I asked Wendy Lewis of the Textile Trunk last week if she had ever tried
dyeing her heavy, nubby grain sacks or sheets. I’ve seen lighter
weight linen sheets, nightgowns, tablecloths, and embroidered napkins done
beautifully, and was thinking of pitching a grain sack into a vat of dye
but wasn’t sure how the heavier fabric would take the dye.
Well…Wendy beat me to the punch and has a first showing of gorgeous, heavy
weight, dyed French linen and metis just listed on Ebay here…
Deep, gorgeous purple. This would be a gorgeous coverlet over your sheets,
under a duvet…with large embroidered initials across the front…
I’ve been searching around for my embroidery hoop…
can you imagine over-sized swirly initials? Time to stop looking for the
perfect initials and take up a soothing Fall hobby…or be
on the lookout for local talent!
Some initialed French vintage linen
from my ancient House and Garden archives…
Wendy’s luscious brown…almost has a mauvish undertone…
The appeal of Wendy’s linens are their hand-loomed aesthetic…
Nubby, textured, soft…
Some of the smaller sheets can be backed with
a lighter material and stuffed and tie quilted for
a small throw across the bed or favorite chair…
Denim, raspberry, deep purple, soft gray and brown…
To see all check here
I dyed the bottom two Bella Notte fabrics using
Dharma Trading Co Charcoal Gray dye here
They were seconds I had purchased at the outlet here
Not for the faint of heart…but I do love the magic
when it works out!
Here’s one of my earlier bolts from Wendy …
antique French linen that I just pulled out
of the washing machine…
And left out to dry over my new lavender hill
(can’t wait ’till next year when it’s twice as thick)
Sigh…too perfect to dye…
Earlier Textile Trunk post here
A tall stack of Wendy’s grain sacks with a Bella Notte Whisper Linen
flax colored boudoir pillow on top..
Leeann of Fabulously French did a post here
about the French company Longmetrage here
Click for more views of color saturated linens…
What about you…are you getting ready to throw
some color into your life…or still in love with
the natural, nubby linens?
Trouvais 
THANKS FOR INTRODUCING US TO ‘LOODYLADY.’
I’m just in love with everything you do! XO Mona
You say the sweetest things, Mona! Thank you!
These linens are gorgeous, and that boudoir pillow…fabulous!! Thrilled to have found your blog!
I’m still in love with natural linen–the richness and integrity will always call to me. Thanks for this super post–your hill looks great!
Love the natural and the color too!
Life is big enough for all of it.
xo xo
Gorgeous,
I am more drawn to the natural shades, but would invest in some vintage linens already dyed.
Joanny
I love what Wendy does with her linens and have a large stack of them myself. I just bought some really deep dyed brown French linens from here, http://www.marstonhouse.com/ to make slipcovers for my dining room chairs since I was afraid to try dying my linens myself. I didn’t know Wendy was now dying linens so I’m off to check out her colors, thanks for letting us know!
Hi Debra. GREAT link…thanks. Love their furniture as well! Pillowcases are fairly easy…but it’s probably best to leave large pieces to professionals. I still have a hard time getting just the color I want…and getting it even.
Loved the texture (your beautiful photographs) here and the hint of the hill in waiting. Can you dye things in a front-loading washer? I didn’t want to risk gumming things up and dyed a black linen jacket black that had grayed a bit black again. I ended up using my utility tub in the basement that now looks like a chemistry experiment gone bad. It was a lot of work. Can’t imagine doing a BOLT of fabric that way! But then, you are genius at such things.
Hi HBD. I have heard of several great businesses that dye by the pound…and I think that’s the way I’d go for anything larger than a pillow case. It’s just too hard to agitate something bulky (in a sink or kettle) enough to get an even color. And I imagine if I used my washer…shudder…every subsequent laundry cycle would be met with unwelcome surprises!!! Genius is knowing one’s limits!
Gorgeous….that purple is simply wonderful!
Kristen
I find the pigmentation of the colors you show us to be absolutely enchanting. Such lovely harmonious hues.
Would I be brave enough to dye these exquisite textures…I don’t know. Your natural antique french linen is
heavenly.
I’ve never tried to dye heavy grain sacks . I remember last year when you wrote to me about dye and die … ( it was funny ) . love your colors
Hi Melanie. Your English is great…wondering what odd things I am saying when I attempt to use my limited French! Noticed Wisteria here has a grainsack-ish looking pillow in rich dye tones.
Hi Trish,
I was to comment on your former post, the Swedish room, but unfortunatley I ran out of time as one does by occasion.
As a supporting member of Drottningholms theatre’s friend Society I’m astonished by the most well performed research you’ve made on this.
The society has many international members and it gives us, except for the divine performances, opportunities to visit and explore behind the scenes and other historical environments from this period.
The wallpaper, in the lodge of the primadonna is painted by hand, au panneu, late 1700. As an original it has the little bird.
When the former owners of the Britsh interior decorating firm Colefax an Fowler visited our late King Gustav VI and his Queen in the 1950 ‘ies and the theatre, Mrs Lancaster fell deeply love with this wallpanels. Our king than had a couple of panels copied by hand and shipped to her in England and as to complete her dining room, her business associate Mr Fowler, being a scene-painter, had the pattern up for reproduction.
A couple of years ago the company celebrated 100 years and for that reason this wallpaper was once being reproduced for sales, but this time with a slight difference, the little bird has been excluded in the pattern.
The wallpaper is still very beautiful and is one of my top favs. I have it hanging in my back entrance, next to my kitchen.
I’ve chosen the black…you may take a peak here at one of my former posts made about a year ago.
http://loveyourhomes.blogspot.com/2009/07/sa-har-kan-det-ga-till.html
Colefax’s name of the wallpaper is Snow tree and today it’s also available as textile, embroidered silk and linen.The black silk is yet more dark brownish.
Besides this I’m still so into Bella Notte linen, dyed like this it looks even more gorgeous. I see the grey is still on, you work it well mixing with shades, surfaces and and various qualities in textile.
Oops, rather long comment…..
Ingela
Hi Ingela…thank you SO much for all you’ve shared! I really love your dark “Snow Tree” wallpaper…so sophisticated. I will have to look at Colefax’s interpretation of the Prima Donna wallpaper. I’m a little late, but I finally ordered the Swedish Room book…incredible 18th century rooms! Can’t wait to learn more. You’ve proven that sometimes the most interesting part of my posts are in the comments below. Thank you!
I’d like to correct on the King…it is GUSTAV VI ( of the Bernadottes)
I edited it in, Ingela! Thanks!
Trish, recently I purchased some lovely old French pillow cases, few of which had slight stains that would not come out. On a whim, I boiled a small package of frozen blueberries, cooled them and ran the berries through cheesecloth. Then, using a large glass bowl, I dipped the pillow cases into the solution, some for a brief five minutes, others for fifteen minutes. All came out the most beautiful lavender, running from pale to deep amethyst.
It was so easy, plus I saved the solution in the fridge to use another day on something else. You must rinse the item in cold water several times but after that, it’s completely run-proof.
Perhaps your readers might like to try this method.
April
Hi April…wonderful! Thank you so much for telling your story. There are products you can buy to set the dye. Love the idea of using blueberries, or raspberries, creating natural dyes.
Hi –
Two things –
First, a couple of comments about Wendy Lewis. She is without doubt the most delightful person I have had the pleasure of dealing with on line. Not only is her inventory beyond beautiful, the woman herself is just lovely. She seems grateful for each and every kindness that comes her way. And she has integrity for days. If you check out her website, you’ll see that her ebay sales history is impeccable. I’m a big fan and think the world should know just how special she is.
Secondly – I was unaware that there are Bella Notte linen seconds out there for sale. Can someone direct me to them, pleeeease!
Hi Debra. Don’t you just love lovely people!? She is very special…I treasure each and every thing I’ve gotten from her. Its so evident that she loves what she’s doing! Bella Notte Outlet here. People travel from Canada to stock up on the treasure. Usually almost indiscernible flaws…bring paint chips and swatches.
Hi Trish,
I’ve been savoring your every post for a while but haven’t written until now. I wondered if you would share what photo software method was used on the first image (chair piled with linens) in your post on dyed French linens? I’m in love with that photo and would really value learning how to create a similar effect with some of my European photos.
Thanks,
Linda
Hi Linda. I used Adobe Photoshop…which allows you to use several artistic techniques..alone or in combination. I really like how the tiny geraniums and lavender popped in the background…and the chair back looked painted. It’s alot of fun to play around with. Good luck!
Everything is so beautiful, romantic and very chic!!!
Kisses from Italy.
Laura@RicevereconStile
What a fabulous post. I don’t think I could ever bring myself to dye such perfectly nubby linen…or thosse with the thickly padded hand embroidery, but my hat goes off to those of you brave enough!
Envious of your access to the Bella Notte outlet. Mine is all full price. Adds up FAST!
Have a great day!
Linsey
I love this post Trish and may just have to give it a go myself as I think that the old french chanvre sheet would look fabulous dyed a lovely dark purple or gray…..
A tres bientot,
Leeann x
This is a message for K(C?)atherine Lind – I noticed on an earlier post that you are looking for BN linens in “Skye”. I just noticed a couple of items for sale on ebay in this colour. The two sellers are: cottagechic; and shabbychateaugirl. Good luck!
This is fabulous!!!!! I have sooooo much to catch up with…weeks of delicious posts
Ohhh, I can’t tell you how much I absolutely, utterly ADORE this site! x
I am just overwhelmed with all this beautiful linens & material. I want it all of course. I have book marked your site so I can come back and dream every once in a while.
Janice
I have been dyeing linens for years~mostly cotton. I can’t wait to try it out on my linen.
that last picture is so gorgeous!!!!!! i want to dye my linen like that. beautiful.
Bought some amazingly beautiful heavy weight linen and have also been researching on dyeing it. Battled to get info on companies in South Africa. The prices are so exhorbitant. Went to an old supplier of fabric painting and started speaking to one of the assistants who wa so informative about the companies reactive dyes. Don’t know how viable it is going to be doing 27 meters. One of the companies said that you have a lot of shrinkage up to 30 – 40%. Thank you for the most wonderul blog. Your’s was the first introduction to a world that makes me give up sleep in order to absorb (or trying to) the world of blogreading and all that it offers..