Glazed linen, such as this Natural Glazed Linen, appears from the 18th century to the 20th century. Used for lining hats, sleeves, pockets, stays and more, the glazed finish of the linen gave it a smooth, hard finish that held up to the rigors of use. In the 18th century, this smooth finish and high gloss were achieved through a process called beetling. First done by hand and then by water power, large wooden hammers were repeatedly beat upon the dampened fabric as it was stretched across an iron roller, that was kept in motion through cranking. This produced a hard, flat surface with a high luster, and subsequently made the fabric less porous, as it flattened out the yarns, filling in the weave. By the 1730’s, this was mechanized with water wheels, and fabric could be beaten for hours, resulting in an even better finish. Today, Natural Glazed Linen is finished using modern electricity, but in the same manner as it was then, resulting in a textile you will not find elsewhere.
- Please note that if this Natural Glazed Linen is washed, it will lose it's finish, so we do not recommend laundering it.
- This Natural Glazed Linen is 100% Irish Linen, 32 inches wide
