If you are planning to attend a Tudor era re-enactment, you will want to have the proper costume.  Before you search for suitable costumes for your Tudor re-enactment, you need to decide exactly what it is you’re looking for, though.  You might start by thinking about linen.  It was a very important fabric in the Tudor era.

 For women of the Tudor era, underwear consisted of a linen shift, also known as a smock or chemise.  Chemises were basically like a petticoat, which went under their dress.  Dresses were generally made of wool in those days.  So, the linen undergarment protected a woman from the scratchiness of wool, since linen is softer.  For men, linen was made into an undershirt and braces.  Hose, or stockings, for both sexes were also made of linen, often times.

 The softness of linen was used to the advantage of Tudor era men and women in multiple other ways as well.  Although most outer clothing was made of wool, most of it was lined with linen.  So, it was used for both comfortable and practical reasons.

Another use for linen in the Tudor era was in the making of coifs, or head coverings.  They were thought to protect a person from head lice and they were used as a sign of reverence, keeping one’s head covered in God’s presence.

Another use for a linen coif was to keep a woman’s hair hidden.  Tudors believed that a woman’s hair would make a man more passionate.  Married women were expected to keep their hair hidden under a linen coif, except in the presence of their husband.  A woman who walked in public without a linen coif was considered to be a hussy. 

The Tudors also used linen as a sign of social status.  There were different grades of linen.  Finer linen fabric was reserved mainly for richer classes.  The better the quality of the linen, the longer it took to make and the more expensive it was.  In some ways, that actually worked to the advantage of the poorer folk.  Rough, heavy linen was warmer for doing field work.  If you were very rich, in Tudor times, you might have been able to afford cotton or silk, instead.  Linen was vital to the lower classes, though.

 No matter what class a person belonged to, it was always expected that linen undergarments be kept clean.  In its raw form, the linen was an off color.  So, it was often bleached.  Bleaching linen, in those days, was done by soaking it in urine to whiten it.

 Linen fabric was also used for other things, such as tablecloths, in Tudor times.  So, it was really an indispensable resource.

 When you are preparing for a Tudor re-enactment, be sure to do some research.  Decide whether you wish to portray a lower or higher class citizen, first.  You can find the exact linen match for your re-enactment project at www.fabrics-store.com.

If you sew, you probably know how frustrating it is to have the fabric slip through your fingers, fray every time you touch it and just make it nearly impossible to sew a neat seam.

Well, what if I told you that I know a secret fabric that won't try to wiggle away from you?

Yesterday I talked to a professional seamstress who has worked using my linen for the last decade. Casually, I asked: what is the most comfortable fabric to work with that can easily be shaped into what you have designed?

Finishing the last fold to the tablecloth she was putting away, she calmly replied:

"Well your IL019 of course. It doesn't slip under your fingers when you sew, it doesn't fray and allows for the most perfect seams."

Coming from an expert like herself, a seamstress with two decades of experience, I was thrown off by the simplicity of her response. She continued in further detail, explaining to me how she feels the most at ease working with this fabric.

As a seamstress, her hands are her most valuable asset and are always toiling graciously with the fabric of her choice. It is of great value to ensure her hands don't get tired keeping the fabric from turning into thread.

The comfort of having a firm hold on the fabric without it tiring her fingers because of its constant movement and fraying is a quality she immediately noted in IL019.

She explained how relaxed she feels knowing that she has no need to worry about the weave coming undone as she runs a pair of scissors through this linen. How she can let the blades hug the fabric on both sides and let them run smoothly towards the other end.

In fact, she recommends IL019 for beginners and experts alike. Praising both the golden middle-weight as well as the soft, smooth feel the fabric has on her fingertips.

Returning to her seat, she smiled and ran a piece of IL019 through her fingers:
"I've made just about everything with this… blouses, shirts, pants, dresses, summer suits, skirts, night gowns, baby clothes, fabric dolls, quilts, lamp shade covers, bed sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers, table cloths and so, so many other things."

She continued to explain to me how linen has been such an integral part of human life for so long that every day linen use presents a visual record of human history.

How linen has always been present in our private life. Be it a smudge of lipstick on a table napkin after dinner or the finest batiste linen entwined with the scents of bodies, linen keeps track of all our intimate moments whether we choose to keep them hidden or exposed.

Our linens fall victim to our every day mishaps of staining, spilling and dirtying, and yet they take on the role happily, regaining their initial purity and brilliance after every wash.

As we spoke more, it only furthered my respect for linen. I want you to share this experience with me. Be it the feeling of running your fingers over a piece of linen soon to become your most treasured garment, or simply learning how to sew, I want you to experience it today!

With over 34 colors of IL019 for you to choose from, there are countless possibilities:

And through Sunday the 24th any of these colors are available with a 10% discount!

Enter here to go directly to Color IL019 Special!

What if I told you, you could own a designer quality dress, without having to pay designer prices? Well if you don't believe me, let me tell you about something that happened to me yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I decided to go look around at the different brands and see which designers are using linen.

To my astonishment, designers with brands like Ralph Lauren, Armani, Juicy Couture, Anne Klein and Eileen Fisher all use linen in their new collections.

Almost all of them use Handkerchief linen for their new lines using colors like Pacific Blue, Raspberry, Orange Pixie, Krista Natural, Fiesta Marina…

Now, it came to me as no surprise why they would use Handkerchief linen and in these trendy colors for this summer season. After all the colors we selected were to match the season's forecasts and the softness of Handkerchief linen is of such finesse, it's irresistible to touch by anyone.

This linen breathes so easily that the feeling of the cool fabric billowing against your skin is like a cool breeze on a summer day. Genteel, elegant and non-allergenic, I am sure that once you feel the fabric for yourself, you will understand why these top designers are using it in their new lines.

None of this was shocking until I saw how expensive everything was. $200 price tag on a dress that requires less than 3-5 yards of fabric - and people still rush to buy it everyday! That's enough yards of your favorite IL020 Handkerchief linen from my site to make 4-7 dresses!

But for someone like you, a creator, a sewer, an artist, why spend $200 dollars on a dress from a department store when you can buy the same quality fabric, make a better garment for yourself, plus get the following benefits:

* Save hundreds of dollars by combining your unique talent, with our unique quality fabric!
* Let's face it, there are more body types than there are sizes: make it fit yours perfectly!
* Be in fashion but be yourself: make your choice from our selection of this year's trendiest colors to better suit yourself!
* Turn heads wearing your new garment!
* Pamper your skin by wearing the healthiest and finest fabric!

Fabrics-store.com IL020 Handkerchief 100% linen comes with a satisfaction guarantee, it weighs in at only 3.5 ounces, making it ideal to make summer dresses, shirts and blouses, tunics, capris, draw string pants, christening gowns, bed sheets, slips, night gowns, handkerchiefs, bed hanging, even light and airy curtains.

Because I am so confident that you will fall in love with this chic and graceful fabric, I want you to get as much of it as you can for less!

So here's my offer: if you buy any of IL020 Handkerchief linen fabric before Sunday July 27 than you'll get a 10% percent discount!

Enter here to go directly to the discounted IL020 Handkerchief linen!

Not too long ago I got a hold of a very passionate creator, Pedro Altamirano. At 68 years old, Pedro has been doing embroidery for over 30 years, has work in all seven continents, and has no plans on stopping any time soon!

Since the Summer of 1977, Pedro Altamirano has focused his embroidery talent on crewel embroidery. He began his hobby during the summer between receiving his BA and Masters Degree. However, he first began regular embroidery as early as 1955, using floss rather than thread.

Taught by his mother, Pedro had an early start in the craft however it was cut short because, as according to Pedro:

“I quit because in 1955 boys did not do embroidery so I quit after much teasing!”

However, that didn’t stop Pedro for too long, and in 1977 he put his talent and creative vision to use once again. Since 1977 Pedro has done over 350 embroidery projects, at first working off structured kits that he would sell, before starting his unique idea: giving away his embroideries to people all around the world, for free!

His idea started when he moved away from working only on structured kits, and began making his own line of embroidery pictures and pillowcases using famous cartoon characters. Of the 350+ embroideries he has created, he has given out over 250 of them, for free, to people he considers very special to him.

“The people receiving my embroideries do not pay one (1) red cent for my embroideries, not even the shipping costs!”

Pedro began giving away his cartoon characters because he didn’t want to sell copyrighted items, however it soon became a personal choice to not sell his hard work. To Pedro, each stitch is a reminder of his hard work and something that nobody can put a price tag on.

Although he has been approached to sell some of his work, Pedro remains dedicated to give away his work only to those who have made a special impact on him, people he considers special and sometimes for a special occasion.

In 2005, a pen pal of Pedro’s pointed out to him that he had embroideries on four of the seven continents of the World! At the time, there was a Betty Boop in Portz, near Koln in Germany (Europe) , a Mickey Mouse pillow in Chile (South America), a Phantom in Australia and the Rescue Basset Hound in Indiana (North America).

In May 2006 a Petunia Pig pillow was safely delivered to China, and in mid October another Mickey Mouse pillowcase arrived in Kenya, Africa. This left only the Antarctic without one of Pedro’s embroideries!

However, with the arrival of a framed Chilly Willy in Antarctica in December 2006, Pedro now has an embroidery on every continent of the World!

Pedro begins his embroideries by scanning cartoon characters into his computer, then printing them out 8×10 inches in size. He then traces the design onto plain paper, reloads it into his computer and then prints 3×5 inch prints onto plastic to put into an overhead projector.

He then makes the character templates around 15 inches tall and transfers the template onto a piece of linen using a light box. Finally, he mounts the linen on to 21×15 inch stretcher bars he makes himself out of clear pinewood. Pedro’s landlord makes his frames, and his oldest daughter Sherrin makes the pillows.

Pedro found Fabrics-store.com around 7-10 years ago, when he couldn’t find suitable linen locally for his embroidery projects. He began buying linen online and on the phone from Fabrics-store.com, and still continues to do so! In fact he’s been so happy with our quality linen, he doesn’t look anywhere else:

“I have been treated so nice by everyone I have spoken with I have not looked elsewhere for my linen.”

Although each piece of artwork is unique, Pedro’s signature is a White Cross symbolizing his faith in God and Red, White, Green and Blue French knots that symbolize his dual heritage of Mexican and American.

“I feel that God has truly Blessed me! I have been doing crewel embroidery for 31 years and my hands and eyes are still as good as ever! “

It is always so refreshing to gain even a little bit of insight into the personal lives of my customers. By hearing from them even through a short e-mail, it gives me inspiration to share their stories with the rest of you!

I hope you found Pedro’s story inspiration and insightful, and if you want to leave a comment just scroll down and please do so.

If you want to share your own story, then please contact me by entering here and filling out the “Contact Us” form.

Sincerely,

Nikolai Karpushin

Are you interested in American Civil War re-enactment? Are you wondering where to begin, as far as getting an authentic costume for the occasion? Well, if so, you should first learn a bit about the importance of linen during the American Civil War. During the American Civil War, linen fabric was used for clothing for both genders of all ages.
Women of that time wore linen chemises, sometimes known as frocks. A chemise was a bit like a modern day nightgown, except that, during those times, women wore chemises under other clothing all day. Women did wear linen chemises by themselves as nightgowns sometimes. Linen chemises were worn under a woman’s corset, for warmth and comfort. The softest linen available would be used to make these as they were always close to the skin. The best linen to choose today for a chemise project would be the IL020 3.5 ounces per yard 100% linen, this cloth is so alike to the linen used during the Civil War – that it will absolutely help your chemise look very authentic.
Older women also began wearing linen pantalettes, sometimes spelled pantalets, during the American Civil War. Linen pantalettes were used to prevent embarrassment, which sometimes occurred when their skirt hoops failed. The pantalettes needed to be made of a thicker cloth that would not be see through and thus were made out of the thicker medium weight linen. Their design is similar to that of long drawers, but included a ruffle at the bottom of each leg and came down to below the woman’s knees.
Women’s clothing of the day also featured linen collars, which were sometimes embroidered with designs and colored, for a decorative effect. Often, the linen collar was held closed with a decorative brooch, as well.
Meanwhile, men’s pants, commonly known as britches, were also sometimes made of linen. Linen britches did not have belt loops, so they were adjusted in back with a leather lace. Boys, during the time period, wore similar linen britches, which featured button flies, button braces and no back pockets. Britches of that time were usually a bit baggy and loose. The linen that was used to make britches had to be sturdy and long lasting, one with a rougher, thicker texture opposed to the gentle women’s chemises. The best fabric to recreate a pair of such britches would be the 7.1 ounces a yard linen.
Civil War era shirts were also, often, made out of linen. They were very similar in design to modern day shirts. However, Civil War era shirts featured fuller sleeves and smaller cuffs than those of today. All Civil War era linen shirts had long sleeves. There were no short-sleeved t-shirts, as we have today. It is easy to find inexpensive period fabric to make yourself a Civil War re-enactment shirt - in fact you can find the exact linen match in the 5.3 ounces linen.
Vests were also popular during the Civil War era. They ranged from plain to fairly elaborate. The fancy vests were often made out of Jacquard weave fabrics. Sometimes they had shawl collars, while other times they had no collar. The vests also had straight hems in the front, not “points”, such as those on modern vests.
If you remember all of these things, you should have no problem making the perfect Civil War re-enactment costume. So, enjoy your re-enactment experience!

It is the 4th of July week and everyone is getting ready for a weekend of fun.

To add to the fun we have cut the prices on two popular linens the IL020 and the IL019 by 15%. That's right, you can get yards and yards of different color linen fabric for as little as $5.50 a yard and yes, that is less than your usual Bleached.

The discounts have been applied to such a variety of colors that only fireworks can compete with this abundance of shades.

The 4th of July Sale is the biggest sale yet!

* Handkerchief weight IL020 is only 3.5 ounces a yard and can be used for summer bedding, bathrobes, blouses, dresses, and tunics for both men and women.
* Medium weight IL019 is a bit heavier at 5.3 ounces a yard, but because it is the medium, "average" weight - this fabric is the recommended norm for most projects. Anything that the IL020 is too light for, you can use the IL019 and it will be just perfect. IL019 is often used for shirts, beach towels, capris, summer pants for men and women, summer jackets and even table linens.

These 2 fabrics open a whole universe of creative opportunities and with such discounts you can have linen in every part of your home and wardrobe at a fraction of what you would pay at your local stores.

If you have a unique project and are not sure which one of these two fabrics would be best for you, then call my customer service team at 1-888-546-3654 and they will be happy to answer your questions.

Remember this is the biggest sale yet and it is for this week only, the handkerchief and medium weight linen fabrics in all the colors will go back to the regular store section at midnight July 6th Pacific Standard Time.
Enter here to go directly to the light and medium weight linen and start saving now!

This summer weight handkerchief linen is guaranteed to keep your body cool and dry even in the most humid hot climates.

Woven out of fine thread, 3.5 ounces per yard linen is a perfect choice for summer days and nights. It is thin, soft and silky, but durable enough to hold up to daily washes. Even though this fabric is thin, it absorbs moisture just as well as the fuller body linen fabrics.

These fabrics are yarn dyes - the thread was first dyed and then the cloth was woven and this gives you an individual look with every cloth design.

Yarn dyes allow you use old patterns to make completely different visually new garments. You won't believe how easy it is to recreate one of your favorite summer shirts or blouses, using your trusted old patterns and a yarn dye, to get a completely new look without losing the comfy fit you are used to.

If you don't feel like spending too much time making new things for summer, then use yarn dyes to embellish existing pieces and give these articles a new summer look without having to redo them from scratch.

Try these tricks to give an article of clothing a new look without doing to much work:

* Add yarn dye pockets or collars to blouses and shirts
* Add color to your bed linens by changing up the bed skirt or pillow cases with a bit of yarn dyes
* Add colorful hand towels to your bathroom or make a new colorful belt and pocket for your bathrobe

For this week only, these summer weight linen yarn dyes are available to you at reduced prices.

You know what you will be making and the embellishments you will be adding, so get the fabric before Sunday June 29th with these additional savings.

Enter here to go directly to the discounted summer handkerchief weight linen yarn dyes!

Whether you are just starting out in the world of Middle Ages era re-enactment or you have been doing re-enactments for years, the one thing that should stick out in your mind is authenticity.  There is nothing worse than showing up at a re-enactment in inappropriate clothes.  It can ruin the entire mood of the situation. 

During the Middle Ages, linen was a major component in clothing.  For instance, leg hose, or stockings, both worn by men and women.  In the early Middle Ages they were often made of linen.  

Another important element of clothing in the Middle Ages was the chemise, or undershirt.  Such undershirts were made of linen and worn by both men and women.

There are two 100% linen fabrics that are perfect to use for making an undershirt. Depending on whether it is a man’s or woman’s shirt, and if it will be worn alone or with a vest or dress over it, you should use either the light weight IL020 or the medium weight IL019. Since the top edge of the linen chemise was often visible, many times it was decorated.

Early in the era women used to wear a soft linen singlet.  It came down to either their ankles or their calves. Since this garment is worn under the undershirt, lighter fabric can be used such as the IS001. The singlet later developed into a full chemise, with long sleeves, though the other style didn’t disappear entirely.  Women still wore the singlets under close-fitting undershirts.

Meanwhile, in earlier times men typically wore just a loincloth.  The loincloth was a soft, rectangular piece of linen that was wrapped around them and tucked into itself.  Some men wore breeches instead.  Breeches looked a bit like today’s boxer shorts, but they were made of linen and very loose-fitting.  For both of these items, a fine fabric such as the IL020 is a good choice.

Later, men began to wear an under-tunic (chemise) made out of the medium weight un-bleached linen.  Gradually, over time, the shape of the garment changed and it became a long-sleeved shirt.

So, the length of the linen chemise varied based on which sex was wearing it and exactly what time period it was. A chemise from the early Middle Ages looked much different from one later on. 

If you’re planning to re-enact the part of a Middle Ages era monk, on the other hand, the importance of linen to you lies in the coif.  Monks of the time wore mostly woolen habits.  However, they wore linen coifs, for warmth.  A coif is a white cap made out of medium weight linen that covered their ears.  It was tied under their chin, similarly to a baby’s bonnet.

So, when you are looking for Middle Ages re-enactment garb, be sure to do your research thoroughly. It can be hard to make a modern day equivalent of the middle ages re-enactment garment, but, luckily you can find the exact linen match for your re-enactment project at www.fabrics-store.com.

What a better way to start your projects than with great savings on these gorgeous fabrics!

You have heard of the very exclusive Jacquard weave linen fabrics. Silky and durable, this fabric is on the crafters most wanted list any time of year.

Jacquards, to some better known as Damask fabrics, are made by using different or same color threads that are woven very closely together to form a design pattern throughout the cloth surface. This type of weave is very difficult to produce thus making Jacquard fabrics very exclusive, especially in 100% linen.

• By adding Jacquard linen to your project, you will achieve amazing results without any extra design work, the design in the weave will be doing the work for you
• Although these fabrics look like silk and extend the impression of being high maintenance and delicate, they are 100% linen and very durable
• These 100% linen Jacquards are certainly very easy to work with and can definitely be washed.
• Ease of fabric care allows you to use this fabric in many projects not having to worry about difficulty in caring for the made articles.

To make sure there is a complementary Jacquard for every project, these fabrics have been brought in a plethora of color combinations.

I do hope that everyone who requires this fabric will have the opportunity to work with it, although there is a wide selection, we are very limited in quantity.

With this promotional discount, you can save on silky, durable cloth and get ready for projects such as:
• Fine table linens
• Elegant clothing
• Luxurious bed linens
• And updates to your furnishings

The promotion will be this week - only through Sunday, June 15th and is an excellent opportunity to save an extra 10%.

Enter here to go directly to the discounted 100% linen Jacquards and start saving now!

I am thrilled to email you about the new fabric shipment that has just arrived.

IL020 - 3.5 ounces a yard 100% linen is one of the finest linen fabrics available
in the world and it is here just in time for your summer projects.

IL020, better known as Handkerchief linen, has an incredibly gentle hand, is woven
using fine staple threads and has very few slubs.

The thread can be this fine without weakening the fabric because it is made from long staple flax.

The finesse of this easy in care, handkerchief linen makes it a favorite among people
who love luxurious, comfortable surroundings.

IL020 linen fabric application is often seen in couture clothing, embroidered bedding,
christening gowns, sleepwear, and in fine details of the interior decor.

The fabric colors that just arrived are based on designer color forecasts for Spring/Summer 2008.

I would like you to be the first to know that this fabric is on a limited time promotional sale.

For this week only – you can purchase the hottest colors in the finest linen fabric at reduced prices!

Through June 8th, the price per yard has been reduced by 10%.

You can also use your coupon codes and gift certificates at check out for additional savings.

Enter here to go directly to IL020 colors for Spring/Summer 2008
and save 10%!