Three weaves do most of the work in a bed: linen, percale and sateen. They feel quite different, and the right one depends on how you like to sleep and how you like a bed to look.
Stone-washed linen
Our linen is 100% European flax, woven and washed at a family mill in northern Portugal. It is garment-dyed and stone-washed, so it arrives relaxed rather than stiff. At 165 gsm it has a visible, slightly slubby texture that feels cool in summer and warm in winter. Duvet covers finish with coconut shell buttons.
Cotton percale
Percale is 100% long-staple cotton with a 300 thread count and a simple one-over-one weave. It is matte and crisp, and it feels like a freshly made hotel bed. If you like that cool, clean snap when you get in, percale is the one to choose. It also presses beautifully if you like a neat finish.
Cotton sateen
Sateen is also 100% long-staple cotton, but with a higher 400 thread count and a one-under-three weave. That puts more yarn on the surface, so it feels smooth and drapey with a soft sheen. It sleeps a little warmer than percale and hangs softly on the bed.
How the weaves differ
The weave is the pattern the threads follow. Percale is one-over-one, so the cloth is balanced and matte. Sateen is one-under-three, so more yarn shows on the surface and the cloth picks up a soft sheen. Linen is not a flat, even plane in the same way: flax yarns are longer and a little uneven, which is exactly what gives it the texture people recognise.
Choosing between them
Think about texture, warmth and the look you want. The differences are small in words and obvious in the hand.
- Linen: textured, breathable and relaxed. Cool in summer, warm in winter, softer every wash.
- Percale: crisp, cool and matte, with a one-over-one weave at 300 thread count.
- Sateen: smooth, drapey and softly sheened, with a one-under-three weave at 400 thread count.
Care that suits all three
All three wash the same way. Use a gentle liquid detergent at 40 degrees, leave out the softener, and either line dry or tumble dry low. Take cotton out while it is still slightly damp if you plan to press it, and let linen keep its natural rumple.
Whichever you choose, buy the size that fits your duvet and mattress rather than the one that sounds closest. A well-fitting cover is the difference between a bed that looks made and one that looks borrowed. Many people mix them, with linen on the bed and percale or sateen for a crisper feel.
If you sleep warm, the crisp feel of percale may suit you; if you like weight and softness, sateen or linen will. There is no wrong answer, only the weave you reach for.
If you are starting from scratch, order one set in the weave you are drawn to and live with it for a week. The right one is the one you look forward to getting into.
