Shop Charity in '23!

Miró

I have three sets of John Lewis, Egyptian cotton sheets & pillow cases which have been rotated for about 15 years!!!!  Still in near perfect condition, no bobbling, not worn thin at all and soooo soft it's like sleeping in silk.  But, I'm now fancying going down the linen route even tho it sounds pricy!!

On my way home from North Yorks I picked up a pair of b/n navy trousers by 'Marc Cain", (German make???) in the Ripon Hospice shop.  The pockets have a trim of heavy navy lace and the ankle grazer hems have a V shape inset with similar lace.  Can't find the exact ones online but trousers by this make are around the £200 mark   Chazza price £4.99 

All chazzering now suspended as I have just tested positive, (again!!!), for Covid...aaarrgghh!

Nelliegrace

We have some thick French Metis sheets woven with a cotton warp and linen weft. They were old stock, deep ecru and very stiff when they arrived. They needed soaking and several washes before they could be used. They are now much softer and almost white. I paid £14 on eBay, and I think they will last for ever. They are cool in summer and warm in winter. 
My modern, fine linen sheet wore thin and split under my feet when I was quite poorly with a bad chest and had to keep pushing myself back up the pillows to breathe. I mean to make pillow cases and small bags out of the good parts. 

Cherryfudge

@Miró, sorry to hear you're not well. I hope you're over it soon.

I've not come across linen bedding either but I'll be on the lookout now.

YoungBlueEyes

Thank god it's not just me then, I almost didn't put that I'd never heard of it in case I looked stoopid! I know you call it "bed linen", but bedding made of linen is a new one on me. I'm on the lookout for some now though...  

Nelliegrace

Denby enthusiasts. This is supposed to arrive from eBay today, I have had an e-mail. The postman was so quiet yesterday that the terrier who can hear a shadow fall, failed to bark.
Perhaps he was working from home yesterday? 

It is a rare dark green and cream vintage butter dish. The seller very kindly accepted an offer, we had a lovely haggle. It might be a second as it is not labelled. I am so looking forward to using it. A frisson of joy! I have had a base but no lid for years. 

Cherryfudge

Great find, @Nelliegrace!

Yep, the postie was definitely WFH.  I got the Homestead sugar bowl locally the other week, it's incredibly cute and is in daily use as my granola bowl. 

Miró

Nelliegrace said:

We have some thick French Metis sheets woven with a cotton warp and linen weft. They were old stock, deep ecru and very stiff when they arrived. They needed soaking and several washes before they could be used. They are now much softer and almost white. I paid £14 on eBay, and I think they will last for ever. They are cool in summer and warm in winter. 
My modern, fine linen sheet wore thin and split under my feet when I was quite poorly with a bad chest and had to keep pushing myself back up the pillows to breathe. I mean to make pillow cases and small bags out of the good parts. 

You sent me down a 'French Metis' rabbit-hole!!  What a fascinating subject, never heard of it before.  Loved reading about the history and some of the older heirloom pieces with embroidery  and monograms are just beautiful.  Will be on the lookout for it now both online and in chazza shops.....would love to find a piece just to see what it's all about.

@Cherryfudge  Thank you, starting to feel much better now.

Cherryfudge

Miró said:

@Cherryfudge  Thank you, starting to feel much better now.

That's good! Take good care of yourself.

Brie

Miró said:

Nelliegrace said:

We have some thick French Metis sheets woven with a cotton warp and linen weft. They were old stock, deep ecru and very stiff when they arrived. They needed soaking and several washes before they could be used. They are now much softer and almost white. I paid £14 on eBay, and I think they will last for ever. They are cool in summer and warm in winter. 
My modern, fine linen sheet wore thin and split under my feet when I was quite poorly with a bad chest and had to keep pushing myself back up the pillows to breathe. I mean to make pillow cases and small bags out of the good parts. 

You sent me down a 'French Metis' rabbit-hole!!  What a fascinating subject, never heard of it before.  Loved reading about the history and some of the older heirloom pieces with embroidery  and monograms are just beautiful.  Will be on the lookout for it now both online and in chazza shops.....would love to find a piece just to see what it's all about.

@Cherryfudge  Thank you, starting to feel much better now.

How bizarre - the only context I had for "Metis" was a term for Canadians of mixed heritage - French and Native Canadians.  But it makes sense as it simply means mixed. 

And I wonder if the mixed linen is stronger compared to pure linen - I've a linen dress that I managed to split down the back by succumbing to use the pockets too vigorously.  (no I've not repaired it, yes I still wear it but with matched colour bike shorts under.  OH says it's look fine)

But I'll be looking for Metis linen now too.....

DigForVictory

I got into linen as Himself as a research historian wanted to make a "proper" shirt - the sort of pattern that has square gussets in the armpits & the neckhole provides the fabric for it - you don't do all that work  (growing, harvesting, redding, hackling, combing then spinning then setting up the loom and so forth) and then letting a perfectly good few square inches go to waste! Oh yes & the fabric sleeve tapers, so those long triangles allow a flare past the hips.  A length made up into a couple of very handsome pale brown (unbleached linen) shirts, and we got another length to make tunics and shirts for the lads & then we found Linsey-woolsey (linen one way, wool the other) being woven live at Queen St museum & bought several freshly-woven metres of that (faced with rare fibres & fabrics, we could be impulsive but then the rest of the weekend would go researching what you did with it Properly!).

We never got as far as bedlinen, but I got a stubborn wish and went out & bought the flat sheet & the duvet cover & chivvied youngest into helping me wash & line dry it then make up the bed with real hospital corners (a shock to a fitted bedsheet son!) & was bid "good night & sweet dreams on your Tudor bed". I nearly got out to start a lecture on how the Tudors had indeed had linen & it went back a Lot further (The Ancient Egyptians had beds - look at what was in with King Tut, and contemplate the fact that Our Lady's Bedstraw gallium verum is recorded as the bedding herb of refined choice in medieval times - when you could chose, rather than just grab whatever heather or springy vegetation was handy to shove in your palliasse) but I was tired & it was so comfortable.

So while I do go on about linen, it's because it has been a source of comfort & robust durable utility for centuries, & there are linen tablecloths in use at Buckingham Palace that were in use in Victoria's time as they weren't heavily abused, are very carefully tended and still do the job. Linen can be a family heirloom as well as a blissful nights sleep! Just don't tell the family, lest they try to snaffle your bedding off the line & onto Their Beds.
As for the Tudor Bed, when I downsize, I am contemplating "proper" bed hangings so I can skip the wallpaper & some of the painting.