Why I Chose This Beautiful Cotton Slub Fabric for My Napkins
When I produce a product, I choose the fabric very carefully. I inspect, wash, use, and dry samples of many different fabrics until I find just the right one for the product I’m making. How the fabric behaves while it’s in use, after it’s been washed, after it’s been dried, and how it feels on your hands and face all matter to me.
It’s also incredibly important to me that there are absolutely no microplastics or recycled plastic bottles touching my hands, my dishes, or my face. That’s why I only prototyped 100% cotton fabrics for my napkins.
I absolutely love linen. It has a beautiful texture, full of charming bumps and lines that give it such a natural, organic look. But in my experience, 100% linen wrinkles like crazy right out of the dryer so I knew linen wasn’t going to work for me because my goal was to create something that didn’t require any ironing at all.
Introducing Cotton Slub
So, when I found this beautiful cotton fabric that washed well, looked and felt amazing, and—best of all—required no ironing, I got so excited. Meet cotton slub. This type of cotton is spun in a way that creates uneven twists in the yarn before it’s woven, giving it a gorgeous, slightly bumpy texture that reminds me of linen. It has that same organic charm but washes like an absolute dream: no fuss, no high maintenance—just a simple, elegant fabric that fits into real life.
This fabric is lightweight and airy yet textured enough to actually do what a napkin is meant to do—wipe food off your hands and face! And speaking of your face, it’s incredibly gentle on the skin. No roughness, no irritation, just soft, natural cotton that feels amazing to the touch.
How Do My Cotton Napkins Compare to Linen?
While both cotton slub and linen are natural fabrics with a beautiful organic appearance, the key difference lies in the source of their texture. This cotton fabric has a bumpy, uneven texture due to the way the yarn is spun with subtle variations, creating a soft, handwoven look. Linen, on the other hand, has a more defined, crisp texture stemming from the natural fibers of the flax plant, which are slightly rough and create a loose weave when woven into fabric.
- Texture: Both fabrics have an irregular, natural-looking texture. Linen’s texture comes from the natural flax fibers, while this cotton gets its textured look from the way the yarn is spun before weaving.
- Softness: When woven this way, cotton is generally softer than linen, even when new, making it extra gentle on your skin.
- Wrinkling: This is the big one—linen wrinkles a lot due to its loose weave, while this particular weave of cotton is much more forgiving and requires no ironing–simply dry it on low, immediately remove it from the dryer when finished, and smooth and fold it with your hands.
- Breathability: Both fabrics are breathable, but linen is known for wicking away moisture even faster than cotton.
- Drape: Linen tends to have a more structured drape, while my cotton has a softer, more casual feel.
- Care: Both fabrics are easy to wash, but linen often needs ironing to look crisp. My cotton napkins, on the other hand, can go straight from the dryer to the table with just a quick hand-smoothing.
The Best of Both Worlds
If you love the organic charm of linen but don’t want the hassle of constant ironing, you are going to love these napkins. They have a similar texture and visual appeal to linen, but they wash beautifully, feel amazing, and stay looking great with minimal effort. Just pull them out of the dryer, give them a quick smooth with your hands, fold them, and they’re ready to go—no ironing needed!
I can’t wait for you to experience this fabric for yourself. I think you’re going to fall in love with its soft, natural feel, its beautiful texture, and most of all, how easy it is to care for.