Percale: characteristics, composition and application

Percale is a beautiful and practical material and is widely used in light industry for sewing bed linen and clothes. Due to their high performance and excellent decorative properties, consumers increasingly prefer it to other materials in this price category.

Percale is very popular in the modern market of fabrics and textiles. Excellent working qualities of the material are due to the presence of cotton threads in its composition, which determine its basic properties. However, percale differs from other cotton-containing materials in the manufacturing technology in which long-fiber cotton is impregnated with special solutions. This process is called sizing and allows you to get a particularly durable and pleasant to the touch material.

In the manufacture of percale, a dense cross type of weaving is used, which, in combination with the processing of each thread with an adhesive composition, gives the output a very structure-strong material. For the production of percale, medium and thin non-twisted threads are used, while their density is about 90–160 pieces for every 10 cm. At an earlier stage of production, percale resembled a rubberized fabric in appearance and was used for sewing parachutes.

However, with the development of high-tech weaving production, modern material looks quite presentable and is actively used for sewing clothes and bedding. Staining of percale is often done by the printed method, using complex large-scale paintings and photo printing as a pattern. As dyes, high-quality compositions are used that do not contain toxic or poisonous components, and are quite resistant to regular washing and fading.

The composition of percale includes cotton and linen, the fibers of which are evenly coated with glue. Sometimes polyester fibers are added to cotton and linen threads, due to which the fabric becomes even softer and more elastic and acquires a beautiful shine. However, the proportion of synthetics in the fabric is usually small, which is why percale can be considered a natural and environmentally friendly material. Important operational properties of the material are its density and resistance to external factors. The fabric behaves ideally at low temperatures, which is why at one time it was actively used in shipbuilding for tailoring sails and in the aviation industry for sheathing the hulls of the first aircraft.

However, along with high density and strength, percale combines extraordinary lightness and tenderness. It is the combination of these seemingly poorly compatible qualities that makes it unlike other materials and significantly expands the scope of its application. In addition, products sewn from percale are able to maintain the brightness of colors and their original shapes for a long time. Another important characteristic in the description of the material is its bulkiness and pliability during sewing. Thanks to these properties, the fabric is ideal for sewing complex patterns with an abundance of lace inserts and other decorative elements.

High consumer demand and A large number of approving reviews about percale are caused by a number of indisputable advantages of this material.

• The fabric is very durable. With careful operation and timely care of the product from percale can serve 10 or more years. On average, each such product can transfer up to five hundred washes without losing its initial characteristics.
• The complete absence of pellets. Even with numerous washing and heavy use, such as bedding, the surface does not roll and looks like new.
• Due to the presence in the composition of synthetic threads, percale is very easy to iron, and products in which the proportion of polyester is slightly higher, and do not require it at all.
• The fabric does not cause allergic reactions, due to which it is often used for sewing children's bedding sets.

• Despite the presence of synthetic fibers, percale does not contain static electricity.
• The material has a very high strength, however, at the same time it is quite light and airy. Due to the dense structure, the fabric is ideal for sewing pillowcases and bedding. Percale does not allow fluff and feathers to go outside, but at the same time provides normal air exchange, promotes the evaporation of excess moisture and prevents the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
• The fabric is characterized by high temperature-regulating properties: in summer it will not be hot to sleep under such linen, and in winter it will not be cold.
• The material practically does not shrink and even after numerous washes does not lose its original shape and does not deform.
• Percale is easy to wash and has a moderate dirt-repellent effect.

However, with many obvious advantages, percale weaknesses also exist.The main disadvantages include a rather high cost in comparison with other cotton and linen fabrics. On average, one meter of fabric with a standard width will cost more than 300 rubles.

In Russia, most of the fabrics entering the domestic market are produced by weaving mills located in Ivanovo. Enterprises produce a wide range of percale, represented by fabrics of various colors and compositions. From foreign manufacturers, weaving mills in India, Egypt and Pakistan are engaged in the supply of material to the Russian market. Slightly smaller quantities are present products from Turkey and Uzbekistan.

France has been and remains a recognized leader in the production of percalewhose weavers provide this practical and durable fabric to almost all of Europe. Along with their French counterparts, Italian and Portuguese masters are successfully engaged in the production of percale, whose products are elite fabrics and are quite expensive. So, the cost of a mid-range kit is in the range of $ 460.

The scope of percale is wide enough and before talking about where this practical and convenient fabric is used, you should refer to its classification. A modern manufacturer produces two types of material: household and technical. The first is characterized by the increased density necessary to prevent the eruption of fluff and feathers, and, accordingly, is used for the manufacture of bed sets. At the same time, household cloths are highly hygroscopic and breathable. This allows you to use bed linen sewn from percale throughout the year. In addition, due to its high hygienic properties, the fabric is used for sewing women's blouses and dresses.

The second type of percale - technical - even though in aviation they no longer usehowever, continue to be used for sewing parachutes, sails and tents. Such material has a lower density in comparison with household, therefore, it is not used for sewing on sheets and pillowcases. In addition, work clothes, curtains and a tent can be sewn from technical percale, and in furniture production they often sew upholstery for sofas and armchairs.

Percale is often compared to other materials used to make bedding. Based on a comparative analysis of experts and consumers, the material is a strong middling in its niche of paintings, and even surpasses some of them in some indicators. So, if we compare percale and ranfors, the density of the first is undoubtedly higher, however, the second is made from twisted threads, which makes it softer and easier to wear to the touch. In general, there is much in common between these two materials: they both practically do not shrink after washing, do not fade in the sun and are pleasant to the body.

When comparing softcotton and percale, it’s hard to give the palm to one of them, since the materials are somewhat similar, and both have fairly high working qualities. However, there are still some differences. So, the first one includes viscose and synthetic microfibers, which is why the material has much better hygroscopic properties than percale, so it is often used in the manufacture of towels and home clothes.

If we compare the tensel and percale, then in terms of operation percale, of course, is better and more convenient. Tensel, which is based on wood pulp made from eucalyptus, is characterized by low resistance to deformation and shrinkage and requires more careful and gentle care. So, many manufacturers recommend only dry cleaning for products made from tensel. However, with regard to hygroscopicity, ventilation and thermoregulation, the tensel has the best performance.

When buying percale, you need to pay attention to a number of important factors.

• Due to the fact that the fabric is a fairly expensive luxury materials, the price of it can not be too low. If a product is on sale at a suspiciously low cost, then most likely it is either a fake or a defective canvas.
• In order to be absolutely sure that the counter is really percale, you need to pay attention to the interweaving of threads.

• To visually determine the density, and therefore the strength of the fabric, it is necessary to look through it into the light: if the material is really high-quality, then there should be no gaps. Otherwise, it is most likely a fake, and it is better to refuse to buy such a translucent canvas.
• If there is such an opportunity, it is recommended to pull the thread from the fabric and set it on fire. If the canvas is a real percale, then the smell will resemble the smell of burnt paper. If synthetic burnout is felt and the thread starts to melt, then counterfeit is on the counter.

In order for percale products to not lose their attractiveness for a long time and last as long as possible, they must be properly looked after. The material belongs to the category of rather demanding maintenance fabrics, therefore washing and ironing must be carried out in accordance with certain rules.

• The temperature of the water during the first wash should not exceed 45 degrees. Using bleaching agents, as well as soaking or boiling products, is strictly prohibited. Before washing, it is recommended to place the laundry in a cool room and stand for some time. In addition, the laundry cannot be starched and too hard water is used when washing and rinsing.

• All subsequent washing can be done in water with a temperature not exceeding 80 degrees, although 60 is considered optimal. Only mild detergents or powder for children's things are allowed to be used. Air conditioning is also recommended. Washing in an automatic washing machine should be carried out at a power of not more than 800 revolutions per minute, and the drum loading should not exceed 50%. Pillowcases and duvet covers should only be washed inside-out. This will help to preserve the pattern, and will contribute to a better washing of the laundry.

• After the spin of the laundry is finished, things must be removed immediately from the drum. Leaving percale for a long time in a wet crumpled form is prohibited. You can dry products both vertically and horizontally, without fear of hanging them in the sun: percale is not prone to fading, and sunlight will allow the material to dry quickly and evenly. However, when hanging, it should be borne in mind that the wet percale creases very much, so when placing it on a rope it is necessary to crush the products as little as possible. It is recommended to iron percale products immediately after drying, and 140–150 degrees is considered the optimum temperature for ironing.

As can be seen from the above, percale is quite capricious in maintenance, so if you are not ready for such painstaking and scrupulous care, it is better to purchase another material.

See how to iron percale bedding properly in the next video.