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I import t he linen I sell from Belgium. I’ve sold this same linen for almost 30 years. This linen is the perfect weight and quality for our fair linens, Mass linens, Communion veils, altar cloths, credence covers - for all liturgical purposes that require the use of fine linen. If you wish to see a sample, I am happy to provide it to you. You may write or call me - or email me at obunny@roadrunner.com. Linen has three characteristics that should be of interest to you: quality, weight and density. These characteristics help you evaluate the suitability of a particular type of linen for your project.
Weight and density are related characteristics. Batiste (sometimes called ‘handkerchief linen’) isn't just lighter in weight because its threads are slimmer; it's less dense. As you compare your sample to the linens in your sacristy, do keep in mind that elderly linens become sheer over time. They were heavier when they were new. My linen contains 141 threads per square inch and weighs 4.4 ounces.
As Yardage: This linen is 72 inches wide and costs $35/yard. While the shrinkage factors of this linen never exceed 5 percent, shrinkage does vary from bolt to bolt. Any time you order linen from me, I will supply you with the shrinkage factor for the linen - both across the width and along the length. Using these two factors you can determine with great accuracy the amount of extra fabric you need to allow. Shrinking before cutting is not a necessity - which makes things much easier! Purificators - 13" square - $4.00 each
Lavabo Towels - 13" x 18" - $6.00 each Corporals - 22" square - $10.00 each Note: While the pre-cuts will never be smaller than these dimensions, they are sometimes larger. I will also cut custom sizes. Please feel free to ask for prices on custom cuts. The skills that we need in order to prepare fair linens for stitching are difficult to acquire for a couple of reasons: First, the process itself is fairly complex and, as few of us have the opportunity to make more than three or four fair linens in our lifetime, we don’t have much opportunity to practice. Second, the laying out process really needs a large, padded surface – the dining room table is too slippery. Not many of us have access to such a work surface. And yet, it seems a shame to deny ourselves the pleasure of sewing fair linens just because we haven’t either the skills or the type of work surface we need. Not to mention having to pay the ready-made prices! I have the skills and I own a large padded worktable. And, I’ll do your preparation for you. Of course, I charge for this service. The cost is $40 for the first two yards (the two ends) and $10 for each additional yard – or portion thereof. Plus the cost of the linen required.
Preparation includes cutting the linen to size (including allowance for shrinkage), turning the hems, mitering the corners and basting. The linen comes to you ready to shrink (simple instructions included) and stitch. I also prepare credence cloths. The minimum charge is $25. Golden Ruler @ $16: This is a ‘must have’ item. A couple of years ago, I did a small linen workshop for a Lutheran parish in Grand Island, NY. When I had finished showing the ladies how to use the Golden Ruler, there was quite a bit of comment about how well it worked – except for one lady, who sat there staring at the sample she had just completed. I finally asked her if anything was wrong? She said: “I’ve been making linens for 35 years. Where has this been all that time?” The Golden Ruler not only measures small linen hems, it makes the hem creases – all you have to do is fold them and stitch them. Furthermore, the hems are straight! Easy, efficient, excellent! This little treasure is a kit, complete with instructions. Golden Rulers are packaged and mailed separately. The postage is $4.60. Thread @ $3 each - Look in your local store before ordering. This is Coats ‘Extra Fine’ cotton-wrapped poly. It’s a very high quality thread – you’ll feel it when you use it. And, it’s the equivalent of #100. It has a hot pink label on the end. Needles @ $3.50 per packet. These are embroidery/crewel needles (you can actually see they eye so threading is easy!). Order in size #10 or #12 (The #12 is VERY slim!). Embroidery Floss @ $1 each. This is your basic DMC floss. You can probably get it at your local sewing store. Simple Ecclesiastical Embroidery Patterns @ $3. If you don’t feel real sure about your embroidery skills and need a bit of support, here are several ‘line designs’ that will help you. Line designs are meant to be worked with line stitches – rather than ‘fill in’ stitches such as satin stitch (which nobody can do anymore!). The line stitch I use is the chain stitch (some people call it ‘Lazy Daisy stitch’). If you can do chain stitch, you can complete your linens with handsome embroidery. Pins @ 25 for $1.50. You probably cannot get these locally. They’re made by W.H. Collins, Inc. They are wonderful for use with this linen. They slip right through those little stacked corners without distortion. I wouldn’t use anything else. Pall Kit Pall Inserts @ $1.50 each. Choose 3”, 7”, 8” or 9”. Sewing Church Linens, by Elizabeth Morgan (that’s me!) @ $14.50. I’ve tried to include in this book EVERYTHING you need to know in order to construct church linens. It’s written for beginners. By that, I mean, I take nothing for granted! I presume that you are as much in the woods as I was when I began this lovely craft. In this book, I re-introduce a hemming technique called ‘Convent Hemming’ that allows us to construct the very small stitches we associate with our Communion linens.
Embroidery Pattern Catalogue @ $16 each. This is a copy of a catalogue put out at the turn of the last century by a British company that manufactured iron-on ecclesiastical embroidery patterns for white work, gold work and satin work. While we can no longer purchase the iron-on patterns, we can enlarge or reduce the designs and trace them or transfer them onto our linens and vestments. There are 150 pages in this catalogue with, literally, thousands of designs – many old favorites that we have all seen many times before. Also good for parish secretaries to use for clip art. For easy use the pages are not bound. A remarkable resource. Ecclesiastical Crochet Lace Patterns @ $5 each. This little collection of ecclesiastical lace patterns was taken from a number of old, old crochet pattern books. It’s unusual to see so many collected together in one place. I’m grateful to have it to offer. In the event that your parish prefers to purchase their linens ready-made, may I suggest that you purchase them from St. Margaret's Convent. These linens are constructed by Haitian women and your purchase helps support St. Margaret's ministries to children and aged women in Haiti. I recommend these linens to you as being beautifully constructed and embroidered using the same linen that is offered here.
To place an order, write: St. Margaret's Convent, 17 Highland Park St., Boston, MA, 02119 or call: (617) 445-8961 . Ask to speak to Sister Claire Marie and please tell her that Bunny sends her love. I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful supplier called Lacis. Lacis carries EVERYTHING to do with fiber crafts. I recommend that you visit this link and that you acquire their catalogue – fascinating reading and you’ll want to keep it around as a useful resource. The people at Lacis are a joy to work with. If you are one of those rare people who are actually capable of doing satin stitch, Lacis supplies all weights of floche. If you’ve been trying to learn how to do satin stitch and wondered why it is so difficult, try using floche rather than the 6 strand embroidery floss. I love to teach. I have been blessed to have had a great deal of experience teaching both nationally and internationally. I do not charge for teaching. (How could I charge for doing something that gives me such pleasure??) I do require that my expenses be paid. I am flexible as to topics – we can work this out to suit your goals. I can teach as a skilled Altar Guild member. I can teach linen construction. I can teach vestment construction.
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