It all started when Tricia Rose found a hand sewn linen pillow slip while cleaning out her grandmother's cottage in Scotland. Dating back to 1840, this simple linen pillow slip had survived three generations and was still going strong. When she first took the slip home, Tricia used it for storing lavender. It wasn't until a few years later, when Tricia found a source for natural linen with the same simple qualities of that old pillow slip, that she decided to start making her own bedding.
Rough Linen offers five different fabric options: Orkney, a traditional homespun domestic European linen, White Orkney, the same as Orkney but bleached to achieve an off-white coloring, Smooth White, a double width pure Belgian linen sheeting, Smooth Natural, the same as Smooth White but undyed, and St. Barts, a middleweight linen.
In addition to bedding — which includes sheets, duvet covers, shams and more — Rough Linen also produces curtains and table linens.
(Images: Rough Linen)
Store History
- Founded by: Tricia Rose
- Headquarters: Marin, CA
My name is Tricia Rose. I found this homespun, hand sewn linen pillow slip while I was clearing my grandmother's cottage in Scotland. It was made by her great-grandmother, in 1840, and was in regular use for three generations. When it came to me I used it to store lavender. Years later, by good fortune, I found a natural linen with the same wonderful texture and feel, and I decided to make bedding in this simple, elemental tradition. I wanted the feeling of connection, appreciation of good materials and handiwork which is part of my heritage, as part of my everyday life . I hope you love it as I do. With care, it should last a hundred years.
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I came across this shop a few months ago and was just about to order a sheet set. However, I can't get past the lack of a fitted sheet. Does anyone use a flat sheet as their bottom sheet? Does it need constant readjustment every night? I can't stand my bottom sheet to be loose and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get this flat sheet tight enough. Any experience with this?
Going to school in the UK for a year, we were supplied with 1 flat sheet per week. I had to have friends show me how to tuck the corners (hospital corners). I would need to re-tuck once during the week, but I am an active sleeper.
I have linen sheets that are almost 100 years old. They still look beautiful after regular boil washing.
Wow that is beautiful....
I love that the book being read is Lies My Teacher Taught Me! this book opened my eyes about history books and made me search for primary sources in the bibliographies of any history book I read.
The model for the linen pinafore has a cockatiel riding on her shoulder.
I just might buy some of this linen just because of the quirky ad set-ups that look so much like my life!
jng2b, a flat sheet stays tighter than a fitted one, and it all depends on the amount of tuck you have under the mattress. Manufacturers invented fitted sheets as a way of saving on fabric, they are literally cutting corners, and too often their sheets ride up at the side to show an unappetising slice of mattress. I rant about this further here: http://roughlinen.com/smooth_white_sheets.html
jng2b, my bedding is from Rough Linen and I haven't had a problem yet with the bottom sheet coming undone, even with two people and two cats in the bed. I make the (queen-sized) bed my myself weekly and it doesn't take very long at all - it gets faster with practice. In fact, it stays tighter than a fitted sheet because all that extra fabric is really tucked in there.
Hope this helps.
I use a flat sheet instead of fitted sheets because i always tear fitted sheets in half. Don't ask, it's a mystery to me too. Iguess I Hulk out while sleeping. But loose sheets kinda move with me so it works out. However... $140 for ONE flat sheet. I don't think I can justify that. Are linen sheets really that great? I have had my current sheets ($40 from Target) for 3 years. They are prob still good for another 2 years (hot washes and everything). So if you average one set at $40 every 5 years, that's a little less then 20 years worht of sheets for the price of ONE linen flat sheet. Yeah, I can't justify that. I'll just stick to Target.
I don't have sheets from Rough Linen but I do have linen sheets and they feel amazing. So much cooler than cotton and soft in a home spun way. To me it was totally worth the investment.
My brother worked at inn-farm in Aix-en-Provence just out of college. All the beds were fitted with 100 year old linen sheets, and he said they were amazing; soft, thick, durable, and unlike anything else he had ever slept upon. If you figure out cost per year, linen obviously wins out. I buy 500-count Egyptian cotton, and have to replace every other year, so linen would be more economical in the long run. Also, buying two flat sheets means they will be more evenly worn as you can switch top and bottom. It is usually the fitted (bottom) sheet that wears out first as it has the heavier wear.
I love my rough linen sheet. It's the only sheet I need (duvet cover on top may eventually get replaced by a rough linen one). Yes, the price was expensive, but it was worth it. I wash the sheet it the morning and hang it to dry by bed time. Tricia rose is super duper about filling and mailing your order, too. Wonderful product, wonderful company.
I must not be as active in bed as those of you who are wearing out or tearing your sheets. Will have to discuss that with my girlfriend...
Notice the vintage school desk being used as a vanity...GENIUS!
I love linen bedding - so elegant, healthy and durable. We have bought our first set at the beginning of December from Moods - it's absolutely beautiful. Love the colour of pure natural linen. They sell on Etsy. Linen is not cheap but it's worth the price. You can find them here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoodsStore