Hello friends – Let’s explore the enchanting realm of Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics! 🌼✨
The Legacy of Liberty Fabrics
Liberty of London, an iconic brand known for its floral and graphic prints, has been at the forefront of fabric innovation since 1875. They are synonymous with high-quality prints and textiles. Their Tana Lawn cotton is a testament to their legacy, boasting an exquisite feel and exceptional quality. I love working with Liberty fabric and have a small selection of favourite prints to include in special projects.
What is Tana Lawn?
Tana Lawn is named after Lake Tana in Ethiopia where the original cotton grows. Known for its fine thread count, it mimics silk’s properties with its soft, durable, and wrinkle-resistant nature. Sewists love using tana lawn for English Paper Piecing, smocking, quilting, clothing and other small projects. Liberty has a huge range of tana lawn. They are especially known for their small print florals. I love to use Liberty in my English Paper Piecing projects.
Sewing Tips for Tana Lawn
Working with Tana Lawn can be a delight if you keep these tips in mind:
– Use a sharp, fine needle to prevent snagging. I suggest a size 60/08 or 70/10.
– Opt for French seams for a clean finish and neatness.
– Press with a warm iron to preserve the sheen and maintain the integrity of the fabric.
– Use a clear starch alternative such as Best Press or Flatter before pressing to stabilise your fabric prior to cutting.
– Ensure your pins are super fine – such as SOHMO entomology pins or Clover Silk Pins which are ideal for fine fabrics to prevent snagging.
– Cut with a rotary cutter: the crisp weave of Liberty Tana Lawn benefits from a rotary cutter which minimizes shifting and ensures clean, precise cuts.
-Handle with clean hands – the smooth surface of Liberty Fabric picks up oils easily so working with freshly washed hands helps maintain its beauty.
-Test machine stitches on a scrap – some sewing machines may need a finer thread tension or adjusted presser foot pressure to sew Tana Lawn smoothly.
– Embrace hand sewing – Tana Lawn is fantastic for English Paper Piecing or delicate hand embroidery, thanks to its silky texture.
Caring for Your Tana Lawn
Tana Lawn is easy to care for:
– Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle.
– Use mild detergent without bleach.
– Avoid tumble drying; air dry instead.
– Iron while damp for a smooth finish.
Iconic Designs: Capel and Betsy
Liberty’s classic prints like Capel, with its delicate floral pattern, and Betsy, a small-scaled stylized floral design, have become staples in the sewing community. They stand out with their timeless floral charm, perfect for any sewing project. These are my two favourite designs.
Embrace the beauty of sewing with Liberty Tana Lawn.
Here are some sewing projects and free tutorials, made with Liberty fabric. Click on the photo to find out more details on the project.
Hexie Garden Pouch: Hexie Garden Pouch features a sweet hexagon flower on the front and is perfect to showcase your favourite small scale floral fabrics combined with coordinating ginghams and stripes.
Liberty Rainbow Pouch: Create a pastel rainbow pocket with Liberty Capel. This useful pouch has an exterior and a divided interior pocket. Ideal for small project pouch, makeup, pencil case, or storing all manner of treasures.
Classic Wreath Ornaments: Add a touch of warmth and traditional elegance to your holiday decor with Classic Wreath Ornaments, crafted from linen and wool felt, featuring an English Paper Pieced wreath.
Jingle Bell Coaster : Jingle Bell Coasters will add festive cheer to your holiday table. Shaped like a Christmas bell, they feature a coordinating band, a ribbon tag, and a sprig of holly. Alternatively reduce the size of the template and make a smaller ornament.
Gifted with Love Pouch: Gifts are extra special when they are presented in a sweet gift pouch featuring a foundation pieced heart.
Parisian Pouch: This sweet little pouch is perfectly sized to hold make up other supplies.
Hexie Sewing Kit: The Hexie Sewing Kit sewing pattern will show you how to make a handy zakka style sewing accessory for crafters on the go.
Pretty Drawstring Pouch: The Pretty Liberty Drawstring Pouch is made using our Pretty Drawstring Pouch sewing tutorial.
Liberty Tissue Cover: I always like to have a few small gifts on hand to include in swap packages or birthday gifts. Tissue Covers are always a popular handmade item – they are practical and pretty – and are perfectly sized for your handbag or car.
Dress Form Gift Tags: Complete a gift with a handmade tag featuring dress forms following our easy tutorial – it just adds a nice personalised touch.
Mini Yoyo Wreath: Sweet yoyo’s have been assembled into a mini wreath. Read more on our blog post.
Gift Packaging: Tie a strip of Liberty to a jar of shortbread. Get the recipe and more details on this post.
For more Liberty inspiration, read the following blog posts:
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Thank you for this post on working with Tana lawn. I have a few gorgeous pieces (including Hello Kitty!) but have yet to work with it, knowing I could use a little guidance beforehand. The fabric is so fine! I just ordered the silk pins and now I’m off to shop for Best Press. Hello Kitty! Here I come…
I am sure your Hello Kitty project will look amazing!