What is the difference between calico and poplin: compare and choose the best fabric for bed linen


Sound sleep is the key to health. In order for the body to fully rest, it is important to choose high-quality bedding. Doctors recommend giving preference to cotton - poplin or calico. They don’t specify which is better. You need to make the choice yourself, based on personal preferences. Poplin is more about an aesthetic appearance and softness, and calico is more about a favorable price and practicality.

What is calico?

Calico fabric is famous for its density, strength and practicality. It is made from 100% cotton, and therefore perfectly absorbs moisture and allows air to pass through. Products made from calico never cause allergies.

Calico is distinguished by high wear resistance, which is achieved due to the dense interweaving of threads of the same thickness in a crosswise manner.

Close-up photo of fabric:

The density of calico varies from 80 to 142 g/sq.m. m. Calico 80 g/sq. m. loose, gauze-like. The higher the density, the better its quality. For bed linen, calico 125 g/m2 is usually used. m. The new fabric is somewhat stiff and rough. But over time, it acquires softness without losing strength.

Interesting fact. Bed linen is made from high-density calico for hotels, medical institutions, and sanatoriums.

Advantages and disadvantages

Today, calico is the main type of fabric for sewing bed linen. The material can withstand “countless” numbers of washes and has many advantages:

  • Calico is a natural fabric that does not emit toxic substances, hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly;
  • Excellent air permeability, allowing the body to “breathe”.
  • Absorbs body secretions well.
  • Retains heat in winter and does not cause overheating in summer.
  • Practical, low maintenance.
  • Has the highest possible safety margin.
  • Affordable.

Disadvantages of fabric:

  • unassuming appearance;
  • coarseness.

Calico is a simple fabric in every sense. She can't be called beautiful. Children and people with delicate skin may find it too rough and harsh. In terms of tactile sensations and appearance, calico is inferior to poplin, satin and many other fabrics.

"Sailid"

The company's bed linen is characterized by better wear resistance compared to other brands selling their products on the market. The company's production facilities are located in China.

Like the products of the previous company, bed linen is in high demand among customers. An analysis of reviews showed high ratings from those who prefer the products of this particular company. As a result of research, it was found that bed linen sets score 4.58 points out of 5 possible, which says a lot about the quality and reliability of the products.

The company has earned such authority over 15 years of work in the textile market.

Customer trust and demand are determined by such qualities as:

  • durability;
  • increased wear resistance;
  • unique design;
  • softness and smoothness of fabrics, which buyers often talk about in reviews;
  • excellent performance characteristics achieved through the use of special production technology.

Designers at Saylid, a bed linen company in Moscow, are working to make the sets even more attractive. Products made from calico, poplin, satin, and jacquard are decorated with photo printing, embossing, and embroidery, which gives them even greater beauty and sophistication.

The natural origin of the fabrics used to sew the sets allows us to characterize the products as environmentally friendly and safe bedding that does not cause allergic reactions.

The advantages that distinguish the products from other options include:

  • interesting design solutions;
  • decoration with embroidery and embossing;
  • naturalness of fabrics and ability to “breathe”;
  • compliance with quality standards;
  • decorating sets with silk details;
  • products belong to the middle price category.

Of the visible shortcomings, only one stands out: some colors of bed linen in reality differ from the image on the packaging.

What is poplin?

Poplin is a light and soft fabric. Bed linen made from it is pleasantly cool in the summer heat, does not irritate the skin, and is suitable for adults and children. Most often, poplin composition is 100% cotton. Less common is a mixture of cotton fiber with cotton, and cotton with synthetics. But this is not the main feature of the fabric.

Poplin differs from other fabrics in the weave of the threads. The warp threads are thin and dense, and the weft threads are thick and loose. Thanks to this, the canvas has a specific texture, reminiscent of a small scar.

Among other things, poplin is characterized by a matte shine and softness even at high densities. Typically, fabric with a density of 110 g/m2 is used for bed linen. The indicator is relatively low, but the products are highly wear-resistant. Bed linen can withstand a large number of washes, maintaining its original color and strength.

Interesting fact. Initially, 100% silk was used to make poplin. It was used to make clothes for the Pope.

Advantages and disadvantages

Poplin is one of the TOP 5 most popular fabrics for bed linen. Its popularity is due to numerous advantages:

  • Poplin practically does not wrinkle. It doesn't have to be ironed.
  • Made from natural raw materials.
  • Not prone to deformation, retains its shape.
  • Easy to wash at 40 degrees.
  • Highly durable and wear-resistant.
  • Absorbs sweat well.
  • Allows the body to breathe.
  • Soft.
  • Comfortable in winter and summer. Has excellent thermoregulating properties.

Natural poplin has no obvious disadvantages. Some may not like the lack of smoothness of the canvas. Some types of poplin underwear (especially thick 100% cotton) can irritate overly sensitive skin.

Disadvantages are typical for poplin made of synthetic cotton. It can roll, shed, and become electrified.

Dimensions

Inconsistency in the size of bedding items leads to discomfort during sleep. If the bed linen is smaller than the size of the pillow, blanket or mattress, then folds and creases will form, causing a lot of inconvenience. If the size is too large, it is easy to get tangled in the duvet cover or get your hand caught in the pillowcase. To simplify the selection of bed linen, special standards have been developed that all products included in the set must meet.

There are several types of bed linen:

  • single,
  • one and a half,
  • double,
  • eurostandard,
  • family,
  • children's,
  • for newborns.

For each type, there are standard sizes of pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers.

What is the difference?

The differences between calico and poplin are visible to the naked eye:

  • Calico is denser, rougher. It wrinkles easily. Poplin is softer and lighter, and practically does not wrinkle when compressed.
  • Poplin has a matte sheen. Calico has a simpler appearance.
  • Upon closer examination, you will notice that the warp and weft threads in calico are the same thickness, while in poplin the weft is 1.5-2 times thicker than the warp.

Calico is always made of cotton, and poplin can have a mixed composition. There are many differences between them. To compare the characteristics, we suggest using the table.

comparison table

The difference between poplin and calico is described in detail in the table.

CalicoPoplin
NaturalnessYesNot always
Compound100% cotton100% cotton, cotton with polyester, cotton with silk in different ratios
Weave typePlain, criss-cross, threads of equal thicknessLinen, weft threads are 2 times thicker than the warp
Density80-142 g/m²115 g/m²
StrengthHighAbove average
HygroscopicityHighHigh
Breathable propertiesHighHigh
WrinkleabilityYesLow
ColorsSimple, muted colorsAny, bright, saturated colors
ShineAbsentMatte shine
Life timeUp to 500 washes300 washes
CareWash at 40-60 degrees, spin up to 800 rpm, iron in “Cotton” modeAs simple as possible. Wash at 40 degrees, spin 800 rpm. Does not require ironing
Price (for 1.5 sets of bed linen)1700 rub.1900 rub.
Main advantageWear resistanceCombination of high strength with softness
Main disadvantageRoughness, roughnessMay contain synthetics

Requirements for the quality of bed linen

Good bed linen from domestic and foreign companies meets a number of the criteria described below:

  • Naturalness achieved through the use of natural cotton (100%) as raw material.
  • Soft and smooth to the touch.
  • Compliance with the size chart indicated on the manufacturer’s website and the parameters on the packaging.
  • Reliability of the manufacturer.
  • Good quality dyes, after washing they do not peel off or lose color.
  • Optimal fabric density.
  • There are several companies on the market that are distinguished by the competitive quality of their products and the distinctive characteristics of their kits. These companies include domestic and foreign representatives of the textile industry.

    It is on the basis of the above indicators that a rating of the best manufacturers has been compiled, supported by reviews from real customers.

Which is better to choose?

From all of the above we can conclude:

  • Calico bed linen is a practical option for every day. This set is worth choosing for those for whom sophistication is not important. It is ideally suited for a dacha, a country house, or an apartment for rent.
  • Poplin costs a little more than calico, but it also looks more noble. It is usually chosen by those for whom aesthetics and practicality are equally important. In addition, poplin bedding is gentler and better suited for children and people with sensitive skin.

When comparing poplin with calico, it is also important to take into account that bed linen from different companies may differ in quality.

Which material is better for children

Products made from satin or poplin are better suited for babies. Calico is coarser, so it is not recommended to choose it for children with sensitive, irritation-prone skin. For schoolchildren, calico underwear is the best option if they like to jump on the bed and fight with pillows. Sheets and pillowcases will tear less often than poplin ones.

Since children prefer bright colors, the muted shades of calico linen often seem boring to them, so the child often prefers poplin products, which, due to their texture, are not susceptible to fading.

Reviews

Bed linen made of calico and poplin has hundreds of reviews, and all of them are mostly positive. Negative comments are usually left for low-quality sets made from fabric with a large percentage of synthetics. They become covered with pellets, shed, and quickly tear.

Calico bed linen

Bedding sets made from calico are known to be the most durable and natural. Customer reviews.

Veronica:

“I can’t stand synthetics in clothes, and even more so in bed linen. I only buy calico sets. They are strong, one might say eternal, made of 1000% cotton. I like Ivanovskaya (thinner) and Shuiskaya (thicker) calico the most.”

Alexandra:

“I love calico more than any other material in bedding sets. For me it is the most comfortable. The body breathes, does not sweat, there are colors for every taste.”

Elena:

“My mother always bought bedding sets made of calico. At first I didn’t recognize calico. When I was young, I tried other fabrics: satin, satin. But I quickly became disappointed. The quality of calico has no equal. Yes, it is not so impressive (although there are more colors now than before). But it lasts for many years, and is very comfortable for sleeping.”

Alexei:

“A couple of years ago I stupidly bought “Shuiskaya calico” for 460 rubles. Frankly synthetic. Thin, creaky, rolls up, and also stains heavily. This morning I woke up green, like Shrek. Don't repeat my mistakes. Even on sale, calico cannot be so cheap.”

The glory of calico is often used by passing off synthetic fabrics as it. You need to be careful when purchasing, choose kits from well-known companies that have a quality certificate.

Poplin bed linen

Reviews of poplin bed linen often highlight its practicality and pleasant tactile sensations during sleep. Negativity also occurs, but rarely. It is usually associated with marriage.

  • Arina: “I like poplin bed linen. The material is good, dense, comfortable. When washed with conditioner, it does not need to be ironed. The first such set was given by a friend. (Ivanovo). I have never seen better quality. The box contained a certificate and fabric samples.”
  • Olga Alekseevna: “I have quite sensitive skin. I can’t sleep on bedding mixed with synthetics, but calico is too rough for me. Their satin sets are ideal, but they are too expensive. I recently decided to try poplin bed linen from the famous. The fabric is nice and looks good. The only thing that confused me was the color. It's darker than in the photo."
  • Anna: “Last year I bought a set of poplin bed linen from. I got it on sale for 899 rubles. For such a price the quality is not bad. After 7 months the set has not faded and is just as dense. Only during the first wash did it stain the water a little. I also found a small defect in the drawing. Otherwise there are no complaints."

Tete-a-Tete

Bed linen company with production facilities in Moldova. It is characterized by high strength of the material, thanks to which it has earned a customer rating of 4.67 points out of 5.

This company occupies a leading position in the production of high-class linen from premium satin. Its difference from ordinary fabric lies in the fact that the material is characterized by distinctive softness and the ability to “breathe”, but at the same time remains durable enough to withstand several dozen washing cycles without losing its attractiveness.

100% cotton of the highest quality is used to produce the fabric. Designers think through every set of underwear down to the smallest detail. TETE-a-TETE sheets are distinguished by the fact that they do not have seams, and pillowcases and duvet covers are distinguished by the presence of special internal fasteners.

Thus, as customers write in their reviews of Tete-a-Tete bed linen, you get quality products at the best price. The low cost of products from this brand is a significant advantage over other companies.

Questions and answers

How to choose quality bedding?

The first thing that should alert you is that the price of the bedding set is too low. High-quality bed linen costs from 1000 rubles and above. It should not have a chemical smell. The lines should be even, without protruding threads. It is better to buy kits from trusted companies with a good reputation and positive reviews.

What is better for sewing bed linen yourself, poplin or calico?

Both fabrics are easy to cut and sew. They behave approximately the same - they do not crumble, do not stretch. The price of fabric is not much different. You just need to take into account that poplin and calico shrink. Bed linen should be sewn with a margin of 6 cm, or the fabric should be pre-washed in warm water.

Among all types of cotton fabrics, calico and poplin remain the most popular. Both fabrics are practical and affordable. Therefore, people often cannot decide which is better, poplin or calico. This question cannot be answered unambiguously. If you need a comfortable, beautiful and lightweight set, then you should choose poplin. If it is important that the bed linen lasts as long as possible, and at the same time the roughness of the material does not bother you, then you can safely buy calico.

Tac

This is a manufacturer that offers the best designer bedding models on the market. It has earned recognition from customers and received the highest rating, according to customers, 4.9. And as you know, the best proof of the quality of a product is customer reviews.

Bed linen from a Turkish company is represented by a wide range, including product models belonging to a wide range of price categories (from budget to luxury). All of them are characterized by high quality, amazing beauty, softness and long service life.

The company's satin bed linen from the Selection line is distinguished by its quality and amazing design, making an impression on any person.

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