Calico bedding: characteristics, types and features of choice

During a night's rest, the body recovers, provided there is no discomfort while in bed. Therefore, it is very important how pleasant the sensations for the body are from contact with the fabric from which the sheet, duvet cover and pillowcase are sewn. It is also important how practical and dense a set of underwear is, how it keeps its shape and color. The modern textile market amazes with the variety of fabrics and textures of ready-made bedding sets. Certain requirements are imposed on this type of product, and coarse calico linen meets them in full.

Calico is a dense, most often cotton fabric, actively used for sewing inexpensive, practical bedding sets. The main feature of the fabric is a plain cross-shaped weave of threads. This manufacturing technology endows the fabric with wear resistance and strength. The surface of the calico looks the same on both sides: matte, smooth and uniform.

In Russia, they learned about this fabric in the 16th century thanks to fabric merchants from Asia. In the 18th-19th centuries, coarse calico was mainly used to make linen for soldiers. And since one-colored coarse calico does not have a seamy side, it used to be allowed on the lining of a coat. Lightweight children's and women's dresses were sewn from printed coarse calico.

There are several types of coarse calico.

• Severe calico - a kind of durable untreated and unbleached fabric. It is used as a cushioning material in the shoe and furniture industry.
• Bleached calico - soft fabric, processed and produced in various color variations. Suitable for sewing diapers, baby bedding and underwear.
• Printed. Printed cotton fabric suitable for the production of underwear, dressing gowns, dresses for women and girls. It is dyed with natural dyes, therefore it is considered the most suitable for sewing products for children.
• Plain dyed. Its description is characterized by a single color and is used for sewing the lining of jackets and raincoats.

According to GOST, the density of coarse calico is measured in grams per 1 m 2. For this material, this indicator varies from 100 to 160 g. A lower index indicates a lower density of the fabric.

Fabric with an index of 145 is usually used for sewing linen sets for hospitals and barracks, trains, hostels, sanatoriums and orphanages. For home, a cloth with a density index of 125 is more suitable. Coarse calico with a density of 100 g per m2 is also acceptable for daily use, provided that a new set is pre-washed: it will acquire the density of fibers, but give a slight shrinkage. Therefore, you need to choose a set for a bed according to its size, plus a small margin. The width of the sheet should be at least 10 cm wider than the width of the mattress.

Modern cotton fabrics for bedding sets are not only matte and smooth, but also of unusual texture. For example, crinkled, which gives the fabric not wrinkled, but an unusually stylish look. In processing "reaper" cotton linen does not need to be ironed, but even in a slightly crumpled form, it does not lose its attractiveness.

Bed linen made of this type of cotton has proven itself perfectly.

• Calico has a soft texture and strong structure. It is easy to clean and retains its attractive appearance for many years, as it is not afraid of washes and temperature changes.
• The fabric does not form pills on the surface with regular rubbing, so it can be used for sleeping regularly.
• Children's beds, made with coarse calico, look very cozy and provide the crumbs with a restful sleep.
• Sweating on a coarse calico sheet is not scary, since the hygroscopicity of the fabric is high, and it also has excellent thermoregulatory properties.
• This is a completely natural and harmless material that will not harm allergy sufferers and people with increased skin sensitivity.
• It can be ironed on cotton setting and can be dried vertically. Deformation of the fabric does not threaten, if you do not specifically strive to achieve this.

Coarse calico has many advantages:

• an environmentally friendly product, for which only natural dyes are used;
• availability for purchase with high quality and external aesthetics;
• hypoallergenic and the ability to use for children from birth;
• resistance of threads to stretching, pilling, wear, washing and drying in the sun;
• simple care of matter;
• does not deteriorate when exposed to chemicals.

Perhaps the only drawback of coarse calico linen for bed can be considered a slight shrinkage that the fabric gives after washing. But this can be avoided by following fairly simple care instructions.

Even taking into account the fact that the material is unpretentious in operation, you need to adhere to the recommendations for care.

• It is not recommended to break the temperature regime of washing.
• The new kit needs to be washed to soften the structure of the fabric.
• It is undesirable to mix colored and white laundry in one wash cycle.
• You need to dry the coarse calico set, turning it inside out.
• Do not exceed 40 ° C for brightly patterned fabrics and 60 ° C for plain fabrics.
• Do not wash at the same time with artificial fabric sets.
• Iron slightly damp laundry.
• It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the durability of the printed pattern is higher than the color of plain-dyed fabric. But both options do not fade and do not fade over time, just do not add bleaching agents and additives with an aggressive composition to the powder. Although the fabric is strong, it does not tolerate experiments on itself.

Among domestic manufacturers of coarse calico sets, the products of the Ivanovskaya and Shuyskaya textile factories compare favorably with the quality. Consumers leave great reviews about the laundry, although there are complaints that it shrinks after washing.

Shuya factory produces bed linen of all sizes and colors: from euros to children's sets. They include several pieces of quality items: four, two, or one pillowcase, a sheet, and a duvet cover. The 1.5 bedroom set is suitable for a standard bed for one person and a small family bed for two. Duvet cover and pillowcase configurations may vary by model. There are options with buttons or hidden zippers, with a wrap or slit for easy threading.

In the catalogs of products from Ivanovo, sets are collected exclusively from natural fabrics. These are both everyday lingerie sets and lingerie of the "luxury" category. Family sets are presented in different solutions: with a sheet with an elastic band or a regular free cut.

Foreign manufacturers of coarse linen sets for bed have also proven themselves well. Ukrainian and Belarusian goods meet the high GOST criteria.Uzbek cotton and Indian counterparts are highly praised and are distinguished by exceptional softness and unusual patterns and colors. This is one of the leaders in the production of beautiful cotton fabrics without the slightest admixtures of synthetics. Pakistani calico also received good reviews. But its cost is slightly higher than Ukrainian or Russian.

In China, for example, technology allows the use of blending cotton with man-made fibers.

For bedding sets, it is better to choose 100% natural fabrics. In addition, light colors look good on them. Colored or printed underwear is chosen according to personal preference. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the quality of the linen. And also it is worth paying attention to how many and what items are included in the kit. The market is represented by many complete sets of sleep products:

• one and a half set for a comfortable sleep for one or two people;
• standard sets for one person, consisting of three items: pillowcases, sheets and duvet cover;
• euro set with 4 pillowcases, in which 2 pcs. rectangular and 2 - square;
• family rooms with 2 separate duvet covers and 2 pillowcases;
• for children with a sheet with an elastic band around the perimeter and a circular zipper on the duvet cover;
• double with one duvet cover and sheet.

You will have to choose the size of the sleeping bed and bedding: pillows and blankets.

You will learn more about coarse calico bedding in the following video.