I’ve recently rediscovered linen, with all it’s lovely slubbiness and texture, ranging from rustic to delicate handkerchief, providing versatility for a variety of projects. Details such as hemstitch and fringe or tassels always catch my eye. Having a little more time on my hands than usual lately, I decided to give these a go while making some gifts for loved ones, and a few for myself as well.
My friend Mary forwarded me an email from fabrics-store.com, and I was immediately smitten. Their selection, quality, patterns, tutorials, every day pricing, and deep discount sales hooked me in. Many of these are accessible on their website for all to see, but once you purchase from them, you have access to all of it, including free down-loadable patterns. I had been curious to try linen towels. They had directions and a pattern for making bath towels, which was the perfect segue into my linen sewing spree.
Having always used plush, terry towels to dry off, I quickly made one single bath towel to test it out. I was surprised how wicking the linen was and how quickly the towel dried after being used. I could see the benefits of this, especially if one lived in a humid area.
I couldn’t wait to dive into trying my hand at hem stitching. The process is methodical and soothing, and I love the results! Here’s the tutorial I used.
Creating the fringe and tassels is a great way to be productive while binging those favorite Netflix shows. Here’s the tutorial for the fringe.
Since my sewing machine was already set up for mask making, my first order of IL019 bleached medium weight linen was sewn up likety split; and now I’ve just washed my second order: rustic natural, striped and daisy. These will make up some fun towel sets as Christmas gifts. I’m also considering making a slipcover for my couch. I’ve watched a few videos on how to do it, and it’s a rather adventurous project for me. I’ll be honest, I’m kind of terrified to try it! In the meantime, I’ll make towels, sheets, blankets, scarves, shawls, and maybe a few clothing items all the while getting up the courage to give it a go.
This scarf doesn’t need a sewing machine. I even ripped the long edges for a frayed look; then tasseled the ends.
You can just see the sunlight through the medium weight fabric, making it not too sheer yet not completely opaque.
No sewing machine required for this wrap, shawl either. It would also make a nice table topper or tablecloth for a smaller table. I used one yard of fabric.
I’m toying with the idea of making a top with Sonya Philip’s Shirt No. 1 pattern with hem stitched arms and fringed hem. What do you think?
