The Quilt Skipper

quilting makes me skip for joy

Jenny K Lyon

Quilting makes me skip for joy

Linen-offensive?

This is a departure from my normal post, but this subject keeps recurring and I am perplexed. I like to wear linen in the summer. I like linen because it is the most comfortable of all fibers when it’s hot and humid; it breathes. By comparison, cotton will suffocate you and stick when it’s hot and humid. I just walked the Basset-in-Chief in 103 degree heat and I was actually comfy in my linen dress.

So this linen thing was fine until I moved to the west coast 11 years ago. Now, when I wear linen here, people seem compelled to comment directly to me their dislike for the fabric.

Case in point: Three years ago I made this ensemble consisting of a linen sheath and silk jacket. I don’t do matchy-matchy, so the sheath was a subtle buttery colored linen and the jacket a light seafoam green silk. I received comments like: Why did you show two different outfits together? and Why did you use hopsack for the dress? Hopsack? Really?

That was my first clue that some not only dislike linen, but they are actually offended by it. I can’t imagine another fiber eliciting such a  response, like Why are you wearing cotton?another fiber

I recently purchased this dress and wore it to a quilt shop; lovely shop, one of my favs. I had someone make a point of coming over to me to say: What, you didn’t feel like ironing today or is that linen again?

I know sometimes linen, used improperly in clothing, can be a rumpled, wrinkled mess. This was not the case. There were no deep wrinkles, just the lovely patina that is natural with this natural fiber.

Is this me or do you think linen is best used in home decor? Am I to avoid politics, religion…and linen?

By the way, the offending outfit was juried into Houston International Quilt Festival; they liked it, giggle!

Comments

  1. Pretty funny. I grew up in the South, the deep South, home of Colonel Sanders and linen suits even for men. I LOVE the fabric. As you know, I now live in California. I hadn’t noticed this prejudice but am not shocked to hear it. I’m with you, linen is the greatest for hot weather, a lovely fabric that comes in wonderful colors/weights. Maybe we should head out, both wearing linen and shock the world!

  3. I love linen, too. Yeah, it needs ironing. So! Those who don’t know fine fabrics will never understand, those of us who do are from a “different place.” Natural fibers always get my vote. Stick to your guns, girl. Polyester – not that’s offensive! ;-)

  4. I love linen, too. Yeah, it needs ironing. So! Those who don’t know fine fabrics will never understand, those of us who do are from a “different place.” Natural fibers always get my vote. Stick to your guns, girl. Polyester – now that’s offensive! ;-)

  5. You can tell “fiber” people, from that “different place”-we get passionate about such things! And we pet fabrics and admire the qualities of each natural fiber.

  7. See,what’s curious to me is that people comment. It’s just odd-I don’t get comments on other fibers.

  8. Jenny, their comments say more about them than your choice of fabric. It’s impolite to make comments about others’ appearance, unless it’s general and positive. Don’t take them to heart.

    As you know, I LOVE LINEN, and have been known to wear heavier weight linen long past Labor Day. Rules, as they say….

    XO

  11. Thanks for the heads up Marcia-oh I NEED more fabric also! I’m heading over-just to look…

  12. I am wearing a linen blouse right now. I bought it at Target not too long ago, and I’m finding out how comfortable this blouse is. I get too hot and too cold easily, so I love that this fabric breathes. I wish I sew, so I can make my own linen clothing. Is it hard to learn? Is the material hard to work with?

    Thank you for writing this post. I have been looking for places where to buy linen blouses. (I’m 27 and I never iron. My mother is always after me, since she thinks it reflects badly on her, as my mom, that I’m walking around in wrinkled clothes.)

  13. I’ve been out of town-just got your post. I’m glad you understand how lovely linen is! If you want to learn to sew, find a great store in your area to teach you. It is not intuitive and does take time to learn, but it’s so rewarding! Hope you are able to begin sewing your own lovely clothes!

    • To gailT,
      Like Jenny, I encourage you to find a place to learn to sew. Linen is a good fabric to learn on because it is stable and isn’t difficult to handle like some more loosely woven fabrics. Try your local community college to see if it offers any clothing construction classes. You will learn that the iron is the seamstresses most used tool next to the sewing machine, and maybe the seam ripper. ;-)

      The American Sewing Guild. http://www.asg.org, is now offering online technique classes to members. If there is a chapter in your area, there might be someone in the guild who teaches beginners. There are many ways to learn. Good luck.