For the cross stitchers out there, I need your help. Explain the different LINEN cross stitch fabrics to me. Are they all similar (stiff and scratchy)? There are so many different BRANDS and I wonder if there is a difference.
I know on 123stitch.com they have some general explanations about fabrics but I want to hear from you. What linen do you like and why? Which do you avoid and why?
I like stitching on 32 ct lugana and Monaco mostly. I have stitched on Lambswool linen and wasn't thrilled with the feel but loved the look.
Help? Suggestions? Opinions? All welcome and you can even forward your PEEPS over here to weigh in.
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26 comments:
My personal favorites are 32 ct. Belfast linen and 40 ct. Newcastle. Both are so nice to touch and soft, but not overly soft. I really dislike stiff linen with big holes. Hope this helps :)
And Merry Christmas!
I am not going to be much help because I have to buy everything online so never get a chance to compare or see what they are like side by side. I have and do stitched on Belfast linen and newcastle: they are quite soft. Cashel linen is a little harder but still a lot softer than the lambswool which is very coarse. I wasnt impressed with WDW..it is course and I find the lines of the fabric arent as even spaced as the other linens. For my santas village (if it ever gets here) I am going to use Jazlynn: I think it will last the test of time better than the finer linens though I guess technically it is an evenweave..not sure what the difference is between evenweave and linen rofl...so that is my fabric drawer all over the floor and now you know what I have haha.
My problem mainly is with soft soft soft fabric. I don't like that because it makes my stitches look messy and uneven (when you pull the thread, the fabric bunches up. Since I am a beginner, I NEED that obvious fabric like the 14-ct Aida. I think linen fabrics don't have those obvious placement holes do they? I'm not sure. I think a professional stitcher needs to answer your question!
I'm not going to be any help to you at all. I simply cross stitch whatever linen happens to come in the packet that I buy. :))
If cross stitching linen is like crochet thread, though, it does make a difference. I can't wait to come back here and read the comments from your cross stitching friends. I love to gain knowledge.
Hugs and smiles,
J.
I really don't know until I feel it. Luckily The Stitching Post is nearby, so I can always feel before I buy. I know I don't like stiff fabric, but I don't like it too soft either.
I really love 32 count Belfast linen too..it is very nice to work on xx
As you know peeps is rubbish but just popping by to say have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
At Jo Ann's we sell 28 and 32 ct M C G Textiles linen and even-weave which I use if I can not get to The Attic...or order on line.
I can't tell you the difference much between the linens, but evenweave is just that, the diagonal and verticle are spaced equally apart because the individual threads that make it are all the same thickness, whereas lines fivers have thick and thin parts which does affect the outcome to a degree and gives it a more rustic look. Generally I got to the LNS so I can touch the fabrics and say yay or nay to them, I agree with everyone, too soft and the tension becomes a nightmare, too stiff and well, it's stiff, lol. Merry Chrismas.
I really like Picture This Plus and Lakeside Lines. Both have very pretty colors and I don't find them to be too soft and wishy~washy or too stiff and scratchy. I love the colors of WDW, but find the fabric too flimsy for my liking. If you'd like, I have some tiny pieces left over from past projects that I could send you, nothing really big enough to stitch on, but you could at least do the touchy~feely thing. Just let me know!
Belfast(32 ct) and Cashel (28ct) are the softest to me. In general the weeks overdyed ones are great as well.
The biggest difference between linen and evenweave is that linen is not exactly "even." Some of the strands that make it up are thicker than others. Once you get over it, it's nice to stitch on. That whitework I did earlier this year was on cashel linen was really soft and not stiff at all but I have a scrap of Irish linen and it's really stiff.
Wish I could help!
Sorry, I cannot help.
I'm a perfectionist so I much prefer the evenweaves over linen, although I've been told linen is an evenweave. Evenweaves have the same number of threads both vertically and horizontally, so technically that includes linen. Most linens I've seen have some thick threads and some thin threads (which is why some say it's not an evenweave) and that's what bugs me when I stitch on linen.
My favorite fabrics to stitch on are Lugana, Jobelin, Jazlyn and Monaco. To me the Jobelin and Jazlyn have the same feel as the Lugana and Monaco.
I just ordered the WDW linen that was the recommended fabric for the new Blue Ribbon mystery sampler. I sure hope it's something I'll like working with. I've never used it before, but the picture of it looks nice.
I've recently purchased some evenweave from DoveStitch that I really liked too. They have a 36 count evenweave that just might become my new favorite to stitch on. It is a soft fabric, but I stitch in hand and it wasn't to soft. I think it made a beautiful finish. I can't show you pics til after Christmas though.
I am really into Lakeside Lines at the moment.
Zweigert linens - Belfast (32 ct.), Cashel (28 ct.), Edinburgh (36 ct.), and New Castle (40 ct.) Oh, Dublin too! (25 ct.)
Linen is LINEN because it's made of flax fibers. It's a TYPE of fabric, same as cottons are.
It IS an evenweave even though the fibers look uneven to the eye. You will only run into uneven stitches if you are stitching over one.
Most linens are rather crisp-feeling if you are used to softer Jobelan & Lugana.
Some have an almost see-through open-weave quality & some are more dense ~ even those of the same count!
Personally, I like 32 count Belfast very much.
I am like Pam; I prefer the evenweaves like Lugana and Jazlyn. I do use Cashel at times. I dislike Aida due to the stiffness and I personally prefer soft fabric. I also do all my stitching in-hand (without hoop or frame) so this probably is a factor. I find the holes so much easier to work on evenweave instead of linen, but will use linen for a very special project
My favorite is 25ct. Lugana! Love that it is so much easier on the eyes!!
I agree w/most of what has been said about evenweave vs. linen, but I think it's just a personal preference type of thing. I use both, but prefer the softer evenweaves.
I also love working over 2 on 18ct. linen. Makes the project bigger(which I happen to like, depending on the project), but I get to use my pearl cottons on them instead, which is more fun, but it is a bit stiffer fabric. However, the linen sometimes will soften up a bit when you handle it a lot.
I know the smaller count fabrics are more popular right now(but much harder on the eyes), but when I had my shop, I sold a lot of Cashel linen too. The most popular color at that time was 28ct. 'Lambswool' and 14ct. Parchment. (just a little trivia).
Well, didn't mean to write a book - LOL
Merry Christmas Parsley!
Tanya
Dear Parsley,
Wanted to stop by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with much love, happiness and good cheer! I hope you and your family, and all your beautiful dogs, are all doing well.
May the spirit of Christmas bless you and yours throughout the year.
Cheers,
FurAngel Suka and K
Well it seems you have loads of advice so I'll put mine in here too! I love anything 32ct and above. Like Carol (first commenter) I really love Belfast and Newcastle linen. So soft and wonderful to work with. Anything by the Zweigart brand is good and so soft. PTP is fun too if you like the mottled hand-dyed look and I think Zweigart makes PTP...pretty sure!
Great advice above. :)
I wonder if by asking about "linen" you're truly asking for recommendations on over-2 fabrics.
I have to agree with the others that 32ct Belfast and 28ct Cashel are very soft for over-2 fabrics. I also love using 28ct Lugana. These fabrics all have more cotton content in them than standard linen which is why they are softer and more pliable.
The traditional linens that I just do not like because they are too rough and coarse are any fabrics by R&R Reproductions and WeeksDyeWorks.
PictureThisPlus (picturethisplus.com) is a great company that hand dyes many of the more cotton based fabrics like Cashel, Belfast, Lugana, and Jobelan. They use Zweigart fabrics (Zweigart doesn't make PTP.. but PTP uses Zweigart. :) ) Awesome colors and the ladies offer terrific service.
This is where I am clueless but I do admire all the pretties you creative stitching girls dream up! Happy stitching!
Been really interesting reading everyone's responses to this question. For me, I like lugana and Monaco.
I'm of no help at all - I never even realized there were so many choices!!
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