Cloth & care
A bedsheet starts with the mattress measurements
The size name on the bed is less useful than three measurements and a look at the layers underneath.
Cloth & care
Feel, fit and looking after the fabric.
Cloth & care
Percale and sateen feel different for a reason
Two cotton sheets can feel quite different. The weave helps explain the difference, but it is only part of the fabric.
Cloth & care
Read beyond the thread-count number
A large number on the packet does not describe the whole sheet. Compare like fabrics before using thread count as a deciding factor.
Cloth & care
Pillowcases that fit after washing
Measure the pillow along its seams, then leave enough room for its shape and the closure to work.
Cloth & care
Getting the size right for a duvet cover
A duvet and its cover need compatible dimensions and fastening points, even when both are sold under the same size name.
Cloth & care
Choosing a light cover for warm nights
Choose a cover around the room, the person and the washing space rather than a seasonal label alone.
Cloth & care
Thick towels are not always the easiest to live with
Towel weight is useful information, but the rail and drying conditions deserve equal attention.
Cloth & care
Make space for towels to dry
A hook can hold a towel, but a spread-out towel has a better chance of drying between uses.
Cloth & care
Hand towels for a busy household
Size, hanging space and a clean spare matter more than having a perfectly matched set beside every basin.
Cloth & care
A bath mat needs to dry as well as absorb
The mat, its backing and the floor beneath it all need attention.
Cloth & care
Where should a curtain finish?
Choose where the curtain should finish, then measure from the point where that particular heading will hang.
Cloth & care
Choose curtain headings for the rail you have
Eyelets, pockets and tape headings ask for different hardware. Check the connection before choosing the fabric.