What is percale fabric: basic properties

Despite the wide range of high-quality synthetic fabrics, cotton-based materials do not lose popularity. One of these natural fabrics is percale. It has a number of characteristics that make it especially suitable for bed linen and some types of clothing.

This material is a cross-shaped weave of long, thin, untwisted fibers treated with a special adhesive composition.

The base of the fabric is usually cotton threads, sometimes it includes a small amount of linen or polyester. The latter adds shine to percale.

As a result, this fabric can boast:

• subtlety and softness;
• high strength and density;
• smooth surface;
• neutral for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin.

Due to the combination of high strength characteristics with lightness, percale has long been used in aircraft construction. In terms of its use for bedding and clothing, these qualities are also important. However, such characteristics as softness, pleasant surface texture, and the ability to absorb moisture come to the fore.

Thanks to all these factors, reviews of percale are so often positive, sometimes enthusiastic.

Comparison of percale with its closest analogues: poplin, satin, calico

Percale is not the only good fabric that contains natural materials. There are other options with similar characteristics. To understand how they differ and which version to choose, it is worth comparing their basic properties and reading different reviews.

Thus, percale surpasses its main competitors in strength, density and wear resistance. It can survive the greatest number of washes without losing its aesthetic properties.

Calico is only slightly inferior to this fabric in the above characteristics. But it is significantly inferior in terms of external attractiveness and softness.

Poplin and satin are more interesting in terms of texture, but worse in terms of density and strength.

Each of the listed materials has its own advantages. It is up to you to decide what to use.

What properties should a good set of bed linen have?

Choosing bed linen for a family is a responsible matter. You need to evaluate what is most important, read reviews of sets made of different fabrics. It makes sense to pay attention to the following factors.

• Tactile sensations

Linen should be pleasant to the touch and not irritate the skin. In this sense, natural materials are almost always preferable. But percale is especially good because of its smoothness and softness.

• Breathability

  

This property is important due to hygiene requirements. The material of your underwear should allow air to pass through to the body, only then can it be called comfortable and safe.

• Resistance to crushing

It is more pleasant to sleep on smooth sheets without folds. This is the advantage of bed linen made of synthetic materials. However, percale or poplin can also boast of this.

The external attractiveness of the product is also important. However, the variety of patterns, prints and colors offered by the modern market practically does not depend on the material.

Choosing Children's Bedding

Finding sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers for kids is an even more responsible task. After all, such bed linen must meet an even longer list of mandatory requirements.

• Strength

Children stain their bed linen more often than adults. At the same time, their hygiene requirements are higher. Therefore, their things must survive more washings without losing their quality and color.

• Easy to care for

As mentioned above, there is a high probability that such bedding sets will have to be washed frequently and regularly. For this reason, it is desirable that this process be associated with a minimum of difficulties and time costs.

• Hypoallergenic

Children are the most sensitive to irritants. That is why it is so important to remove potential dangers from their lives. This means, among other things, choosing safe bedding.

Percale fully meets all of the above requirements.

Please note that there is special linen for babies, made according to special standards fixed at the legislative level. It is better to take such sets for children under 3 years old. For older children, regular children's bed linen will do.

Types of bed linen made of percale fabric

There is a wide range of varieties of this material.

• By composition

Depending on the additives that are present (or not present) in the fabric in addition to the main raw material, its properties and appearance may differ. The fabric can have a glossy shine, be more or less soft to the touch.

• Coloring

Percale lends itself well to various types of dyeing. Therefore, you have the widest range of possibilities: any drawings, prints or patterns can decorate your bed linen.

• To the manufacturer

Based on this feature, it is customary to divide percale into 2 large groups: domestic and foreign-made products.

Domestic production bedding sets

The largest manufacturers of this product are the cities of Ivanovo and Chernigov. Both centers of percale fabric production in Russia specialize in fabrics without synthetic fibers.

Russian percale pleases with a large number of colors and high quality. And also relatively low prices. Having familiarized yourself with the reviews of this material, you yourself will see for yourself.

Features of foreign percale

The largest suppliers of percale are India, Pakistan, Egypt, Italy, Portugal. They sell both finished products with carefully designed designs and just fabric.

Ready-made bedding sets from abroad are expensive, although they are of excellent quality. However, you can buy the material and sew what you need yourself. It will be cheaper.

Caring for percale products: subtleties and nuances

Caring for this fabric is not too complicated. However, there are still a number of points that need to be taken into account if you want the products to last a long time. There are nuances at different stages.

• Before washing

It is recommended to let the percale lie for some time in a dry, cool place. It is important that the air humidity is not too high.

• Features of washing

The main point is the risk of damaging the special adhesive composition, which is used to process the fabric fibers during production. To do this, it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime. The optimal water temperature will be less than 60 ° C. For washing, use powder for colored items.

• Drying

In terms of the conditions required for drying, this material is not capricious. You can dry it both indoors and outdoors: direct sunlight will not damage the canvas.

• Ironing

In this case, it is also important to maintain the temperature regime, preserving the integrity of the adhesive composition used in the manufacture of percale. Therefore, the recommended temperature should not exceed 150 ° C. In this case, it is better to iron the linen from the inside.

• Storage

The key point during storage is the absence of high humidity, which can negatively affect the service life of percale items.

Thus, using this fabric does not involve any complicated care conditions. Following the simple tips above, you will be able to keep your bedding in good condition for a long time.

What is sewn from percale?

This pleasant to the touch, natural fabric is used not only for underwear.

If we consider the history of the use of this material, we can surprisingly discover its application:

• in aviation;
• parachute equipment;
• industrial production.

This is due to the high density of percale combined with its extraordinary lightness.

However, these qualities can be useful in everyday life. Dresses, blouses, underwear, light summer clothes - all this can be sewn from this fabric. The result will please you.

A smart housewife should keep in mind information about percale and its capabilities. Sometimes this fabric can come to the rescue, making family life more comfortable and pleasant. Remember it the next time you choose bedding.

Video: Percale fabric: what kind of fabric, properties, characteristics