country style charm is what the Logan Plaid Curtain Program brings to your decorating style. The soft 100-percent cotton duck fabric creates a softer texture and smoother draping effect that some times can't be achieved with inferior synthetic fabrics. You are sure to get a curtain that makes any room warm and inviting with the large scale 5 inch Monochromatic plaid pattern. Each curtain is constructed with standard rod pockets, 3 inch hems and includes 2 standard tiebacks. Sold in pairs (2 Panels) Length is measured overall 63 inches from header top (ruffle above the rod pocket) to bottom of panel. Width is measured overall 68 inches per pair of panels (both 34" panels together) Logan Plaid Tailored Panel Pair Curtains can be combined with a choice of three coordinating Logan Plaid valance top treatments that are also available thru Amazon. Also coordinates wonderfully with the Logan Solid Color Curtain Program on Amazon. Available are matching Tailored Tier Curtains, Valences, Throw Pillows, Shower Curtains and Chair Pads. Made in the USA, Dry clean only Features 100-Percent cotton duck fabric for smoother draping effect Standard rod pockets; 3-inch hems; Includes 2 standard tiebacks Large scale 5-inch Monochromatic plaid pattern creates a classic, warm and inviting feel to any room Measurements 68-inch overall width (both 34-inch panels combined) 63-inch overall length Made in the USA; Dry clean recommended