UNIT 1 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR VARIOUS LINEN ITEMS & FABRICS SUITABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE

SELECTION CRITERIA OF FABRIC

Fabric: It is a cloth or textile-like cotton, silk, or upholstery by which we make linen.

1.   Strength: The strength of fabric depends upon the :

  1. Thread count: The number of wafts and wraps in one square inch is called AS a thread count. Fabric good for bed sheets is 90*90.

  2. Textile strength.

2.   Composition:

Natural	Less sensible Less strength More shrink
Synthetic	More sensible More strength Less shrink

 

3.   Laundering: Linen & laundering costs come right after labor costs on the list of highest expenditure.

4.   Comfort: It depends on the feel, texture, weight of the cloth. Any fabric that comes in the contact with the skin must be absorbent.

5.   Texture fabric: The fabric should be easy to handle.

TYPES OF LINEN

Bed linen:  Bed linen includes sheets, pillowcases, blankets, bedspreads, mattress protectors, etc.

1.   Sheets & pillowcases: Good bed sheets & pillowcases should have a pleasant feel, good experience & wear well.

2.   Blanketsg: A good blanket should be warm, fairly heavyweight & hard wearing.

3.   Bedspreads: The readymade sizes are seldom satisfactory hence bedspreads should be made to orders, appearance, color, the print should be matchable to the décor. The durability & wearing quality of fabric & the effect of laundering on the weave & color needs to be discussed.

4.   Mattress protector: Good qualities of protectors are made of a quilted fabric in which the filling may be of cotton or synthetic fibers.

5.   Pillows: An ideal pillow should be neither too soft nor too hard. The factors considered should be longevity with proper care & good quality.

Bath linen: It comprises of towel, bathmats, shower curtains, etc.

1.   Towels & bathmats: The foremost requirement of towel material should be absorbent. The fabric should be soft & durable.

2.   Shower curtains: Most of the shower curtains are made up of a waterproof material. They include nylon, vinyl, fiberglass, or PVC-coated materials.

Table linen:

1.       Table cloth: Fabrics of table cloth should be able to resist the stains retain their color and shape even after frequent laundering.

2.    Napkins: They are usually made of 100 % cotton as they need to be absorbent.

3.       Slip cloth: They are placed over to the table, cloth to achieve a contrasting effect & hence normally colored.

4.       Underlays: Baize or any other felted material is suitable for these. Melton is a cheaper alternative.

5.    Skirts, Frills & Runners: Derivability is an important requirement, in these fabrics stains made of synthetic fibers are used as they are durable & colorfast.

6.       Waiters’ cloth: A percent cotton casement is the preferred fabric for waiter’s cloth.