Loden fabric - description, characteristics and application

Origin of material

Loden is a type of dense woolen material, light in weight and having a rough, piled surface. This amazing fabric, with all its positive properties, was obtained during the Middle Ages, if you believe the legend by chance.

The peasant soaked woolen items in boiling water just so that they could be washed. As a result, a process of wool felting occurred. Wool fibers are covered with scales, which adhere to each other when exposed to hot water and friction. The wool felted and shrunk, but became much denser. This is how Loden turned out. This fabric is waterproof, windproof, warm and practical.

How to choose

The choice of a light coat without lining is based on personal preferences and body shape. The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing is the length of the coat. Such products can be from the middle of the thigh, to the knee and below.

Today you can buy a light coat from a variety of materials; give preference to natural or high-quality synthetic fabrics. The quality of the seams determines not only the service life of the coat, but also its appearance. If you want to look stylish and expensive, then you should not buy things that are made poorly.

Description and types

Loden was a dense woolen material, similar to cloth, but a little softer and much lighter.

There are two types:

1. Long pile loden is made from wool with the addition of mohair.
2. Cloth is more loose, the front side is finished with felt-like flooring.

Knitted loden is also called “boiled wool”. It is obtained from woolen knitwear by felting, as a result of which the material decreases in size by up to 30%, becomes soft and acquires a rough texture.

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Under the name “loden” you can find various felted fabrics and knitwear made from pure wool or with the addition of other fibers. The composition is based on llama wool, cashmere, mohair. Often a polyamide thread is woven into the fabric, which gives the material greater strength, sometimes this is done to reduce the cost.

Knitted lodens are also popular, both plain-dyed and with a jacquard pattern or with embroidery.

Gabrielle Chanel created the famous jacket inspired by the Tyrolean Jankers from Loden. The fabric, which became famous in the past, remains popular today. The name comes from Old High German "lodo" or Middle High German "lode", meaning "rough cloth". However, the name "loden" is also applied to knitted fabric, which has also been subjected to the felting process.

Manufacturing technology

The basis of this material is a thick fabric made of sheep's wool, which was made by hand by shepherds of the Austrian Alps thousands of years ago. It is believed that the loden-like fabric was first made in Tyrol in the 18th century. [adrotate banner=”1"]

According to legend, one peasant, while washing his coarse woolen clothes, dipped them into a too hot soap solution. As a result, the wool felted, became very dense, waterproof and windproof.

At the end of the 19th century, the demand for thin and dense felted textiles increased, and its industrial production opened in Austria. From here, loden (which means “boiled wool” in Italian) began to be supplied to many European countries. It was also sold in Russia, although quite limitedly - mainly for outerwear designed for bad weather.

Currently, this ancient felted material is literally experiencing a rebirth - both in the method of production and the number of varieties, and in areas of application. Currently, there are several methods for creating it:

• felting and impregnation;
• weaving followed by felting;
• knitting followed by felting;
• loden knitwear;
• felted loden;
• mixed with polyester for technical purposes.

According to the method of surface finishing, felted material can be:

• pile;
• cloth (short-hair);
• booklet;
• textured;
• embroidered;
• bilateral.

Like centuries ago, loden is most often made from coarse sheep's wool, sometimes with the addition of mohair. A special feature of its manufacturing technology is long-term digestion in a soap solution .
As a result, the felted material becomes soft, thin and flexible; it can drape, but at the same time it is completely impermeable to water and protects well from the wind even in frosty weather.

What's included

Wool fiber contains keratin and protein. These proteins are very close to the proteins of our skin, which is why wool fabric is so pleasant to us. The canvas consists of two or three layers:

1. layer - the facial scaly layer, due to the adhesion of the scales, matting of the wool is obtained.
2. cortical, it affects the characteristics of the tissue, and this is its strength, firmness, elasticity.
3. layer - the inner medullary or medullary layer, occupies the central part of the hair, consists of fragile, loose porous tissue. The more developed this layer is, the less durable the wool fabric will be.

To obtain high quality material, thin and ultra-fine wool fiber is used in which the 3rd layer is less developed. Currently, you can find the following types of loden:

• woven felted cloth;
• knitted felted;
• impregnated (impregnated with a special waterproof compound;)
• with decorative finishes;
• woven felted long pile;
• with the addition of synthetic fibers.

Compound

The composition of loden is not always 100% sheep wool. Manufacturers began to create mixed fabrics. During production, polyamide or viscose fibers are added. For example, a good coat contains 30% polyester and 70% wool. They do not differ in appearance from natural loden. But their tendency to shrink is much lower, and maintenance is easier.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing and buy a quality product, you need to crush its edge in your fist. The Loden material must return to its original shape.

When purchasing, you need to pay attention to special signs:

• uniformity of thickness and texture;
• the same direction and length of the villi;
• uniformity of coloring.

Another way to determine quality is to look at the price. Loden can't be cheap. Therefore, it is better to purchase it in large stores - there is less chance of importing counterfeits.

Delivery in St. Petersburg
and Leningrad region
Delivery —

for free

. Delivery time 1-2 days. Fitting time is 15 minutes. Payment: · By card on the website. · Cash to courier. · Card to the courier. Payment by card is possible in interest-free installments

"HALVA"

. Installment period: for purchase amount up to 10,000 rubles - 4 months. for a purchase amount of 10,000 rubles - 6 months. If you received a unique promotional code, you must enter it in the cart in the field:

Have a promo code?

when making a purchase.

Urgent delivery by courier service in St. Petersburg

Delivery cost – 250 rub. Delivery time - within 3 hours after payment (when placing an order from 10:00 to 17:00 on a weekday) Prepayment only. Without the possibility of trying on. Without the possibility of partial redemption.

Pickup

Krasnogvardeyskaya Square, 3E, 4th floor, office. 115 Opening hours (Monday-Friday): from 10.00 to 19.00. Tel. +7-921-401-79-79

Delivery in Moscow
and the Moscow region
Delivery cost —

for free.

Delivery time 1-2 days. Fitting time is 15 minutes.

Payment: · By card on the website. · Cash to courier. · Card to the courier.

Payment can be made with an interest-free installment card "HALVA"

. Installment period: for purchase amount up to 10,000 rubles - 4 months. for a purchase amount of 10,000 rubles - 6 months.

If you received a unique promotional code, you must enter it in the cart in the field: Do you have a promotional code?

when making a purchase.

Delivery across Russia

Cost of delivery -

for free.

The delivery time is determined according to the rules of the transport company, taking into account the buyer’s city (you can check this information with our managers). Fitting time is 15 minutes.

Payment: · By card on the website. · Cash to courier. · Card to the courier. Payment can be made with an interest-free installment card "HALVA"

. Installment period: for purchase amount up to 10,000 rubles - 4 months. for a purchase amount of 10,000 rubles - 6 months. If you received a unique promotional code, you must enter it in the cart in the field:

Have a promo code?

when making a purchase.

Delivery to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan

Delivery cost - 690 rubles. Delivery time 3-10 days. Without the possibility of trying on. Without the possibility of partial redemption. Payment by card on the website. For orders over RUB 10,000.00, delivery -

for free. Delivery to Ukraine

Delivery cost - 1100 rubles. Delivery time 3-10 days. Without the possibility of trying on. Without the possibility of partial redemption. Payment by card on the website. When ordering over RUB 10,000.00, delivery is free.

Delivery to Azerbaijan, Moldova

Delivery cost - 1390 rubles. Delivery time 3-10 days. Without the possibility of trying on. Without the possibility of partial redemption. Payment by card on the website. When ordering over RUB 10,000.00, delivery is free.

Delivery to other countries
near and far abroad
. For cost and delivery options, you can check with the online store managers by phone/WhatsApp: +7-921-401-79-79

You can check the status of your order and change delivery information by calling/WhatsApp: +7-921-401-79-79

Main characteristics

Hygienic properties:

1. high heat protection and hygroscopicity;
2. low dust and dirt holding capacity;
3. low breathability.

Main technological properties of loden:

1. low creasing;
2. slight crumbling;
3. significant shrinkage;
4. elasticity;
5. high abrasion resistance;
6. dimensional stability.

One of the disadvantages of the fabric is that it deforms when wet, so it needs to be treated before sewing. And also when making clothes from loden, you need to pay attention to the direction of the pile, which should face down. Compressed pile on one or both sides protects from moisture and wind. The weave threads are not visible on the surface of the loden, they are matted together with fibers, so the sections do not fray and the seams do not need to be overcast, and the lower sections do not need to be hemmed. Loden of any density holds its shape well. This material is used for sewing expensive suits, hats, and coats. The softness and elasticity of loden allows you to create creative clothing designs.

Making Loden

In the production of products, sheep wool is used as raw material. Mohair is used to add softness.

Manufacturing technology has not changed over the centuries:

• first the sheep are sheared;
• then the wool is washed and yarn is prepared;
• then rolled into thin slices and boiled in a special solution until a fabric is obtained that is durable, smooth and dense;
• after Loden they paint and dry;
• at the final stage, the material is combed: poorly felted threads are removed with a scraper and cut off.

ARTICLE FOR YOU How to properly wash things made of lycra: in a washing machine and by hand

Loden fabric

Care

• For minor contamination, simply brush in the direction of the pile with a brush.
• If the fabric gets wet, dry it without direct contact with heat sources.
• In case of severe contamination, perform chemical treatment. cleaning
• Some loden items can be washed at 30°C with wool detergent. Squeeze without twisting. Dry on a horizontal surface.
• Iron from the wrong side through the fabric.

Author: Yulia Marvanova.

Types and their properties

There are various types of loden, of which the following are distinguished:

• dense thick;
• soft thin;
• smooth;
• nappy.

These types of boiled wool depend on the methods used to produce loden. To obtain the desired result, it is: felted, woven, impregnated, knitwear and polyester are added.

The material is also distinguished by the type of pile:

• cloth – short, felted;
• fleecy - lies to one side.

Wool loden can have 2 sides. It comes with an embroidered or textured pattern. It has similar characteristics to fleece, drape, felt, and felt.

Felted knitted loden is used for clothing production. Capes, ponchos, and cardigans are made from it.

Loden fabric is double-sided. Often the outer surface is decorated with decorative finishing - applied drawings. The practicality of Loden knitted material is low; over time it loses its properties and does not retain heat well, but remains just as light, stretchable, and plastic.

Viscose and blended loden is an alternative to knitwear-based material. Its features are wear resistance and lack of shrinkage. At the same time, the heat-protective qualities are minimal.

Coat loden goes well with fur, lace, and leather. It is almost always 100 percent wool.

Advantages

Loden is a material that has many advantages.

• thermal insulation – retains heat and warms;
• density of the structure - suitable for windy weather, as it is not blown through;
• environmental friendliness – naturalness, absence of toxic substances;
• plasticity - the cut takes the desired shape when cutting;
• ease of sewing parts - the material does not crumble after cutting, and the edges do not need to be processed;
• breathability – wool allows air to pass through, although its structure is a dense material, it allows the body to “breathe”;
• stain resistance – has the ability to repel dirt, it does not penetrate the fabric structure; The dried stain can be easily cleaned with a brush.

The material gives a pleasant feeling. Soft things are very comfortable.

Indications for use

Doctors usually recommend wearing woolen clothes to their patients. Also, many pediatricians will tell you that they are very useful for children, especially those who have weak immunity and often get sick.

Let's see what the main indications for use are:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Joint diseases
• Colds

Of course, one woolen item will not instantly save you from all health problems; naturally, such items need to be used along with taking medications and medical treatment. Wrapping yourself in wool and waiting for a miracle is not the best option.

In general, felted wool items are very versatile. Of course, before purchasing them, you need to carefully think about how and with what to wear such things, and how to fix them if you have slightly damaged them.

Craftsmen create miracles with their own hands, making clothes, shoes and accessories, toys, and we, the buyers, only need to choose the right place and occasion to use them.

Flaws

In addition to the positive qualities, there are also some negative aspects:

• you need to know the rules of care - it is not recommended to wash thick woolen items, you need to contact a dry cleaner;
• easily deformed - if not properly cared for, the plastic material can stretch and shrink when exposed to moisture;
• decating , which is mandatory when cutting, to avoid shrinkage;
• causes allergies - wool, due to the content of animal fat lanolin, can cause an undesirable reaction in allergy sufferers; they may also be affected by the products used in dry cleaning.

With proper care, fabric defects will not be such. It is necessary to study the properties of the fabric in advance, and then the item will only bring joy.

Eventually…

Well, my dear readers, we have come to the end of my next masterpiece. I don’t know about you, but I believe that sleighs need to be prepared in the summer, and therefore, learning about the features of felted things, and perhaps buying them now, will be absolutely normal.

Summer days pass very quickly, and you will see, before we even have time to blink an eye, there is already a snowstorm and cold outside the window. So, let's get ready for winter, gentlemen.

You can see what kind of felted things there are in the photos I presented, and you can buy them in special stores, or at a crafts fair, as I am going to do. You can also buy felted items in a combination of wool and silk, so they are not only useful, but also amazingly beautiful.

And now, I’m waiting for your feedback, do you have such things, if so, where you bought them, and for how much. Let’s get me ready to go to the Crafts Fair website, because I’m afraid that I’ll buy up everything I need and don’t need there, and my husband will kick me out of the house with all this dowry.

Read my blog, comment, share my articles on social networks with your friends and acquaintances, let's increase our circle of communication and benefit each other.

Useful properties when to wear

In general, I heard a long time ago that things made from felted wool are very good for health, but then somehow I wasn’t particularly interested in it. But recently, my husband developed a terrible lower back pain, and I, as a caring and loving wife, of course, began to look for all sorts of methods to save my loved one from this illness.

Naturally, as an avid blogger and regular visitor to the World Wide Web, I searched on the Internet, read all sorts of reviews, sat on various forums, asked questions, read answers. And there very often flashed advice that mentioned felted woolen things.

One girl wrote about the website Crafts Fair, where numerous items made of felted wool, created by the hands of experienced and talented people, were presented and put up for sale.

She especially recommended purchasing items made from merino wool; according to her, she bought such a belt there and was simply delighted with the effect. Here I think it is necessary to clarify that merino is a breed of sheep that is bred in Australia, and their wool has unique beneficial properties.

In general, felted wool items are all very useful because they have a number of medicinal properties:

• Sheep wool has strong analgesic properties. Since ancient times, it has been used to relieve joint pain, headaches, toothaches, etc. Imagine: for example, you have a toothache, and you have a mouth full of wool, sit and wait for the pain to go away. This is, of course, a joke, there is no need to practice it

• Cat fur has excellent warming properties; the Swiss have long used it in the fight against rheumatism and osteochondrosis. Also, these things are very good at treating joint diseases. So, you don’t need to scold your cat for having fur all over the house, it’s better to brush it often, collect the fur, and make something warm for yourself from its fur
• Dog hair is also very popular among felted items lovers. It also warms the body very well, reduces pain, has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and normalizes blood pressure.

Loden fabric: how to work with it

Sewing from loden fabric is extremely simple: it does not fray at the edges, is easy to cut and does not cause any difficulties. However, it is recommended to follow some tips:

• you need to check the fabric for shrinkage and, if necessary, treat it in advance with water or steam;
• It is worth checking whether the material will cling to clothing. If so, you will have to make a lining;
• You can’t hang clothes on hangers, they will stretch out and become deformed;
• The seams should be taped with non-woven tape for strength.

Working with fabric

How to care

Of course, such things are not simple clothes that we take care of without problems, they require special care, and they also need to be repaired in a special way so as not to get damaged.

I’ll give you a few secret tips that experienced owners of felted items shared with me:

• Such items must be washed by hand, wrung out, placed in a soft towel, and, under no circumstances, untwisted.
• You need to wash it not with powder, but with shampoo, because wool is almost the same as hair
• Dry flat on a towel
• Woolen items may shrink after washing; to avoid this, iron them, trying to stretch them in different directions.

Application and sewing rules

Today, all varieties of boiled wool are widely used in clothing production. Fashionable and warm coats, jackets and capes are made from loden, hats and even shoes are made. Thinner fabric is used to make suits, skirts, trousers, and various accessories.

Before you start working with this fabric, you need to know a few rules.

Important! Before cutting, a piece of fabric must be washed in warm water, dried and steamed with a hot iron.

This process is called decatification. Products made from felted wool can shrink by several sizes after washing, which is why decating is so necessary.

To protect the product from deformation, the seams should be taped with non-woven material.

The high density of the fabric allows you to sew clothes without lining. However, if the pile on the inside of the product is not smooth enough, a lining will be necessary.