How to care for Linen

Linen care sometimes makes people hesitate to own these unique products. They really should not, linen is a natural fibre that launders beautifully and gets softer every time. Due to its natural sheen and smooth surface, linen releases stains easily. It does require ironing, but nevertheless this tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of the fabric's particular "charm"!

• For the first time, wash separately in cold water using regular (non-bleach) detergent. After that you can wash with similar colors in warm water if necessary.

• Use plenty of water because linen is very water-absorbent.

• You can use higher temperatures for the tough stain removal, however the temperature should not exceed 40C for colored linens and 60C pure white linens as it can affect fabric strength and elasticity.

• Remove stains when still fresh. If allowed to set, stains may be hard, if impossible, to remove at a later date.

• Never use chlorine bleaches to avoid damage to the fiber.

• After washing line dry or dry flat. Acceptable standard of 3-5% shrinkage.

• Do not tumble-dry linen, as it will make ironing more difficult.

• Avoid drying natural and dyed linen on bright sunlight.

• If you linens are dry and difficult to iron you can put them in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, to make ironing easier.

• Press with a hot iron while damp. If the table linens are completely dry, please dampen with a fine mist before pressing. Remember, pure linen can withstand the highest temperature settings.

• Store linen rolled rather than folded in dry, well-ventilated area.

Remember our linen tablecloths are NOT only for “special occasion.” Linen can take any amount of washing and benefit greatly from regular use and laundering!

How to care for Alpaca

Although we recommended to dry clean all our 100% alpaca products or blends, you can always gently hand wash your 100% alpaca throw or scarf.

• Wash you product in warm water with a mild soap or baby shampoo.

• Thoroughly rise in water, water should be the same temperature.

• Gently press the garment to excess the water, never twist or wring, dry flat.

• Never tumble dry alpaca products.

• You can iron the alpaca garment on the low temperature settings through a thin cloth (select “wool”).

• Always steam the article before pressing.

How to select a fabric?

Today you can find many products that claim to be 100% linen or a linen blend. Unfortunately, the compromise between the quality and the target price sometimes lead to the products that have short life span. So, before you will select your tableware, there are several factors to look to consider when measuring quality and value .

• Check the fabric’s weight, the heavier the fabric will be the stronger and more durable.

• Test the article up to the light, if you can see the light through it (unless it is a special decorative effect) the fabric might be an excellent choice for the curtains but not for the napkins, tablecloth or towels that require strength and frequent wash.

• Examine the finish, remember, that timeless table linens should begin with a perfect finish that will ensure that the article will not fall apart from frequent washing. Look for hemstitch finish that not only adds an intricate touch, but also perfectly holds the ends together.

• Remember that damask or jacquard fabrics may cost more, but they will pay off in the long run compared to printed fabrics. They are more resistant to color fading and mechanical wear.

• You can tell a lot by how the fabric feels to your hand. Perfectly woven linen has a wonderful touch, silky and smooth.

How do you choose the right size tablecloth for your table?

First, take measurements; it’s always better to know the size of your table for a perfect fit. However, do not panic if you simply don’t know the dimensions, all you really have to remember how many people you can sit at your table. Most likely it will be 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 guests. Manufacturers offer a variety of sizes. Linen Way’s sizes are standardized as 67x67”, 67x98”, 67x110”, 67x122 and, 67x142”.

A typical drop is 8 to 16” on each side. 8” is considered a casual drop, 12-16” is for a more formal setting. Drop is the amount of tablecloth that hanging off the table. It’s interesting to see the difference between different cultures, people with European background prefer longer drop. The North American consumer accepts as little as 8’ drop. Please keep in mind that the average shrinkage for a linen tablecloth is 3% to 5%. Our linen is machine washable; we recommend using Le Blanc Linen Wash for taking care of our linens and getting tough stains out.

Do not be shy away by textile terminology!

Damask is a figured fabric with a pattern formed by weaving. Damask is characterized by a background of lustrous fabric against which raised designs appear, the effect is achieved by long floats of warp and weft and as these are set at right angles, they reflect the light differently according to the angle of the rays of light; the effect changes also with the position of the observer. (Wikipedia)

A jacquard is a fabric that is woven by a machine method that permits different designs and patterns within the weave itself. In the jacquard fabrics a complex design is created by twisting different yarns of the different color. Jacquard fabrics are extremely resistant to color fading and mechanical wear.

Hemstitch is decorative stitch usually bordering a hem, made by drawing out several parallel threads and catching together the cross threads in uniform groups.