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Charactaristics of Linen
Linen fabrics natural colour
ranges from shades of tan, grey or ivory. Pure white linen is created
by heavy bleaching. Linen typically has a thick and thin character with
a crisp and textured feel to it, but can range from stiff and rough to
soft and smooth. When adequaetely prepared, linen has the ability to
absorb and lose water rapidly. It can gain up to 20% moisture without
feeling damp.
When free from impurities it is highly absorbent and will
quickly remove perspiration from the skin. It is less likly to cling to
the skin and when it flows away it tends to dry out and become cool so
that the skin is being continually toughed by a cool surface. It is a
very durable, strong fabric and one of the few that are stronger wet
than dry.
It does not stretch and is resistant to damage from abrasion.
It has a very low eleasticity and therefore can bread if folded at the
same place repeatedly. Mildew, perspiratio, and bleach can also damage
the fabric but it is resistant to moth and carpet beetles.
Linen
is relatively easy to take care of since it resists dirt and stains,
has no lint or pilling tendency and can be dry cleaned, machine washed
or steamed. It withstands high temperatures and has a moderate initial
shrinkage.
As a natural fibre, linen does not cause allergies. It
does not irritate the skin and it has even been proved to have a
beneficial effect in the curing of dermatological conditions.
All
these characteristics makes it the ideal fabric used for bedding where
we spend a high percentage to recover our body. In the sleep the body
loses more than 1 litre of water which will get absorbed from the
sheets and matress.
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