Using Vintage linens
The beauty of these vintage fabrics is in their natural simplicity . The spinning and weaving of these natural fibres has created fabrics with beautiful textures which work well in many settings.
Our vintage linens work well for upholstery and soft furnishings.
A piecs of fabric strategically placed can add a warmth and softness to a setting without fuss. For example, a cushion or a table runner .
Choosing matching and complemetary vintage fabrics
Many of these fabrics complement each other beautifully. Mixing stripes and weights creates an understated interest.
Most of our antique and vintage linen has either a pale stone/oatmeal or cream/wheat coloured base.
When choosing fabrics to be used together the background tone is probably the most important consideration and going for either the grey/stone/ oatmeal tones or the wheat/cream/yellow tones is a
good starting point. These fabrics lighten with washing, particularly at high temperatures,
Mixing striped linen with plain often works well and for larger projects using any combination of vintage grain sacks, cart covers, mattress covers, sacks and sheets with the same tones can produce stunning results.
More on choosing vintage fabrics on the blog
Choosing vintage fabrics for upholstery
Vinatge linen cart covers, matress covers, sheets, grain sacks and fabric from rolls can all be used for upholstery projects.
All our fabrics were woven on home looms, these looms were narrow so that they could fit in the weavers houses. The widths of our fabrics vary from 40-70cm
Cart covers,mattress cover and sheets consist of 2 or more panels of vintage linen fabric hand sticthed together and are suitable for upholstery as are sacks and rolls.
Mixing plain linen with some striped and / or monogrammed linen works well. For example a plain mattress cover with monogrammed stripes sacks running down the chair back or a patchwork effect using various striped, monogrammed and plain linen. There are almost endless options available. We can match fabric and prepare upholstery packs of matching plain and striped linen.
We recommend using fabrics with a close weave for upholstery. Most of our fabrics are closely woven and suitable for upholstery unless otherwise stated
More on upholstery on the blog
Bespoke Advice
We provide a matching service and can advise on fabrics to be used together and with your existing interior schemes including Farrow and Ball paints and wall coverings
Please email textiles@parna.co.uk
Samples
We are happy to send samples. Please email textiles@parna.co.uk with details of colour preference, Flickr fabric codes if apropriate, quantity of fabric required per project and your address
Uses for Vintage linen
Frequently featured in interior and style magazines these textiles can be used to great effect whether your preferred look be Gustavian, French, rustic, country or minimalist.
Some ideas:
Hemp sheets make fantastic curtains, upholstery fabric, Roman blinds and table coverings
Sacks and fabric from rolls for blinds, covers, bench cushions and upholstery.
Sacks for laundry bags and bath mats
Table runners from opened out sacks or fabric from rolls
Table cloths from mattress covers and cart covers
Cart covers make excellent heavy curtains, bed covers and very large table cloths
Care of vintage textiles
Most of our fabrcs are extremely hard wearing and can be washed at high temperatures. We launder all of our vintage pieces prior to despatch.
We recommend washing in the washing machine at 40 C (although most fabrics can withstand washing at 95 C though there may be slight shrinkage). Tumble dry or hang to dry rather than drying flat. Grain sack fabrics can be tumble dryed- giving a softer texture to fabrics.
Hemp fabrics lighten with age and washing. Washing at high temperatures speeds the lightening process
For fabric that becomes stained or solied we recomend using oxi -action either applied pre wash or an oxi- action washing powder.
We recommend washing embroidered pieces by hand at low temperatures. Indigo dyed pieces should be washed seperately at low temperatures.