Linen fabric for upholstery and drapery: a guide

Linen is one of the most traditional fabrics for upholstery and drapery. It's been used for centuries, and it's still being used today in many homes, hotels, and restaurants. Pure linen has some unique advantages compared to other natural materials such as cotton when used for upholstery or drapery.

If you're looking for linen fabric for your home interior or a commercial project, here’s everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Table of contents:

• Where linen fabric comes from
• What type of fabric is linen?
• How you can know if linen is 100% or not
  
• How linen fabric is made: step by step
• Some fascinating facts about flax
• The four types of linen weave patterns
• Linen for upholstery
• What weight linen is good for upholstery?
• Advantages of using linen upholstery fabric
• Using linen for drapery and natural curtains
• Do linen curtains block cold?
• Do linen curtains block heat?
• The impact of linen fabric on the environment
• Learn how to make a quality choice of upholstery and drapery fabrics
• Fabrics education for a more informed future

Where linen fabric comes from

Linen is a textile made from the flax plant, which is a member of the genus Linum. Flax plants are hardy and drought-tolerant crops that can be grown in many climates. They're also resilient to pests and disease.

Flax fibres are one of the oldest known natural fibres on Earth—they've been harvested since at least 6500 BC! These fibres were used to make linen cloth throughout history because they're strong, durable and absorbent. In fact, as early as 30 AD there was an established market for imported Egyptian linen fabrics in Rome! These are soft, breathable fibre that can be woven into a wide variety of textures and patterns.

Linen is also durable and strong; it won’t tear easily, and it can be laundered repeatedly without losing its shape or colour. For these reasons, linen has been favoured by tailors and haberdashery for centuries—and today it continues to be one of the most versatile fabrics around.

What type of fabric is linen?

Linen is cool in summer and warm in winter; this makes it ideal for making draperies or upholstering furniture like sofas or armchairs. In fact, curtains are one of the most common linen items found in homes today.

Tablecloths are another popular choice for decorating with linen; they’re often paired with other materials such as cotton or silk depending on their intended use (e.g., tablecloths used at formal dinners may have lace trim). You could also use linen bed sheets or tea towels to add some style without sacrificing comfortability when you're relaxing at home after completing your daily tasks.

How you can know if linen is 100% or not

You can usually tell by looking at the label. The first thing to check is whether it says "100% linen" or "linen". If this isn't clear, you may need to look closely at other aspects of the fabric to determine if it's 100%.

When you're looking for a particular type of yarn—say, linen or silk—you should also be able to recognize what grade (or thickness) of thread was used in its weaving. These threads are referred to as yarns; think of them like vegetable fibres spun into thread by hand. You'll often see three numbers on a label that indicate how much twist has been added during manufacturing: 2-ply refers to two threads twisted together, 3-ply means three threads are twisted together, and so on up through 8-ply (eight).

A higher number indicates higher quality because more twists mean tighter weave which results in less fraying over time and increased durability overall. Linen weaves will usually have either one ply (as opposed to two plies), meaning that one strand runs back and forth through the entire length of cloth horizontally rather than vertically like most other types do; this makes them appear thinner than they really are because there aren't any vertical lines running through them where two sets could intersect if they were both horizontal instead.

How linen fabric is made: step by step

Let's take a closer look at the making of linen fabric.

1. Flax seeds are sown in April and harvested in June after it blooms in a pale blue sea of flowers. The result is long, delicate linen fibres that feel crisp, smooth, and light in the final product.
2. Flax is ‘pulled’ from the ground roughly five weeks after flowering – it’s generally referred to as ‘pulling’ rather than ‘harvesting’ because it’s literally just pulled from the ground. The roots remain in the soil, which it naturally enriches.
3. Retting and scutching.
   • Retting is the process of separating the fibres from the stem, by employing the action of bacteria and moisture on plants to dissolve or rot away much of the cellular tissues and gummy substances surrounding the stems of the flax plants.
   • Scutching is the process that separates any impurities from the raw flax, such as straw and woody stem pieces. It can either be done by hand (and scutching was entirely done by hand up until the 1930s), or by machine.
4. The fibres are finally combed and spun into yarn.
5. The yarn is woven into cloth on large weaving machines. This process takes place in mills all over the world, but as we mentioned before, most of today’s high-quality linen fabrics are still made in Europe—France and Belgium—where the best flax has been grown for centuries (and always will be!).
6. After weaving, linen fabric must be dyed so that it can be sold in different colours or shades. Finally, after it’s dyed and dried again (to make sure it won't fade), linens are pressed and finished by hand with steam irons for softness against your skin or face when you lie down on them at night--and because good things take time!

Some fascinating facts about flax

“The best flax seeds come from a particular part of Europe. “Many seed suppliers are still based in Belgium, France, and the Netherland. The highest quality linen is grown in these regions, where the silty soil and temperate climate is ideal for the plant.” - The Modern Dane

If grown in this region, “the cultivation of flax produces no waste. All parts of the flax plant are used: the long and short fibres and seeds are made into textiles, paper, varnish, oil, animal fodder and bio-materials. After the plants have been pulled (harvested), the root remnants fertilise and clean the soil, thereby improving the productivity of soil for 6 to 7 years. Growing flax requires no irrigation, no fertilisers and no herbicides and pesticides, and therefore does not pollute rivers or groundwater.” - Linen – the original sustainable material, at the Victoria and Albert Museum

“Flax requires 600 mm of water over 100 days of growing—all of which is provided by rain and dew. As it grows, flax captures and converts CO2 from the atmosphere. Every year, the growing of flax in Europe results in the capture of 250,000 tons of CO2—equivalent to driving a Renault Clio around the earth 62,000 times.” - The Modern Dane

The four types of linen weave patterns

Linen comes in four forms: damask linen, plain-woven linen, loosely-woven linen and sheeting linen.

1. Damask linen is woven on a jacquard loom, using a mix of plain and satin weaves. It’s very ornamental and decorative.
2. Plain-woven linen fabric is also called 'glass towelling' because of its most common use – wiping glassware. It typically has a striped or chequered pattern.
3. Loosely-woven linen is highly absorbent, but it is the least-durable type of linen fabric.
4. Sheeting linen is, you guessed it, most often used for bedsheets. It features a close weave and often has a higher thread count, and because of this it feels heavier to the touch.

Linen for upholstery

Linen is a great choice for upholstery and drapery, but it's not perfect for every situation. Pure linen can wrinkle easily (especially if you live in a humid climate or have pets), so it may not survive in high-traffic areas of your home. However, linen fabric has lots of advantages over other types of upholstery fabric:

• Linen is extremely durable. This makes them ideal choices for reupholstering antique furniture pieces that need new padding underneath their covers since they won't tear easily when pulled or pushed over time as some other materials might do under these conditions.
• Linen ages beautifully—even after multiple cleanings (which makes them softer!), any wrinkles left behind after sitting down will disappear within minutes by simply running your hand across them lightly before sitting down again.

What weight linen is good for upholstery?

Linen upholstery fabric comes in a variety of weights, which can range from light to heavy. The most common types of linen used for upholstering are medium and heavy (or "heavy-weight"), though there are also lightweight linens available.

These fabrics are recommended for items that need a bit more durability such as sofas, chairs, and pillows. They're best suited for areas where people tend to sit or rest their heads on the furniture's surface like sofas or bed frames.

Advantages of using linen upholstery fabric

Linen upholstery fabric is durable. As mentioned above, linens are strong and can withstand lots of wear and tear because they're made from such a sturdy material.

Linen upholstery fabric insulates well—and doesn't retain heat too much either! Because linen insulates so well (which means it keeps heat inside), this makes it ideal for use on sofas during cold months when you want something warm but not too hot (like velvet) against your skin as well as summer months when you need something cool enough not to make anyone uncomfortable (but still look stylish).

Linen also helps keep sound out! If there's stuff going on outside that bothers you while sitting inside reading/watching TV/relaxing after work with friends then consider using linen upholstery fabric because its threads create tiny pockets inside each weft strand where trapped air molecules vibrate at high frequencies acting like an acoustic barrier between layers creating deadening insulation properties making sounds less audible through walls, ceilings and floors.

Using linen for drapery and natural curtains

You may be wondering if linen is good for curtains. Linen is an excellent choice for curtains because:

1. it lasts longer than cotton, it's stronger than silk, and it can be washed more frequently than wool.
2. Linen is also a good insulator against heat and cold: it will keep your home warmer in the wintertime when you need extra warmth.
3. If you live in an area with lots of sunlight throughout the year, linen curtains can help protect you from UV rays with their natural UV protection properties.

Linen is a smooth, soft fabric that provides a tailored look. It's an excellent choice for draperies in rooms where you want light to filter through but also want some privacy—such as bathrooms or home offices. Linen dries faster than cotton and absorbs moisture well, so it’s particularly useful if you live in an area with high humidity.

• When buying linen for drapery or curtains, select a light weight if possible; this will help ensure your drapes last longer since they won't weigh down on their fixtures as much as heavier ones might (this may affect how often you need to launder them).
• Another thing to consider when choosing between linen and other drapery fabrics is mould or mildew—linen tends to attract those things more than other materials do (and some people are allergic). If this isn't an issue for you, go ahead and use linen for your draperies.

Do linen curtains block cold?

Curtains or drapes can help insulate your rooms as they reduce the amount of air exchange between a cold window and the rest of the room. Linen curtains are a popular choice for both upholstery and drapery, but they won't block the cold like cotton curtains. If you're looking for something that will keep your room warm in the winter and cool during the summer months, linen is a good option for both blocking heat and moisture. It's also more durable than cotton, so it can last longer with proper care.

Do linen curtains block heat?

Linen curtains are a great choice for any climate, and can be used to create an inviting, comfortable environment. Linen is ideal for hot climates because it's naturally breathable.

The fibres allow air to flow through them easily, making linen curtains a good choice if you live in an area with high humidity or warm temperatures. Linen also works well for cold climates because it absorbs moisture from the air quickly, which makes linen curtains ideal for those who live in areas where winters get particularly chilly (or even snowy).

The impact of linen fabric on the environment

There is no silver bullet when it comes to choosing the “right” fabric - there's no fabric yet that has zero impact on the environment.

That's why, to assess the impact of our products, we use the Higg Index. From our research, this is the most comprehensive tool available, providing a wide range of environmental metrics, based on a large variety of textile compositions and manufacturing processes used.

When compared to fashion, interior and exterior household furnishing fabrics are more durable, require fewer washing cycles and have greater longevity. However, we are committed to our responsibility to ensure we find solutions for better products and product life cycles.

Read more about our sustainability commitment here.

When it comes to linen, it has a few advantages on its side, from an ecological perspective:

1. When growing flax, very little water is required.
2. Flax typically requires fewer pesticides, herbicides and fungicides as well.
3. Once a flax plant is harvested, very little is wasted. Its seeds for example can be used for creating oil or even eaten as a food source; even when the upholstery no longer needs it, it’s biodegradable.
4. Flax helps to diversify ecosystems while offering a welcome break to intensive agriculture in some areas of the world. It also means less soil erosion and fewer chemicals running off into waterways.

Learn how to make a quality choice of upholstery and drapery fabrics

Linen is strong, durable and absorbent. It can be woven in many different textures that can be finished with hems or edgings, making it suitable for upholstery or drapery use. In addition to being washable, linen is also temperature-regulating which makes it ideal for bedrooms during summer months because it keeps you cool while providing warmth in winter months when you need extra layers of blankets on your bed to keep warm at night!

Fabrics education for a more informed future

We hope that we’ve helped you understand the world of linen fabrics, especially when they’re used for upholstery and drapery applications. FibreGuard’s upholstery fabrics are engineered from the inside out to perform, so no wonder they’re easy on the hands (and eyes).