How To Prevent Fabrics From Shrinkage

We have received a good question from MARILYN HAYWARD today, which, we believe, is worth of posting here together with our answer:

Question:

I am considering buying a super-king duvet cover and pillowcases from
you as a gift for my daughter. She does not line dry her washing. Would the
linen shrink back too much if completely tumble dried?

Answer:

I personally tumble dry my pure linen bedding sheets until they are 100% dry. I have not noticed any significant shrinkage. Some years ago I went to
the dry cleaners’ seminar which was held by the producer of fabric dyes. All attendants had the same question – how to dye fabrics without any shrinkage? The manufacturer
taught us then, that any fabric shrinks when, after being washed in hot water, it gets
rinsed with the cold water – by changing temperatures so dramatically the fabric gets a temperature shock and shrinks. Therefore, the trick for keeping your linens in their original size is not to wash them in the temperature higher than 30-40C. If, for some reasons, you have to wash them in a hot water (i.e. to get rid of some stains), then let
them cool down before rinsing (or rinse with the use of hot water). The same applies to wools as well.

Win a Set of Eight Damask Linen Napkins VERNISSAGE

Finest pure linen damask napkins in milky white colour with ornamented border in natural shades, perfect for special occasions. Size 56x56cm. Worth £79.

These super-quality linen napkins have been weaved at one of the oldest Russian factories, which was supplying table linens to the Russian Royal Court in the 19c.

Enter our Prize Draw by submitting your contact details before the 20th of October 2009.

Make sure you enter correct contact details.

A great chance to enhance your dining table with these high quality napkins out of range of pure linen home accessories.

Or they could be a great Christmas gift for your mum!

To increase your chance of winning please feel free to submit your details for a few times - once every new day.
Invite your friends and family to challenge their luck too!

Damask or jacquard is a figured linen fabric in which warp-satin and weft-sateen create a pattern. Such patterns are visible even in an all white cloth, woven from all white yarns. This process requires threads to be woven in contrasting directions, which creates a pattern that is visible when viewed at certain angles. Across large surfaces, damask fabrics are most extraordinary as reflect light and continually reveal new designs to your eye in a subtle and appealing way.

You can also buy these napkins from Alenska website for £9.90 each, as well as matching Vernissage tablecloths and table runners:

Vernissage Tablecloth 130x130cm            £ 69.00

Vernissage Tablecloth 140x170cm            £ 78.00

Vernissage Tablecloth 170x170cm            £ 85.00

Vernissage Table Runner 50x175cm        £ 44.00  

A Set of Two Pure Linen Tea Towels 44x70cm

A set of 2 jacquard pure linen tea towels, packed together and nicely tied with the ribbon. Natural colour, one is decorated with red geometric pattern, and another - with blue. 44x70cm.

Pure linen tea towels are not just a touch of luxury for your kitchen - they are much more absorbent than cotton and therefore ideal for drying your chrystal glasses. If your glasses and vases got some stains which are difficult to remove even in a dishwasher, then you definitely need our great linen tea towels.

They are also purchased a lot as birthday gifts or Christmas gifts for mums and wives - what a lovely way to please a woman!

These towels were woven at one of the oldest factories in Russia with love and passion to linen. Linen is a part of national heritage in Russia.

HOW TO BUY

Buy from our website. Retail price is £19.99. Subscribe to our newsletter or price alert to be informed about our special promotions and sales.

www.alenska.com

Luxury Bedding Tina

Elegant and simple bed linen decorated with double-colour embroidered line - blue and light blue. Pure 160g/m2 linen. For those who like it minimal.

HOW TO BUY TINA BEDDING

You can buy this bed linen as a set matching together duvet covers with oxford pillowcases and flat sheets. Available in single, double, king and superking size (see Size Chart).

HOW TO LOOK AFTER PURE LINEN

Wash in low temperatures, such as 30-40C, no strong detergents. No need to iron. Hang naturally. When dump put it into tumble dryer with a couple of tennis balls (the balls will hit the linen and soften it).

PRICE LIST

Single Size Duvet Cover £ 90.00
Double Size Duvet Cover £ 162.00
King Size Duvet Cover £ 174.00
Superking Size Duvet Cover £ 186.00
Oxford Pillowcase 50x75cm £ 35.00
Single White Flat Sheet £ 66.00
Double White Flat Sheet £ 84.00
King/Superking White Sheet £ 105.00

This pure linen bedding set might become a great gift idea for wedding!

How To Wear Scarves As Tops

Are you ready to buy now?

Get back and choose a great scarf for yourself!

Women's silk scarves, pashminas, and wool shawls

Pavlovsky Posad is the most famous Russian enterprise producing wool shawls, pashminas and silk scarves. Their products are widely exported to Europe, America and Middle East.

Floral Collection Pink Blossom

Nice and warm summer collection with pink floral pattern - an ideal theme for gifts for Her. An exclusive Alenska design.

Waffle Bathroom Linens

Extra quality waffle towels with linen trim.

These highly absorbent soft 100% cotton waffle towels will add a continental touch to your bathroom.

Buy from Alenska.com

Hand towel 50x90cm for £12.99

Bath towel 70x150cm for £16.99

Bath mit for £5.99

Floral Linen Apron

Pure linen apron with pink printed blossom. Pocket and straps are made of plain linen.
Approximately 70x90cm. Buy from Alenska.com for £19.99

Linen Cushion Blue Blossom

Pure linen cushion covers with small border and envelope lock. 40x40cm, pink floral pattern on natural linen.

The cushion covers may be sold without the inner pads for £19.99 from Alenska.com - a great way to refresh your old cushions.

Linen Window Curtains

Pure linen floral curtains with adjustable length. Unlined. Width of each panel is 150cm. Made of 180g/m2 pure linen. Suitable for bedroom, kitchen, hall. Height is adjustable. Iron-on hemming strip included; makes it easy to shorten the curtain to desired length without sewing. Gathering tape at the top. Dry clean recommended.

Buy from Alenska:

A pair up to 180cm for £99

A pair up to 240cm for £129

A pair up to 300cm for £159

Scarves of Pavolvsky Posad – Saga Two

Pavlovsky Posad is the most famous Russian manufacturer of scarves wraps and shawls. Tourists of Russia often return with their scarves and shawls as souvenirs together with other notable items such as Matrioshkas that are a symbol of Russian complexity and enigma.

The idea of establishing an in-house design studio at Pavlovsky Posad came alive in the 1850s. Up until the 1920s all shawls and scarfs were printed manually due to their large size, multicolour and complex patterns. Patterns were carved on large wooden boards, one for each colour. Typically it required at least three boards to complete one pattern, but sometimes there were up to 16 of them.

All designs were split into 4 to 24 fragments. The most complex designs required up to 400 applications to create one shawl wrap.

The factory also had their own colourists and compositions of dyes that were kept highly secret from competitors. The recipes remained the property of the colourists that created them.

After printing, all shawls were placed into special humid cellars to mature and fix the dyes. They were then steamed and sent to home-based workers to trim the edges. Every single wool shawl, one by one, was treated by at least 18 workers to complete the full cycle.

In the second half of 19c the annual turnover of the enterprise reached 1million roubles, which was absolutely huge for the time. The company was employing 700 workers full time and another 1000 locals were engaged on a part-time basis.

After the revolution of 1917 the enterprise was nationalised and remained as an estate property till 1990s.

The Soviet era was also reflected in the patterns of shawls and incorporated some agricultural and industrial motifs although the factory still concentrated mostly on folk crafts.

In the 1980s the manual printing had been stopped completely due to the complexity of the manual production. This has now been replaced by the most contemporary and sophisticated printing machines of Europe.

Currently the enterprise produces shawls and scarves wraps in 23 main colours. In parallel with restoring old traditional patterns, the artists create new modern designs, based on harmonic composition of close tones, predominantly in beige, ochre, brown and green colours.

A vegetative ornament has now overtaken the more traditional floral pattern. Nowadays the factory produces a range of over 200 different designs of wool shawls and silk scarves, all made of natural fibres.

Pavlovsky Posad wool shawls and pashmina scarves are exported to Europe, America and Middle East. Oriental designs are particularly popular in the Middle East. Muslim women like wearing them as a head scarf.

Apart from heads these lovely accessories can be worn as highly detailed neck scarf. Some of them are even good to be worn as tops. Natural silks used for scarfs production are also noted for allowing the body to breath in hot climates and are therefore great for use on holiday.

Alenska is now on eBay!

Alenska has set up a new shop on eBay!

See what is listed so far - some items are offered with a good bargain pricing!

Floral Collection Blue Blossom

This Collection offers a great range of home accessories combining printed pure linen floral fabric and some other plain fabrics. All these beautiful products were made in Russia exclusively for Alenska.

Linen Cushion Blue Blossom

Pure linen cushion covers with small border and envelope lock. 40x40cm, blue floral pattern.

The cushion covers may be sold without the inner pads for £19.99 from Alenska.com

Linen Window Curtains

Pure linen floral curtains with adjustable length. Unlined. Width of each panel is 150cm. Made of 180g/m2 pure linen. Suitable for bedroom, kitchen, hall. Height is adjustable. Iron-on hemming strip included; makes it easy to shorten the curtain to desired length without sewing. Gathering tape at the top. Dry clean recommended.

Buy from Alenska:

A pair up to 180cm for £99

A pair up to 240cm for £129

A pair up to 300cm for £159

Cooking Kitchen Apron

Pure linen apron with blue printed blossom. Pocket and straps are made of plain linen.
Approximately 70x90cm. Buy from Alenska.com for £19.99

Waffle Bathroom Linens

High quality waffle towels with linen trim.

These highly absorbent soft 100% cotton waffle towels will add a continental touch to your bathroom.

Buy from Alenska.com

Hand towel 50x90cm for £12.99

Bath towel 70x150cm for £16.99

Bath mit for £5.99

You can combine some of the above items out of our Blue Blossom collection and send them as birthday or Christmas gifts.

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Win Our Prize

Win our gift sets - bathroom towels for HER & for HIM

Made of high quality waffle cotton and finished with linen trim (pink blossom for HER and blue blossom for HIM) worth £70. Each set includes hand towel 50x90cm, bath towel 70x150cm and bath mit.

THE WINNER RECEIVES BOTH SETS!

Enter our Prize Draw by submitting your contact details before the 1st of September 2009.

A fantastic opportunity to decorate your pressious bathroom with these high quality waffle towels from our choice of desirable linen home accessories.

To increase your chance of winning please feel free to submit your details for a few times - once every new day.

Do not forget to invite your friends to challenge their luck too...

Enter our Prize Draw.

Congratulations to Miranda Whittingham from Portchester, the winner of our July Prize Draw - a pair of Dogs Cushions.

Scarves of Pavolvsky Posad – Saga One

There is a long history of textiles and textile industry in Russia. Amongst the most famous enterprises is the two hundred year old, Pavlovsky Posad, the manufacturer of silk and wool scarves, shawls and pashminas.

The fashionable wearing of a silk and wool shawl came to Russia from the Middle East at the beginning of 19c. Shawls became a smart supplement to a female costume as well as a part of interior décor. The shawls and scarves were among family treasures handed down from generation to generation.

They first attracted the attention of the Russian upper classes as they were light, warm and glamorous. In addition, Napoleon brought a wool shawl to his beloved Josephine as a gift, and all ladies belonging to the Russian court immediately started copying her as an etalon of Parisian fashion.

By the middle of 19c woven shawls were replaced by printed patterns which made them more affordable for common people. A number of shawl factories opened in and around Moscow, and one of them was the famous Pavlovsky Posad factory which is still manufacturing to the same high quality today.

Pavlovsky Posad is named after the town where it is situated, was established in 1795 and had become the leading exponent in the industry by the end of 19c. Today, it is the only enterprise of its kind in Russia - it has the same respect as Russian Matrioshka and is a Russian national symbol.

Raw materials were distributed amongst village weavers who worked from home using their own looms and then plain wool or silk scarves were manually printed at the factory. The success of the Pavlovsky Posad has brought significant wealth to the local population. The factory has developed its own patented style and during the past 150 years has won all sorts of national and international awards.

The original style of the Pavlovsky Posad wool shawl was developed in ochre-red shades and had distinguishable floral or Oriental paisley pattern. The accents were traditionally made on corners where artists would place large and more complex ornaments. Following religious trends lots of scarfs would have a cruciform in the middle. They were traditionally square, with the fringe around perimeter.

In the 1860s, Pavlovsky Posad women’s scarves and pashminas were regularly supplied to the Grand Duchess of Russia. They also became widely available across the huge territory of the Russian Empire.

Women wore Pavlovsky Posad scarves wraps as a necessary detail of their costume – as a head scarf or neck scarf or as a shawl wrap. Very often scarves and pashminas were used as a fabric to create a skirt or a jacket. They were also often used as costume detail for a Russian priest.

Table Linens and Modern Etiquette

Sometimes we all need some new good ideas for a party and to prepare the table. Each occasion has its own requirements of table linens and consideration of this is a good place to start when coming up with ideas. Let’s go through some basics together to create the right atmosphere and setting for your party table with the right tablecloth, napkins, placemats and table runners

Nowadays, the Internet offers a wide range of table coverings from paper and polyester tablecloths, to finishing the table with high quality cotton or linen tablecloths.

Most of us would prefer to use affordable polyester covers which, apart from their fabulous price, are very easy to look after – stains can be removed easily by a standard washing cycle. It is reasonable to say therefore that most households have this type of tablecloths. However, there is one major drawback – polyester does not last very long.

There is another low budget solution, a paper version. While being something that you cannot survive without when arranging a picnic or serving your dinner outdoors, it should hardly ever be considered as an option for the home (except for children’s parties). The reason for this is that the use of a paper tablecloth, even if it is absolutely stunning one and purchased from Harrods is simply considered as a bad taste for the table and cannot replace the proper tablecloth.

Another type is polycotton table linens, including napkins. However, our point would be to very strictly only consider these for industrial uses only. You can normally judge how cheap or sophisticated a restaurant is by the appearance of their tables. Cheap ones have no covers on their tables. The maximum they offer is some placemats for each guest individually. However, restaurants with style can be recognised immediately through the window where you can see tables covered traditionally in white tablecloths.

Such places are normally more expensive but they charge you more for the overall pleasure you experience. You feel good in restaurants with this attention to detail and easily forget about the cost versus the feeling they give. The picture we are painting is what is good for a good restaurant is not good though for your friends and family. Treat your loved ones to the best they would experience in a Michelin stars restaurant.

If you are searching for the best experience then try the luxury of a crisp Out of practicality such a tablecloth is normally white, but recent trendy establishments may offer some coloured choices - sometimes even black! Of course such linens require a bit extra care, but you’d want to look after them anyway...

Pure linen fabric is extremely long-lasting. Linen is more wearable then cotton and there is no problem when dealing with stains from wine, dressings and greasy food. Due to its sheen and smooth surface, linen releases stains easily.

A simple rule for you to observe from now on is that as soon as the dinner is finished and you believe your tablecloth has been damaged with stains, you should remove all hard food leftovers from its surface and soak it in warm water immediately. You can also add a drop of Fairy which fights with grease on your linens as well as on your plates. Next morning your treasured linen tablecloth is ready to be washed as usual. And do not forget to iron it while damp. A hint of starch will be good as well. If you have purchased a tablecloth in bright colours you should add a tablespoon of white vinegar into the rinsing cycle. This will help dyes of the tablecloth return to normal natural contrast.

Apart from linen napkins, placemats, table runners and all other sorts of table linens we also recommend you should try the whole experience of luxury bedding including < href="”"> bedspreads and cushions.
Once you have tied the luxury of linen home accessories you are not able to survive without them – so beware!

How to Choose the Right Size of Your Tablecloth

Buying table linens for your home seems to be an easy task but it might become quite a confusing undertaking if not planned properly. Apart from the style and quality of a fabric you also should consider the right size of tablecloth for your dining table, as well as some matching napkins, placemats and table runners.

There are some rules which exist for any type of tablecloth and it does not matter if they are cheap or expensive. When buying a new tablecloth make sure it is at least half a metre longer and wider than your table. Then it will hang over your table with free folds on each side.

Ideally, when you are buying your dining table and matching chairs, the height of the chairs should be 30cm lower than the table surface. If this is the case, then you provide your diners with the most comfortable dining experience as the table is not too high, nor too low for keeping your back straight and relaxed at the same time. Using this guide, your luxurious linen tablecloth should ideally be same level with the seats.

Of course there can be another scenario when for some special occasion you might need your table linens to overhang the table down to the ground. This is normally the case for a formal reception and not something you would normally undertake at home. Therefore for your home you should feel comfortable with any size of the tablecloth with at least half a metre of extra length and up to additional two heights of your dining table.

The use of a luxury tablecloth is very beneficial when your furniture has lost its glamorous look and got a little older. The solution of a new tablecloth will change the situation immediately and with the minimum of effort.

You will also achieve superb results when you take the time to match your tablecloth with your window curtains. In this way, your dining room will look extremely chic and fresh.

Alternatively, if your home is set in a modern manner and you do not wish to hide your exceptionally stylish furniture under a classic tablecloth, you can always add some glamour to your table with a table runner and some matching linen napkins and placemats. Such arrangement will create an impression of luxury without being too over bearing.

There is a wide variety of quality table linens to choose from including plain linens, embroidered tablecloths and damask tablecloths.

Damask or jacquard is a figured linen fabric in which warp-satin and weft-sateen create a pattern. Such patterns are visible even in an all white cloth, woven from all white yarns. This process requires threads to be woven in contrasting directions, which creates a pattern that is visible when viewed at certain angles. Across large surfaces, damask fabrics are most extraordinary as reflect light and continually reveal new designs to your eye in a subtle and appealing way.

When making your choice of table linens you should remember that dining in style is one of those little pleasures which can bring some deserved elegance and luxury into your life. So easily achievable and so rewarding to experience! Good luck and have fun selecting your next table…

Linen Addiction from Alenska

Alenska is the UK based retail specialist in linen home accessories.

Having recognized that the UK market does not supply the range of exotic linen products found in Russia and Eastern Europe, Alenska has introduced 1st class linen home accessories to the British market via its web site www.alenska.com.

Russia is a well-known supplier of linens in Europe and America. Historically Russians have grown linen flax as the climate is very favorable and no chemicals are required.

Typically our linen is planted on Russian fields that are resting after a harvest of potato or other cultures. When grown, each part of the plant is used for different products – the finest parts are used for Alenska linen fabrics and other parts are manufactured elsewhere for ropes and insulation.

As all our linen products are made with no chemical processing but only mechanically, they are one of the most ecologically friendly fabrics on Earth. It is also highly absorbent and very wearable. Our linen is an ideal fabric for children’s clothes as well as for people who suffer from a range of allergies. It is perfect for bedding and for tablecloths. Linen napkins will be in use forever and tea towels are fantastic for polishing your crystal glass!

Linen is a fabric of strategic importance. No cases of skin diseases were registered in the Russian Royal army because the soldiers were all dressed in linen. Today, linen bedding may be crucial for treating allergies.

The product range of the new website by Alenska has been expanded from luxury bedding and table linens into bath towels, bedspreads, cushions and linen curtains. A range of curtains is with adjustable lengths and iron-on hemming strips that make it easy to shorten curtains at home without sewing.

Now Alenska offers not only high quality duvet covers, pillowcases and linen bedding sheets, but also more affordable linen accessories which can make a good gift ideas for Mother’s day, weddings, birthdays or other special occasions.

Items such as kitchen aprons and linen tea towels will nicely fit into the kitchen of any household all over the world.

All products are exclusively produced and designed for Alenska and we do not sell our products under any other brand. The new site can be viewed at www.alenska.com and there is currently free shipment on all orders over £200. Alenska also runs prize draws and promotions for its members.

Alenska has the ambition of introducing British customers to perfect and ecologically linen products that are so popular in Europe and The States… Choose Alenska to be your supplier of choice for linen and quality home accessories – you’ll become addicted too!