Loving Your Linen
THE SKULLERY GUIDE TO LOVING & CARING FOR YOUR LINEN
Linen and caring for linen
Linen is a little different from most fabrics, and that is exactly why we love it.
It is natural, breathable, beautifully textured and made to be lived in. But one of the most important things to understand about linen is that the way it feels when it is brand new is not necessarily the way it will feel after you have lived in it for a while.
Much like us, your linen piece needs to go through a little journey to become the product it was meant to be.
With wear, washing and proper care, linen relaxes, softens and develops that beautiful lived-in character that makes it such a timeless fabric.
WHY CAN NEW LINEN FEEL FIRM OR SCRATCHY?
Linen is made from fibres derived from the flax plant. These fibres are naturally strong and relatively firm, which is one of the reasons linen is such a durable textile.
Depending on the weave, weight, finish and composition of the fabric, new linen can initially feel:
- Crisp
- Firm
- Textured
- Coarse
- Slightly stiff
- Or even a little scratchy against sensitive skin
This does not necessarily indicate poor-quality or defective fabric.
Some linens are beautifully soft from the first wear, while others have a more structured or textured feel and need time to relax.
Even two fabrics containing linen can feel completely different from one another.
DOES LINEN REALLY GET SOFTER?
Yes, this is one of linen’s wonderful characteristics.
With normal wear and repeated gentle washing, linen fibres become more flexible and the fabric generally develops a softer, more relaxed hand-feel.
Your linen garment may therefore feel noticeably different after several washes and wears than it did when you first unpacked it.
Think of linen as a fabric that needs to be worn in.
Over time it develops a softer drape, relaxed creasing and that beautiful lived-in appearance associated with well-loved linen.
Your linen isn’t losing its character , it’s developing it.
WHAT ABOUT LINEN BLENDS?
At The Skullery, we use both linen and linen-blend fabrics.
Blending linen with another fibre can change the way the fabric feels and behaves. Depending on the composition, a blend may be softer, smoother, more fluid, more structured or less prone to creasing than pure linen.
The other fibres in a blend will also influence how the garment responds to washing, wearing and drying.
This means that not every Skullery linen or linen-blend garment will feel exactly the same, and a previous linen garment you own isn’t necessarily an indication of how another linen fabric will feel.
Variations in texture and hand-feel are part of working with different textiles.
CARING FOR YOUR SKULLERY LINEN
A little love goes a long way.
Our recommendation for both linen and linen-blend garments is to keep things cool, gentle and simple.
WASH COOL & GENTLY
We recommend:
- Washing at 30°C or cooler
- Using a gentle machine cycle
- Using a mild detergent
- Washing similar colours together
- Turning your garment inside out before washing
- Avoiding overcrowding your washing machine
- Keeping garments away from abrasive items, exposed zips and hooks during washing
Hand washing in cool water is also a gentle option.
Avoid very hot water and aggressive wash cycles. Excessive heat and agitation can cause unnecessary stress to the fabric and may contribute to shrinkage.
DON’T OVERDO THE DETERGENT
More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner or softer linen.
Using excessive detergent can leave residue in the fabric and may actually affect how it feels.
Use an appropriate amount of a mild detergent and allow the garment to rinse thoroughly.
HOW DO I MAKE MY LINEN SOFTER?
The easiest answer is:
Wear it. Wash it. Love it. Repeat.
Linen naturally becomes more relaxed through use and gentle laundering.
If your new garment initially feels firmer or more textured than you expected, give it some time before deciding how you feel about the fabric.
We don’t recommend trying to aggressively soften linen using harsh chemicals, strong soaking solutions or internet DIY treatments. These may affect dyes, damage fibres or react differently with the additional fibres found in linen blends.
Let your linen soften naturally.
That’s part of its journey.
SHOULD I USE FABRIC SOFTENER?
We generally recommend keeping your linen-care routine simple.
Linen does not need to be heavily treated with fabric softener in order to become softer. It will naturally relax with washing and wear.
Some fabric softeners work by leaving a coating on fibres, so regular or excessive use isn’t necessary.
DRYING YOUR LINEN
We recommend air drying wherever possible.
After washing:
Gently shake out your garment, reshape it and hang or lay it out to dry naturally.
Avoid leaving coloured garments in harsh direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as repeated strong sun exposure may contribute to fading.
We recommend avoiding high-heat tumble drying. Excessive heat can contribute to shrinkage and unnecessary wear on both linen and the additional fibres used in linen blends.
LINEN CREASES , AND THAT’S OKAY
Linen creases.
It’s one of the fabric’s most recognisable characteristics and part of its natural, relaxed beauty.
Those soft wrinkles and creases aren’t necessarily a sign that something is wrong with your garment.
If you prefer a smoother appearance, gently steam your garment or iron it at a low-to-medium temperature, preferably while it still has a little moisture in the fabric.
Avoid excessive heat.
Or simply embrace the wrinkles.
We certainly do.
WILL MY LINEN SHRINK?
Linen and linen-blend fabrics can experience some shrinkage or relaxation when washed, particularly when exposed to excessive heat.
The amount can differ depending on the weave, composition and finish of the particular fabric. It is usually around 10%
The safest approach is therefore always:
Cool water. Gentle washing. Air drying.
Avoid hot washing and high-temperature tumble drying.
“MY LINEN FEELS SCRATCHY”
If your new linen garment feels slightly scratchy, coarse or crisp against your skin, particularly if you have sensitive skin, this does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the fabric.
Natural linen can have a noticeably textured hand-feel when new.
Give it its journey.
Wear it. Wash it gently. Allow the fibres and garment to relax.
You may find that after several wears and washes the fabric feels quite different from when you first unpacked it.
What we don’t recommend is trying to force this process with high temperatures, aggressive washing, excessive detergent, bleach or harsh home-softening treatments.
Time and gentle care are linen’s friends.
A NOTE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Fabric feel is incredibly personal.
What one person describes as wonderfully natural, crisp and textured may feel coarse or scratchy to somebody with more sensitive skin.
For this reason, the initial softness, stiffness, crispness, coarseness or texture of a linen or linen-blend fabric is subjective and does not in itself indicate a fabric or manufacturing defect.
If you know that you are particularly sensitive to textured fabrics, please contact us before placing your order. We will happily provide guidance about the fabric you are considering.
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID?
To help keep your Skullery linen looking beautiful, avoid:
- Hot washing
- High-heat tumble drying
- Chlorine bleach
- Harsh detergents or cleaning chemicals
- Aggressive wash cycles
- Excessive detergent
- Aggressive DIY softening treatments
- Prolonged harsh sunlight when drying coloured garments
When in doubt, remember:
Cool. Gentle. Simple.
THE BEAUTY OF LINEN
Linen isn’t designed to behave like a perfectly smooth synthetic fabric.
It moves.
It creases.
It has texture.
It relaxes.
And it changes a little as you live in it.
That’s part of what makes linen so special.
A new linen garment and a well-loved linen garment can feel remarkably different. With time and care, your piece develops its own softness, drape and character.
Much like us, your linen needs to go through a little journey to become what it was meant to be.
So wear it.
Wash it gently.
Let it crease.
Let it soften.
And most importantly, live in it.
The Skullery, made to be worn, loved and lived in.
