10 Top Tips for Sewing with Linen
Linen is one of the most pleasurable fabrics to work with. It not only looks super professional once you're finished (regardless of how experienced you are at making things) but it's also a dream to sew.
If you've been browsing our linen fabrics and haven't quite made up your mind, here's why it's a great choice for a home sewing project. Plus, we've created ten top tips for sewing with linen so you can create something beautiful that you'll love for years to come.
Pros of sewing with linen
- It won't stretch while you're sewing
- It hides imperfections thanks to its natural texture and slub
- It's easy to sew, both by hand and on a machine
- It's machine washable and can be tumble dried
- It's highly versatile, so you can use it for a range of projects from upholstery to clothing
Cons of linen fabric
- It is prone to shrinkage, so it needs to be pre-washed before sewing
- It frays, which means edges need to be properly finished
Tips for sewing with linen
1. Choose the right weight - for summer clothing you need a lighter linen, whereas for a suit or home textiles we suggest a medium weight. For upholstery you'll need a heavy weight linen that can withstand lots of wear.
2. Pre-wash your linen fabric- Due to its tendency to shrink on a first wash many retailers sell pre-washed linen fabric. If you buy linen that hasn't been pre-washed, make sure you run it through a hot wash before you start working with it. Even if your finished garment will be cool-washed, it's good to use hot water for this first wash to ensure you reduce the chances of any further shrinkage. If the fabric care instructions suggest otherwise, follow their advice as different fabrics may require alternative treatment.
3. Press or iron - Even if one of the things you love about linen is its natural creases and crinkles, it's easier to sew cleanly and crisply if your fabric is pressed. Once you've pre-washed and air dried the fabric, press with a press cloth or iron according to the care instructions.
4. Use white tailor's chalk or pencil - Some erasable pens can ruin fabric so we suggest using white tailor's chalk or specialist marking pencil to mark up your fabric ready for cutting and sewing.
5. Follow the fabric - When you're ready to cut your pattern, follow the weave and texture of your fabric. Some patterns will make it obvious which way to work, but you should also try to follow the grain as you cut. Use a rotary cutter on heavy linen fabric or good scissors on lighter material.
6. Finish properly - Because linen unravels it's important to pay attention to your edges. Overlock or zig-zag edging to avoid fraying, or clean-finish if that's easier.
7.Wash your garment - Once you've finished sewing it's a good idea to run the garment through a cool wash and tumble dry (if the linen instructions indicate it's suitable for tumble drying).
8. Press or iron again - If you don't like ironing we promise this will be the last time you have to do it! A final press will take care of any further slight shrinkage from the last wash and return the garment to its proper size and shape.
9. Use up your scraps - At Linenbeauty we're committed to reducing waste and ensuring we're as sustainable as possible. We use all our offcuts and scraps to create smaller items like placemats or napkins, and these are easy to make at home too if you have any leftover fabric.
10. Spread the word! - When you're out and about wearing your newly-finished linen clothes, or happily plumping your gorgeous new homemade cushions, make sure to tell everyone about the joys of sewing with linen! The more people who switch to this environmentally-friendly, beautiful fabric for their sewing projects the better.
Show us your linen fabric creations by tagging us on your pics: we're on Facebook here and Instagram at @linenme.
We'd love to see what you've been making!
