Once you have slept in LINEN bedding you will never wish to return to Poly/cotton or "God forbid " - Nylon!!!

Cool in summer & warm in winter - it really is perfect.

Beautifully monogrammed, vintage, French sheets have become very fashionable & are still quite affordable on eBay.

Sometimes made of 100% linen, sometimes Metis which is a mixture of cotton & linen, they have often been stored for  years in a Dowry chest - where young girls stored their trousseau , which often included 20 or 30 linen sheets, worked with their beautifully ornate initials. The age of the sheet or pillow/bolster case can usually be determined by the style of the monogrammes, which  were very elaborate in the 1900's & became much more plain from the 1920's to the 1950's.Unfortunately they are often marked & stained quite badly, but even the most serious marks can usually be removed with a soak in bleach & a good oxy-wash! Even when patched & darned these pieces of history can be quite charming & re-worked into smaller items eg. cushion covers, lavender bags & even lampshades!

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According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition, a trousseau is “the personal possessions of a bride, usually including clothes, accessories and household linens and wares.” Before the advent of fancy engagement parties and bridal showers, brides were expected to bring to the marriage herself, and a ‘bundle of clothes’, the French translation of a trousseau. Brides to be would bring linens for the marriage bed, towels, tablecloths or even draperies for her new home. She would also have family members make homemade items like embroidered sheets. The trousseau would include the clothes the new bride would need for her adult married life including lingerie, dresses and night clothes. In some circles, the richness of the trousseau would reflect on the social standing of the bride. A bride from a rich home had expectations for her trousseau, much like a dowry.

for a selection of French linens * chemise de nuit * tablecloths * monogrammed towels *

please enter the laura ashley patchwork shop