The Wichelt linen I bought at Walmart is stiff/starched!

It's not (just) because you got it at WalMart. Wichelt linen is stiffer than Zweigart. It's the way they make it. Some people prefer it.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net WIP: Oriental Butterfly, Insect Sampler Most recently Finished: TicTacToe Sampler, Snow, Morning Glory Stitching log:

Wichelt is actually a distributor; the linens often called "Wichelt" are actually manufactured by Permin. Zweigart is also a manufacturer, and many people prefer Zweigart's products (and Zweigart fabrics always have an orange thread in the selvage). Further confusing the matter is the fact that Wichelt also distributes Zweigart products. If the linen (100% flax) is named (Dublin, Cork, Cashel, Belfast, Edinburgh), it's likely Zweigart; the names are reserved for certain counts (Cashel is 28, and always 28; you can't have a Cashel that's another count).

You can either get rid of the starch by rinsing the fabric in water, or you can scrunch it up in your hands till the stiffness breaks down.

I also have sometimes had linen that was very stiff at the beginning of the project soften up immensely as I worked it.

Sue

Brenda Lewis wrote:

The bag had both "Wichelt" and "Permin" printed on the label. I had just figured one was a division of the other.

That is interesting and informative, Thanks That explains why the plactic bag that contained the last piece of fabric from a LNS identified it as Cashel, and yes the selvage has orange in it.

Barbara T

Thank you all for the education! This CS hobby sure does have a lot of branches of knowledge. I now know what to ask/look for. The small pieces I have made of the Wichelt were done "in hand" and the stiff fabic was unhandy. I'll wad and wrinkle it to soften it before the next item. I prefer to wash it after the stitcing is done.

Now back to the Superstition Mountain! I will not, will not let it become a UFO! :-)

Barbara T