Hanging Out with Linen

How you let linen do its thing in order to do yours a little better.

You love the way linen falls gently on your body, allowing you to feel free and unfettered. So why not let linen do what it does best to make your life a little easier? Here are three things you can easily make at home that will improve your day-to-day routine and your use of linen. A couple of them are easier to use if you have young children, but if you’re creative, you can probably think of alternate uses for these linen-centric pieces.

#1: Toy Hammock

Tired of stepping all over those tiny little toys? Wish your little ones had a consolidated, out-of-the-way place to stuff all those plush animals? Reorganize your child’s room and give your feet a break with a simple toy hammock. All you have to do is measure how much linen would be required to get from one wall to the other (it’s best to put the hammock in a corner), put a hem on the perimeter of the cloth, and sew 18 inches or so of string or ribbon on each corner.

Once this is done, simply attach the string or ribbon to the wall with hooks, nails, or thumbtacks, and toss the toys inside! If your child is mature enough to not pull the hammock down, put the hammock low enough for your child to put toys in and take them out. For younger children, put the hammock about five feet off the ground to keep your little one from damaging it.

#2: Baby Sling

So you’ve been looking for an alternate way to carry your newest bundle of joy. Something comfortable, stylish, and allows you to be close to your precious baby. Then you heard about baby slings. But none of them looked quite right. They were all made of mediocre fabrics with loud, obnoxious colors that looked more likely to keep your baby wide awake than resting peacefully.

Don’t give up hope, though’because linen is coming to the rescue! Imagine a gorgeous baby sling made of the finest linen available, wrapped comfortably over your shoulder and putting you and your newborn in constant contact with one another. It’s a parent’s dream, and it can be your reality with a little work on the sewing machine. Don’t have time to sew today? Due to their increasing popularity, you can pick up a linen sling at fine clothing establishments. And in case you’re wondering, you can easily make a linen baby sling that is so attractive that even dad will want to wear it.

#3: Home Accents

Don’t have any kids? You can still find plenty of ways to let linen hang out in your life and make your home an even more comfortable place to be. Take a long piece of linen, give it a hem, and you have some fantastic, sophisticated curtains that will move effortlessly when a warm summer breeze blows through your open windows.

Or pull a multi-colored piece of linen across a piece of wood and put the wood in a frame. Your homemade art will add a subtle touch of class to your home, helping to tone down other more overwhelming features in your home. Regardless of how you let linen hang out in your life, it is sure to add some much-needed convenience and style!