βIf you've got nothing to dance about, find a reason to sing.β
β Melody Carstairs
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Hello there fellow knitter!
This is The Yarnist. The daily newsletter that makes you love knitting the same way Lauren Paley loves singing in stairwells.
Here's what we've got for you today...
Knitspiration: The hidden benefits of linen
Stitchionary: A stitch for berry picking
Pattern Pick: This knitted t-shirt is perfect for a picnic
PLUS: Is this knitting?, grafting knits, and more
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Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links. When you buy using them, you support our work here at The Yarnist, as we get a small commission.
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Knitspiration
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𧡠Linen: An ancient, forgotten fiber
The world of yarn can be broken up into three main categories; animal fibers, synthetic fibers, and plant fibers.
As the weather gets warmer it's natural to shift from warm yarns like wool and alpaca to those which can help keep you cool.
If you are allergic to wool then you are familiar with cotton, bamboo, and even acrylic as an alternative.
But that's not the only fiber you can use to knit up beautiful projects during spring and summer.
One such fiber has a history going back thousands of years and some major benefits to uncover as we explore today's topic; linen.
What exactly is linen?
The word linen is derived from the Latin word for flax, linum. Flax is a flowering plant which has been grown in temperate climates around the world for millennia.
The seeds are often harvested for linseed oil, which is used as a nutritional supplement and an ingredient in wood-finishing products. Flax meal, the ground up seed pulp, is also used for animal feed.
Flax plants are processed by removing the fibers from the bast beneath the surface of the stem. These fibers are further refined for spinning using a process called retting, where the flax plants are soaked in water to rot the outer stem.
Finally the flax is dressed in a three step process which separates the straw fibers and prepares them to be spun into linen.
A depiction of the linen making process from 1783
A brief history of Linen
The oldest examples of linen textiles date back 30,000 years and were found in a cave in the Republic of Georgia.
Fragments of linen fabric have been found in Turkey, China, India, and Egypt and range in age from 5,000-9,000 years old. In fact ancient Egyptian priests wore robes made only from linen as it was considered a symbol of purity.
By the early 20th century linen was supplanted by cotton, which was easier and cheaper to process.
Today 90% of all linen is produced in Russia and is primarily used for fabrics like bedsheets (linens), towels, and clothing.
Illustrations of different textile fibers under a microscope
What is linen yarn?
Linen is most often woven into textile fabrics. However in recent decades it has made its way into yarns for hand knitting.
The long, strong fibers have a natural waxy coating, giving the yarn a nice sheen.
But linen has other benefits which make it a good option for warm weather knits.
Benefits of linen yarn
Hypoallergenic and antibacterialβ Linen does not produce any allergens but it also has properties that fight odor causing bacteria. β
The world's STRONGEST natural fiberβ Linen is 30% stronger than cotton and extremely durable. While cotton fabrics may last 3-5 years, fabric made from linen can last 20-30 years β
Softens with timeβ While it can start out a bit stiff and scratchy, linen is known for it's ability to soften over time. And the longer it is used the softer it gets. β
Anti-Staticβ Linen doesn't get as dirty as other fibers because it doesn't let dirt stick to it easily. β
Eco-Friendly and biodegradableβ Some "eco-friendly" fibers actually require some harsh chemical processing. While linen is quite labor intensive to process, it is an extremely sustainable fiber to grow.
Example of yarn spun from 100% linen
Cons of linen yarn
Mostly Blendedβ 100% linen yarns are uncommon and not very fun to knit with since they have that stiff, scratchy state on new linen fibers. Most linen yarns on the market are blended with other fibers, diminishing some of its benefits. β
Expensiveβ Because of it's intensive processing, linen is expensive to incorporate into yarn. You'll primarily find it in luxury yarns, or mixed with much cheaper fibers. β
Wrinklesβ Remember that stiffness we mentioned? Well new linen has a tendency to crease and wrinkle. This isn't a huge problem for blended yarns, but something to keep in mind. β
It doesn't stretchβ Linen is REALLY strong. And it don't like to be told what to do. So it kinda just stays where it is. That's good for creating structure in a knitted fabric, but bad for blocking that fabric into a different shape.
Say hello to spring & summer knitting with this lightweight, uniquely blended yarn. Colorful Mulberry silk and alpaca are mixed with a white linen strand to create a fanciful laceweight yarn, perfect for shawls, tees, and tanks.
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Cotton Bamboo Linen by LB Collection - Get It Hereβ
Enjoy three natural fibers that drape even better together! Combining the softness and drape of bamboo with the absorbency and durability of cotton and linen, this yarn is perfect for year-round projects like clothing, shawls, and baby items. Part of Lion Brand's line of affordable, easy-care luxury fibers, this yarn is available in a gorgeous, sophisticated color palette.
Touch of Linen by Lion Brand Yarn - Get It Hereβ
If youβre looking for a machine washable natural fiber blend, then you can stop right here. Part of the Touch of Luxe line, this yarn is perfect for warmer weather or anytime a breathable material is beneficial.
Capture the spirit of spring with Lindy Chain! Superbly lightweight and endlessly versatile, this chainette yarn is just the thing for warm weather. The linen adds a crisp stitch definition that shows off textures while adding a lovely drape and sheen that just gets softer with every wash.
Malabrigo Susurro is the perfect combination of soft, light, and breezy! Made of Mulberry silk, Merino wool, and Linen, this gorgeous blend gives the yarn a sharp contrast between the linen texture and the silky sensation of the merino. These three fibers also create a gorgeous depth of color for the yarn, providing an almost metallic sheen.
CotLin is a cool and lightweight Tanguis cotton and summer linen blend. Tanguis (tan-gwiss) cotton has a very soft hand, excellent absorption, and, because it is a naturally white fiber, a high affinity for dyes. The Belgian linen adds characteristic flecks and additional absorbency with very low elasticity - helping to alleviate stretching in the finished knit. Summer linen has an extended growing period which results in a longer, stronger fiber. When blended with the already strong Tanguis cotton, it makes a durable, wearable, and soft yarn. The knit fabric will get softer with each wash too.
This yarn is made from - you guessed it - the flax plant! Garments made in Flax will have excellent drape and breathability, fine attributes for a warm-weather yarn. You'll definitely want to machine wash and dry this yarn - because you can, and because Flax also blooms and softens as you do! Linen is very strong (even stronger when wet!), so this is a perfect yarn for a market bag or any project that will have a lot of stress put on it.
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Conclusion
So there you have it.
We think linen is a pretty amazing fiber and an absolute pleasure to work with in warm weather.
But what do you think?
Have you knit with linen yarns before?
How did it go?
Hit reply and share your experience with us!
We'd love to hear your feedback. π
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Daily Stitch
The Raspberry Stitch
This week we're continuing our exploration of knitting stitch techniques with cluster.
Clusters (or bobbles) are groups of stitches that are used to created round, bubble like texture in knitted fabric.
There are many ways of achieving this effect, but the most common is seen in the raspberry stitch (also known as the bramble, trinity, or blackberry stitch).
The Picnic Tee is a boxy tee with a fun-but-simple basket weave texture at the hem and sleeve edging.
It has a seamless, bottom-up construction, short sleeves, and a V-neck, and is a great pattern for new knitters looking to stretch their wings and try some new techniques!
Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs:
Here's some ways to take our relationship to the next level:
βοΈ Buy us a coffee (Now accepting PayPal!)β Each of our emails is the culmination of many hours of research and lots of cups of coffee. If you want a simple way to show your appreciation you can buy us a coffee here.β β
π₯Ύ Get on the Sweater Knitting Bootcamp Wait List βOur next session of the Sweater Knitting Bootcamp starts soon, but spots are extremely limited and will fill up fast. If you want to be the first to join, get on the wait list by clicking HERE. β
π Take a Yarnist Academy class βThere are more than 50 classes to explore with topics like 2-Color Brioche, Mosaic colorwork, Entrelac. New classes are added every month! Explore our classesβ
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