REDUX: The Magic of Linen

July 10th, 2021

I just learned today that Linda Heinrich passed away on June 26th, 2021.  Its a sad loss for her family, her weaving friends, and also her artist friends.

You can read her obituary here

Her book is once again out of print but always treasured by weaver with a love of linen.

Susan

Edit January 11th 2011:
A note from Linda Heinrich for readers in Europe and Britain:
Susan, My sincere thanks for the tremendous coverage you've paid to my reprinted book.

Interested Europeans may wish to know that Schiffer Books are distributed in Europe by:

Bushwood Books,
6 Marksbury Avenue,
Kew Gardens, Surrey TW9 4JF England
email: info@bushwoodbooks.co.uk
Fax: 44 (0) 20 8392 9876
Phone: 44 (0) 20 8392 8585
Website: http://www.bushwoodbooks.co.uk/

Linda

Does this book look familiar? Many of you might have this book on your bookshelf... or in your local guild library. Many newer weavers wish they could have their own copy of the now "out of print" book, and patiently wait to borrow one from their local library or guild. Some might ask another weaver who will hopefully entrust them with a much loved copy! This book quickly became the 'authority' for all things linen, covering the history of linen in many cultures,as well as the production, spinning, dyeing and weaving of linen.

"The Magic of Linen" came about as a result of Linda Heinrich's thesis for the Guild of Canadian Weavers Test Program. Linda successfully worked her way through the progressive levels through to her culmination, the Master Weaver certification. She completed this program in 1986 with her thesis: 'A Comprehensive Study of Flax and Linen' which eventually was published as The Magic of Linen.

There have only been 30 Master Weavers produced through this program since 1947 to 2003, so this is a most special distinction.

Master Weaver Jane Evans thesis 'Tied Latvian Weaves' (1985) became 'A Joy Forever', and Master Weaver Laura Fry (1997) wrote a thesis: "Transformations: Fulling Handwoven Fabrics" which became the popular 'Magic in the Water'....... and even Mary E. Black the first Master Weaver of The Guild of Canadian Weavers in 1955 turned her thesis on Tartans into the weavers' 'bible'... '"The Key To Weaving" and later "The New Key to Weaving".

During my tenure as president (2003 - 2007), I had the pleasure of meeting several Master Weavers and learning the history of the Guild of Canadian Weavers and its Master Weaver Certification Program. The Guild and it's programs span more than 60 years.
Linda has served as the Test Program Administrator and was part of the team that revised the test questions since their original inception in the late 1940's.

Linda Heinrich is a lovely lady and one I'm happy to call a friend. She lives in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley in the city of Kelowna. When I lived in the Valley we belonged to the same guild. I took advantage of a three day study course on the properties of, and weaving with linen, with Linda. I also participated in a weekly study group on linen where she generously shared her knowledge. All the information I learned from Linda is there in her book. It also contains a wonderful compendium to refer to when considering a project with linen; from sources and resources, to dyeing linen, right down to lovely projects and their drafts. I have seen the original textiles and they are as lovely as they are pictured!

For many years Linda was asked to consider more printings but this was not to be until now.

The following picture is one of the new colour images from the new book:

Linda says: "This beautiful tapestry (yes, that's a loom) was woven by Judith Poxson Fawkes, long time Portland, Oregon weaver of linen tapestries. Google to learn more about her and her book, WEAVING A CHRONICLE. This tapestry will introduce Chapter 8, Thoughts on Design, Weave Structures and Sett."

Linda may have contacted your guild regarding this new book revision through email using the various contact listings for guilds. This is how I became aware of the new release as I'm the librarian of our local guild. She and I have been in correspondence regarding the revisions and I have a list of the changes here to share with you.

Major changes that you'll find in the new edition of "The Magic of Linen" are, among others...

• 
  
  Chapter 13, The Linen Industry Today has been entirely replaced with more current statistics, and discusses China's position in the world of linen, Egypt and its present day flax cultivation. Today's modern European linen industry, in particular, the function of the C.E.L.C. and Masters of Linen. There is additional information about Libeco-Lagae, some exceptional Belgian linen weavers, and their regard for the ecological treatment of linen from seed to dyed cloth. Ten new photos will feature the text in this chapter.
• 
  
  APPENDIX VI This new appendix relates four personal stories describing “long ago” methods of flax cultivation and processing, spinning and weaving in Austria, Poland and Ireland.
• 
  
  There is a complete revision of the Supplier's List, with websites and email addresses to make it current to 2010. Additionally listing what flax and linen related items are stocked.
• 
  
  There is a complete update of Museums and interesting places to visit that document flax and linen. There are websites and contact information (Klassbols is included. It‘s a lovely website.)
• 
  
  There are additional listings of flax and linen related publications, all since the original publication of 1992. These have been added to the list at the end of bibliography. There are approximately 11 magazines, 4 new book titles and even 3 children’s stories, all flax and linen related.
• 
  
  The revised book has approximately 20 new photographs in colour including the four looms of Oxaback, Louet, Glimakra and Toika. There are two photographs from Egypt showing flax in the field and a scutching mill and also two photographs taken in China with tank retted flax. Two new images by Judith Poxson Fakes of her beautiful linen tapestries . Some formerly black and white images have been upgraded to full colour.
• 
  
  At the end of Chapter 11: Irish Linen, a Glimpse of its History, there is an additional page and a half on the current status of the Irish Linen Guild and the linen industry.
• 
  
  While the project chapter has not been changed, it is my opinion that the wide range of linens from traditional to contemporary, will still appeal handweavers, both new and old. Swedish and Finnish weavers contributed to this chapter. Most importantly, the linen yarns used for these projects are still available. The Finnish yarns 'Helmi vuorelma Oy' are only carried by Raija's Yarns, a Canadian supplier. Weavers can still order directly from Finland with Helmi Vuorelma Oy being listed in the Supplier's list.
• 
  
  Other updates include the current varieties of linen flax seed being cultivated in Europe and in use in other countries. The status of tank retting in Belgium and the use of linseed straw in North America to name a few.

Linda wrote to me: "Thanks loads! I really appreciate your interest and support, Susan. Individuals will have to order the book through the book stores. Hopefully, there will be a whole new generation of "linen-interested" weavers."Unicorn Books will be one of the distributors and copies will appear at book stores near you or from on line from Amazon or Chapters. I know that I will be placing an order for a new copy!

So whether a newer weaver looking for a good resource on linen or an older weaver looking to update a well thumbed copy, we're all in for a treat!

You can help spread the news about this soon to be released revision by simply telling other weavers that its coming out in April, or send the link to this post to your newletter editors to share with others. Use this link here: http://weeverwoman.blogspot.com/2010/01/redux-magic-of-linen.html

I'll leave you with one more image from the newly revised "The Magic of Linen" and Linda says:

"Susan, this is an example of contemporary damask. A small photo is included at the end of Chapter 13, The Linen Industry Today. Maura Lamb of Irish Linen Stores, in Victoria, B.C. carries this popular and colorful French line. (Two new photographs of more traditional Irish damask cloths are included in the reprint.)"

Description: Siena damask, ruby. Courtesy of Le Jacquard Francais, Gerardmer, France, and Irish Linen Stores.