Frequently Asked Questions
We get asked many questions from customers new and old, so here are the most common ones with their related answers.
Q. What size are your nearside (cut-off) fitted sheets ?
A. All of our nearside fitted sheets are made to the specific size of the mattress in your caravan/motorhome/boat etc... based on the make/model/year of manufacture. We can generally determine the size of your mattress from our database, but if for some reason we do not have the details we will send you a simple diagram of the measurements required.
Q. What size are your offside (cut-off) fitted sheets ?
A. All of our offside fitted sheets are made to the specific size of the mattress in your caravan/motorhome/boat etc... based on the make/model/year of manufacture. We can generally determine the size of your mattress from our database, but if for some reason we do not have the details we will send you a simple diagram of the measurements required.
Q. What size are your island bed fitted sheets ?
A. All of our island bed fitted sheets are made to the specific size of the mattress in your caravan/motorhome/boat etc... based on the make/model/year of manufacture. We can generally determine the size of your mattress from our database, but if for some reason we do not have the details we will send you a simple diagram of the measurements required.
Q. How does the sheet on a transverse island bed work ?
A. Most transverse island beds slide in and out during the daytime providing more space at the end of the bed. There are two ways in which this is achieved, either with a removable portion of mattress (as per most Swift caravans) or with a hinged portion of mattress which 'flips over' (as per Coachman & Elddis). We manufacture our fitted sheets in two different ways to accommodate for this by either making the sheet in two parts (one part for the main portion of the mattress and another for the small infill portion), or in one piece to cover the entire mattress in the case of a hinged layout. Our fitted sheets are fully elasticated on the underside and so allow the hinged portion to be 'flipped' over whilst the sheet remains in place.
Q. Are your fitted sheets elasticated all the way around ?
A. Yes, all of our sheets are elasticated all the way around, not just on the corners to ensure a nice fit.
Q. Do you also shape your duvet covers ?
A. Yes, all of our duvet covers are tailored to the shape of your bed.
Q. Why do you shape the duvet covers ?
A. We shape our duvet covers to ensure that your duvet set looks neat and tidy and to provide a comfy night's sleep. Standard sized duvet covers are designed to hang over your bed on both sides so are made approx 24" wider than a standard double mattress. In a caravan or motorhome, the beds are normally enclosed on at least one of the sides (and sometimes both), so there is nowhere for the extra fabric to go. This can lead to a very uncomfortable night's sleep as you end up with lots of extra duvet on top of you. We also shape the duvet cover to follow the line of the cut-off corner, preventing the extra fabric getting caught in the bathroom door !
Q. Do you also shape your duvets ?
A. Yes, all of our duvets are tailored in the same way as our duvet covers.
Q. Why is your shaped bed linen more expensive than normal bed linen ?
A. Most standard bed linen found on the high street is mass produced in China, India or Pakistan where multiple layers of fabric are cut to standard sizes on large machines and sewn together by workers on relatively low labour rates compared to the UK. All of our products are individually hand cut and sewn in the UK due to the vast variety of sizes we cater for and this brings with it a slightly higher cost. We also only use fabrics with 200 threads per inch or higher so we would ask to be compared against products of similar quality.
Q. What does 'Percale' mean ?
A. This relates to the thread count i.e. number of 'threads per inch' in the construction of the cloth. To be classed as a 'percale' the cloth must have at least 180 threads per inch. Our percale cloth has a thread count of 200.
Q. Does the thread count matter ?
A. Just because one particular fabric has a higher thread count than another, doesn't necessarily mean it is better. It's not only the thread count that gives the fabric its properties, but the quality of the yarn and the processes used prior to weaving. Two fabrics, both claiming to be 200 threads per inch, can be drastically different in weight and feel. We have chosen a fabric which uses fine combed yarns which makes it light weight and soft, whilst maintaining its strength and durability.
Too many threads per inch can make a fabric feel heavy to sleep under and very difficult to launder and dry. For these reasons, we wouldn't recommend going above about 550 threads per inch.
Q. Which fabric is the best, 100% cotton or polycotton ?
A. This is virtually impossible to answer as it really comes down to personal choice. Each fabric has its' advantages and disadvantages so you need to decide what is most important to you.
Our 200 thread count polycotton is a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. The cotton is combed prior to being woven which ensures any loose fibres are removed to prevent pilling. Due to the inclusion of polyester it is classed as easy care which minimises the need for ironing and it will also dry more quickly than pure cotton.
We have two qualities of Egyptian cotton percale, a traditional plain woven 200 thread count, which you will find in 4/5 star hotel bedrooms across the world and an even more luxurious 400 thread count with a slight sateen finish. Both of these fabrics will feel slightly softer than the polycotton, but they will take longer to dry and for the creases to drop out. These fabrics are excellent for people with sensitive skin.
Q. Are your mattress protectors made in the same way as your fitted sheets ?
A. Yes, we make are mattress protectors in exactly the same way. Tailored to your mattress based on the make, model and year of manufacture and elasticated all of the way around so that they stay nicely in place.
Q. Why don't you use the interior fabrics from caravan/motorhome suppliers for your bed linen.
A. The fabrics used for the interiors of caravans/motorhomes are upholstery fabrics and are generally not machine washable. As bed linen needs to be washed regularly, we only use fabrics that can be machine washed and tumble dried.
Q. What about shrinkage ?
A. Most fabrics shrink during the first wash but should stabilize after that. Our polycotton shrink rate is only about 1% so isn't noticable. Our Egyptian cottons and brushed cottons shrink at approx 5% and 8% respectively, so we allow for this during the manufacture of items. Hence, we generally recommend washing these fabrics prior to their first use.