For millennia, fibers of the flax plant have been spun into thread and used to make linen cloth. Fine linen has been a very useful fabric since ancient times. Today, linen is used to make clothing, bedding, tablecloths, napkins, dish towels, and many other things. It is a durable, lightweight, breathable, absorbent, comfortable, and hypoallergenic fabric. But linen is also an important biblical symbol.