Linen: 100 days of thought

I made the happy discovery a little while back that I’m descended from a 17th century North European linen weaver. It’s pathetically atavistic, I know, but I like to indulge myself with the notion that I can’t help it: my blood simply appreciates fine linen and any resistance is futile. I’m drafting a letter to this effect for my bank manager.

Vintage linen sheet

Fashion Incubator has brought me something rather wonderful, and not for the first time this week; it was even in the same blog post as yesterday’s corduroy story. Despite its title, there’s nothing B about this little movie on the subject of linen. It brings such wonderful words: ‘retting’ (softening by soaking in water or exposing to moisture) and ‘scutching’ (dressing by beating). And if you’ve ever wondered where the phrase ‘flaxen-haired’ originated, all will be revealed. Prepare to be riveted by its beauty.