Lawn cotton is sometimes confused with linen, as the two terms sound somewhat similar. In fact, however, linen is the name for the fabric derived from the flax plant, while lawn is a specific weave and refers to the finished woven fabric. Due to its smooth and cool feel, lawn is often used to make lighter bedding. For this reason, lawn is quite popular in the summer.
Lawn bedding is available in different price ranges. Lawn’s popularity stems in part from the fact that it’s kinder on the wallet than many alternatives, but even fine lawn bedding made from pure organic cotton can also be slightly cheaper than other types of fabric.
Which kind of a fabric is lawn?
Although the lawn is similar in appearance to linen, lawn bedding is not made from flax fibres, but from pure cotton. Thus, high-quality lawn bedding is a 100% natural product; that said, many bedding manufacturers choose to enhance the fabric’s shine by applying a finish.
In order to make the bedding shine, manufacturers usually apply a chemical treatment to the product, which is known as "finishing." Not only fabrics, but also materials such as paper and leather, are often finished. The finish gives the material’s surface additional shine, density, suppleness and softness. A distinction is made between chemical and mechanical finishing, but mechanical finishing is usually accompanied by chemical finishing.
What is lawn bedding?
Lawn bedding is produced in the same way as Renforce bedding, namely with the plain weave. In addition to the plain weave, there are two other basic types of weave: twill and satin.
The plain weave is one of the simplest and strongest types of weave, which is why fabrics made from it are very durable and long-lasting. In the plain weave, the weft thread is alternately passed through the warp thread. The top and bottom sides of the fabric therefore look identical. The warp and weft threads are very tightly interlaced, which makes the fabric quite resistant to fraying. Cotton fabrics made from the plain weave are also perfect for the summer, as they retain cotton’s natural breathability and thus don’t insulate as much as some other weaves. Lawn is therefore quite suitable for use during the summer.
Is lawn bedding warm?
Lawn bedding retains warmth less than other fabrics because the threads in the lawn weave are woven very tightly, which gives the material a bit of stiffness. In addition, the surface of lawn bedding feels smooth, a characteristic that many people prefer in summer. Lawn is also absorbent, so it can absorb a lot of sweat on warm nights and then release it back to the outside. As stated above, lawn bedding also prevents heat from building up under the blanket, as it is breathable.
For people who prefer airy bedding, lawn bed linens are just right. If you prefer it warmer and snugglier in the winter, bedding made from other fabrics is probably a better choice. If you get really cold in the winter, flannel bedding might be a good choice. Flannel is a quite densely-woven fabric whose surface has been roughened, which makes the material feel particularly soft on the skin.
Bed linen on a smaller budget
Lawn bedding is slightly lower priced than other bedding fabrics and is very long-lasting. The price-performance ratio is therefore extremely good and is therefore perfect for people who are looking for an inexpensive alternative. In the standard size, it is normally offered as lawn bedding 135x200.
Lawn bedding is also often used as a material for children's bedding, because it is extremely tear-resistant and helps to regulate your body’s temperature. Furthermore, the material’s smooth surface can be easily printed upon, which is why it is available in many different colours and designs.
What is lawn like?
The material is smooth and feels pleasant to the touch. Unlike linen, lawn requires little care, is crease-resistant and easy to iron, which is another reason why lawn is perfect for children's bedding.
Due to the dense weave, lawn fabric only tears under great stress and can be used for several years. Lawn can be washed in the washing machine without any issues; with dark loads, at up to 60 degrees and at up to 90 degrees with whites. You can also put lawn bedding in the dryer after washing it, but it will take a little longer to dry. For this reason, it can be a good idea to dry lawn bedding more than once.
Which is better: Lawn or Polycotton?
Polycotton is a fabric made from blending cotton and polyester. Many people like this material because it combines the positive properties of both materials. Each manufacturer can make polycotton how he or she likes, so the proportion of cotton and polyester used can vary.
Polycotton has a very high dimensional stability, which means that it doesn't shrink or lose its shape even at high temperatures. Since the fabric contains a portion of polyester, it is extremely durable. Polycotton is also often used as a fabric for bedding or mattress covers because it is very breathable.
Polycotton is much cheaper than pure cotton products. If you are looking for cheap bed linens and still want to enjoy the advantages of cotton, polycotton can be a good choice. Those who prefer sustainability and purely natural fabrics are better off with lawn.
Which is better: mako satin or lawn?
Both mako satin and lawn are made from 100% cotton. However, you will soon notice that this similarity doesn’t extend to their respective prices. This difference is mainly due to the type of cotton used in both fabrics. Mako satin is made from 100% Egyptian cotton, which is one of the finest and highest quality fabrics for bedding.
Furthermore, the weave of the two fabrics is different. While lawn is made by using the plain weave, mako satin is made with the more elaborate atlas weave, which is more commonly known as the satin weave. The weft threads predominate on the upper side and give the bedding its shiny look. The warp threads are on the bottom, which is why this side is a bit duller.
The threads of Egyptian cotton are extremely long, so the fabrics woven from it are very tear-resistant. Mako satin bedding is also popular as summer bedding because of its smooth surface.
For people who want to treat themselves to a little luxury at home, mako satin is perfect. As mako cotton only accounts for 1% of the world's cotton production, it is rarer and therefore more expensive than lawn. So if you are looking for inexpensive fabrics made from pure cotton, lawn is a better fit.
Lawn bedding made from pure organic cotton
As you know, cotton is a popular fabric for clothes and bedding because it’s natural and has many positive properties. However, the way cotton is often farmed is often controversial and extremely water-intensive. A WWF study shows that a single kilogram of cotton requires the consumption of an average of 11,000 litres of water.
In addition, chemicals and pesticides are often used to make the cotton grow faster. These not only harm the earth and soil, but can also trigger allergies or skin irritations. Lawn bedding made from organic cotton is therefore a far more sustainable alternative. Organic cotton is identified by certificates such as the GOTS seal or the Fairtrade logo.
No chemicals are used to grow organic cotton; likewise, at least 40% less water is used.
Pure organic cotton bedding from Zizzz
Percale is a densely woven cotton fabric that is also made by using the plain weave. Percale is resistant to fraying and very long-lasting, which makes it a perfect material to use for bedding and bed linens.
At Zizzz, we offer percale duvet covers made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. In addition to duvet covers, we also have matching percale fitted sheets and percale pillow cases.