Calico (bed-clothes): reviews, prices

Bed linen for centuries and even millennia was an attribute of luxury, and it was used only by representatives of the higher strata of society. And this is not surprising, since before the invention of the semi-mechanical loom in the first half of the 18th century, the production of fabrics, especially with a wide cloth, required enormous physical expenses and time. In general, bed linens in modern understanding appeared in Europe only in the 15th and 16th centuries, and at the initial stage each set was piece and, as it were said today, exclusive. Mass production was established centuries later, or rather in the middle of the 20 th century.

From what fabrics sew bed linen

Today, for its manufacture, a variety of fabrics are used, mostly from flax, silk and cotton. In the latter case, satin, percale, jacquard, poplin or coarse calico can be used for tailoring the kit. Bed linen, sewn from one or another fabric, will differ not only in appearance, but also in performance characteristics.

If viewed from the point of view of the optimal ratio of price to quality, then preference should be given to sets of cotton fabrics. First of all, this is due to the fact that all of them, provided that they do not contain impurities of synthetic fibers, have excellent hygroscopicity, they do not form pellets, and they do not cause allergies. The last condition, however, is true only when it comes to a kit manufactured at an enterprise where no dyes are used, not intended for products of this kind.

Properties of cotton fabrics

In addition to the properties common to all kinds of textiles made only of cotton fibers, each of them has its own specific qualities, depending on the way the threads are intertwined. In particular, according to this criterion, the following fabrics are distinguished: satin, percale, poplin and coarse calico. They all look great and can decorate any bedroom.

Calico

As already mentioned, cotton is the ideal raw material for the production of fabrics intended for bedding. Especially popular is coarse calico, which was invented in Asia and was originally imported to Russia from Bukhara and Khiva. On the territory of the Russian Empire, it was first produced in the Transcaucasus, and then in the city of Ivanovo, which to this day retains the unofficial title of the textile capital of our country. Despite the fact that coarse calico is familiar to Russians for more than 300 years, and today you can hear the question of what bedding (calico or cotton) is better to buy. It is obvious that it is meaningless, and the speech, most likely, is about the same tissue. In general, when considered coarse calico (bedding), reviews are different, and much depends on which company is the manufacturer of the kit.

Poplin

Bed linen from poplin is considered durable and pleasant to the touch, however it is much less popular than satin or coarse. Most likely, this is due to the fact that these fabrics were often used for sewing clothes in the Soviet period, and kits of them were available only to units in deficit conditions. Looking for inexpensive but quality bed linens? Coarse calves or poplin from well-known domestic producers can be an ideal choice for you. The latter circumstance is especially important, since today in the market you can find kits-fakes. Judging by the reviews, such bed linen is sold in a non-representative packaging and strongly sheds. In this case, if the poplin kits are counterfeit relatively rare, then with the coarse ones this happens all the time. In order not to become a victim of scammers and not to buy bed linens, which will turn into a rag after a couple of washings, it should be remembered that a quality set of cotton fabric that does not contain synthetic impurities can not cost less than 850-900 rubles (one and a half sizes). You also need to try to find out how much calico has a density. Bed linen from well-known manufacturers should be quite heavy, and on the package this parameter should be specified, which can not be less than 110 g / sq. M, and ideally should reach 145 g / square. M.

Percale

Such a cotton fabric is somewhat durable than coarse calico. Bed linen from perkali, as well as satin, belongs to the category of elite. It is so strong that at the dawn of the development of aviation it was used for cladding aircraft wings. At the same time, this fabric is glossy and pleasant to the touch, and also is not afraid of shrinkage and is to be washed in a washing machine.

Satin

One of the main characteristics that are decisive when choosing options for bedroom textiles are its durability and non-rendezvous. After all, no one would like to wake up in the morning on unpresentable looking crumpled sheets or spend money on purchasing sets several times a year. If you are looking for such bed linen, coarse calico or satin can arrange you fully. However, the latter fabric has a more presentable appearance, because thanks to a special process of twisting of threads, it has a beautiful shine and greater strength. At the same time, the satin set costs 2 or even 2.5 times more expensive than the last one of the same size, if you used calico at the time of sewing.

Coarse calico, linen: reviews

Before buying a kit of a particular manufacturer, it makes sense to read the opinion about specific products on forums and specialized sites. Especially it is worth paying attention to negative feedback, as positive often leave employees of textile factories and online stores, which are entrusted to carry out the company's advertising campaign. According to the testimony of the majority of buyers, among the domestic producers the best quality of products is provided by Ivanovo textile workers. For example, a good choice is Shui bedding (coarse calico), which is relatively inexpensive and at the same time serves 3-4 years. At the same time, there are a lot of forgery kits on the market. Despite the fact that on their packaging there is a marking "Shuya cotton", they have nothing to do with this plant, operating since 1820. Today this company produces sets from several collections, among which "Peach", "Crepe", "Thousand and One Nights" and others are especially in demand. Shuyskoe linens (coarse calico) from the latest collection meets the requirements of GOST 31307-2005. It also features an original design, in which there are floral and oriental motifs.

Now you know the difference between percale, poplin, satin and coarse calico. Bed linen is a household item that provides a comfortable sleep, which is very important for the health and well-being of any person, so it should be chosen correctly and try to avoid fakes.