Bleaching Linen

[PrincessSara]

I bought some natural coloured linen today, because it was all my local fabric store had.  However, I'd like to bleach and dye it to the colour I want.  How should I go about bleaching it?

[isabelladangelo]

Since it's natural, I would NOT bleach it.  The bleach will weaken the fabric and cause problems down the road.  Also, given the natural color, it's light enough to dye it to any darker fabric without issue.  Just dye it and don't worry about the color base.

[mieljolie]

I have heard, not tried, the best way to bleach linen is hanging it in the sun.  Might try an open window.  Not sure how even the fading would be, though.  This is mainly for stains.

[Orphena]

Which store did you find it in? and what was the cost? I am always on the lookout for natural linen - 100% linen? It makes GREAT chemises - but it's hard to come by!

[Cilean]

Ohrena, there is a fabric online section here and it has some great places to find linen, however Fabrics-store.com has linen
Oh and yes the SCA is in Norway, we have people from there who post on our Elizabethan Group in Yahoo!  You are under Drachenweld Kingdom

Cilean

[PrincessSara]

I got it in Fabricland in Brantford, but it's quite heavy and has glitter on one side.  It's kinda oatmeal coloured rather than just unbleached, which is why I wanted to bleach it first - I wasn't sure how well it would take the dye.

Also, anyone have any ideas about where to dye my fabric?  The washing machine is broken and the tub is off limits, so I'm at a loss.

[Sorcha]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but Cilean mentioned Fabric-Store.com and they having a GREAT sale right now.  Here's the copy of the email I got yesterday:

Light weight 3.5 ounces/yard IL020 100% linen
Medium weight 5.3 ounces/yard IL019 100% linen
Heavy weight 7.1 ounces/yard 4C22 100% linen
Super Heavy weight 8 ounces/yard IL090 100% linen
I am including the utmost necessary colors:

Bleached
Bleached Softened
Natural
Natural Softened
And I am cutting them down to easy-to-order 20-yard bolts and discounting the bolts 10%!

These essential fabrics, in the basic weights necessary to complete almost any project - will be on this sale only for this week until Sunday the 3rd. I cannot afford to do this sale again for a long time!

With this deal, you can have your basic 100% linen needs covered for the near future!
http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php?goto=showspecial

[isabelladangelo]

I got it in Fabricland in Brantford, but it's quite heavy and has glitter on one side.  It's kinda oatmeal coloured rather than just unbleached, which is why I wanted to bleach it first - I wasn't sure how well it would take the dye.

Also, anyone have any ideas about where to dye my fabric?  The washing machine is broken and the tub is off limits, so I'm at a loss.

If it has glitter on one side, it's not linen.  I'd do a burn test.   Just cut a small piece off and burn it.  If it smells like a campfire and turns to ash (like when you burn a leaf) you are fine.  if it starts to melt or takes to the flame too quickly, it's synthetic most likely.

As for where to dye, without one of those, you really can't.  Unless you feel like buying a kids swimming pool.   based on what you've said, I'd just sell the fabric you have and use the money from that to go buy the color of linen you really want.  www.fabric.com always has some really nice linen and they have sales every couple of weeks.  Sign up for their coupons.  I've gotten linen from them recently for only $4 a yard. 

[PrincessSara]

It is real linen.  I don't have time to order any fabric now, as the faire is this weekend.  That's why I bought it at Fabricland, which I never normally do.  This is the first time they've ever had linen in Brantford, so I got really lucky.  What I'd really like for this project is wool, but RL got in the way so that will have to wait for next year.

Anyway, the washing machine seems to have fixed itself, because I tested it last night and it worked fine.  So I'll give it a shot and see what happens.

[Orphena]

Princess Sara - I look forward to seeing you there this weekend! M'lord and I shall be there all three days!

[Cilean]

There is another place to try and gain good lovely Linen!  Renaissance Fabrics has some awesome linen and she will ship!!!

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?id=239

I used to get my linen from Denver Fabrics, but it has changed hands and I have heard the linen is different.  I will be going to Denver probably in November to see if they have Italian or Irish Linen on hand at their store.  I need to head to the Fabric Mart in LA to see if I can  find the store a friend found some luscious linen, I am planning on doing a shirte class for Costume College next year....I need to see if I can get the fabric needed for the class.


Cilean