Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Differences in Linen Quality
cjoakley Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 1/31/13 Posts: 19	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 3/4/13 8:25 PM Can anyone shed any light as to why 100% linen ranges in price from 7.99 yard at Dharma Trading and places like Fabrics-store.com all the way up to $35/yard at Ulster Linen and a whopping $152/yard from Libeco? I suspect it may be the source of the flax/weaving/country of origin but I'm not really sure how there can be such a wide difference in pricing. Specifically does paying a lot more for the fabric result in corresponding difference in actual or perceived quality? Thanks for your help.
Vireya Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 12/10/05 Posts: 787	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/5/13 2:07 AM Isn't everything like that, though? Unless you can get hold of a bit of each, you probably aren't going to be able to tell what the differences are. Factors which might make a difference to the final price - country of origin, length of fibres, fineness of yarns, density of weave, other finishing (printing, type of dye, etc). Just like with cotton, or wool, or...
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2259	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/5/13 8:13 AM I can tell you there is a huge difference in fine Swiss batiste and regular 100% cotton batiste from say JoAnn's. It's a difference you can see and feel not just when you cut and sew but in the finished garment. Swiss batiste has a subtle sheen and the garments take on what we call in the south "expensive wrinkles". You really can't appreciate it until you see it. I'd love to get my hands on a linen swatch from all the sources you described. ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
Nancy K Advanced NY USA Member since 12/28/04 Posts: 7634	Login to reply to this post In reply to cjoakley << Like this post Date: 3/5/13 3:41 PM Quality can be very different in linen as well as weight and how many threads per inch. More tightly woven linen wears better with less stretching out, particularly if you are making pants with it. Send for samples and see what you like best. The $152 sounds like a lot. Try Mood fabrics, Marcy Tilton's website and emmaonesock, all have good quality linen. -- Edited on 3/5/13 3:42 PM -- ------ www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
Coconuts   Intermediate MI USA Member since 12/2/09 Posts: 1106	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/5/13 5:46 PM Michael's also has a new linen and silk mailer. ETA- Dharma is cheap because they sell undyed fabric. -- Edited on 3/5/13 5:47 PM --
knitstitcher   Intermediate NC Member since 8/17/10 Posts: 305	Login to reply to this post In reply to marymary86 << Like this post Date: 3/5/13 9:14 PM Quote: marymary86 I can tell you there is a huge difference in fine Swiss batiste and regular 100% cotton batiste from say JoAnn's. Not to get off topic but.....I've been looking for some good quality batiste. Where can I get my hands on the Swiss kind? ------ Lorri Bernina Artista 730, Babylock Evolution, Sailrite LSZ-1, Singer 201-2,
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2259	Login to reply to this post In reply to knitstitcher << Like this post Date: 3/5/13 9:33 PM I have some I'm willing to sell at a good discount compared to retail. You may email me at maryacavanaugh@gmail.com if you'd like to talk. You can also try the heirloom sites. I'm not up on them but Farmhouse Fabrics still has a website and you can also google Martha Pullen. I'm sure there are more. I loved dealing with Farmhouse Fabrics but it's been a long time. I assume it's the same people (good people and good quality fabric). I also have some silk batiste! ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
PattyE   Intermediate MI Member since 9/7/10 Posts: 676	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/5/13 11:25 PM NY Fashion Center Fabrics has wonderful linen. They also have batiste but I have not ordered any yet.
blue mooney Intermediate TX USA Member since 12/21/02 Posts: 1741	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/6/13 7:50 AM Farmhouse fabrics is still good to order from. I've gotten about 6 different fabrics from them (not batiste, although some of the cheaper stuff is on order) and it's all been very nice. ------ --Robyn sewing blog: http://bluemooney.wordpress.com/ illustration blog: http://storybooky.wordpress.com/
cjoakley Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 1/31/13 Posts: 19	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/6/13 1:06 PM Thanks everyone for your input - and for all the great new sources for linen - took a quick look at NY Fashion Center and wow - just looking at some of those colours/weaves does it for me! I agree that ordering swatches is the only way to really know if there's a difference so that's what I'm going to do (except for the Libeco linen - that's a bit out of my reach :). As the feel is so important to my application it will definitely be worth the extra lead time - although I know I won't enjoy the wait! Shipping to Canada seems to take so much longer...no doubt because it all has to go through customs - on the bright side I just discovered that thanks to NAFTA there isn't any duty payable on fabrics imported from the US - Yay!

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.