7 Myths About Linen Bedding

It's time to separate fact from fiction! We debunk common myths about linen bedding to help you better understand this incredible textile.

1. “Linen Isn’t Natural”

We’re often surprised by how many people believe this myth, perhaps because the word “linen” has evolved to mean any type of bedding, including synthetic bedding.

So is linen natural? Yes, 100 percent! Our soft linen bedding is made from flax, which grows in the green fields of Europe: France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, to be precise. There are two main types of flax: short, branched plants used to produce flaxseed, and tall, thin plants for fabric production. In summer, they bloom with beautiful, blue-purple flowers (as depicted on our Hørblomst Danish-design bedding set). Shortly after blooming has finished, the plants are ready to be harvested; they are pulled from the ground (rather than cut, to preserve the length) and left to sit in the field for four to six weeks, a process known as retting. During this time, natural dew and rainwater rot away the outer stem to leave the inner “bast”, which is what is made into linen. No harmful chemicals nor additional irrigation are used. This is a condition of the Masters of Flax Fibre Charter, signed by all western European flax farmers.

2. “Linen Bedding is Scratchy”

This might be the most common linen myth, and while some types of linen can be scratchy, when it comes to linen bedding, this isn’t true at all.

After the retted linen is retrieved from the field, it is graded for quality and separated accordingly. Shorter, coarser fibers are used for composites (such as in dollar bills), upholstery, and sacking; this is the “scratchy” linen that many people describe. Long, fine fibers are woven into soft linen bedding that is smooth and comfortable.

Not only that but European linen bedding becomes softer over time. Flax naturally contains a chemical called pectin, which makes it strong; you might know about pectin from jelly-making, where it’s added to the mixture for that gelatinous texture. In European linen, pectin can sometimes make the fabric feel a little stiff. However, pectin is soluble in water so more of it disappears with each wash, meaning your soft linen sheets will feel even softer over time. At The Modern Dane, we garment-wash our European linen bedding before it’s sent to you, meaning that it will be smooth and soft right out of the box.

What about thread count, that fabled indicator of “softness”? This may be the biggest bedding myth of all. Thread count is much less an indicator of softness than the overall quality of the fibers. Even with everything else being equal, cotton thread counts only make a difference up to around 400. For linen bedding, it makes even less of a difference. Linen strands are so thick that thread counts as low as 80 are possible, even with high-quality, long-lasting linen sheets. Therefore, thread count is rarely listed on linen bedding, though you’ll occasionally see fabric weight listed in grams per square meter (GSM). After testing a variety of weights, we eventually settled on 165 GSM for our soft linen bedding: the perfect balance between durability and breathability.

So what about those sheets claiming to have a thread count of 800, 1,000, or even 3,000? Here, companies have used a dubious trick: spinning several thin threads into one to artificially inflate the numbers. When testing different thread count sheets, researchers at Good Housekeeping found that the highest “1,000-thread-count” sheet consistently came out worse for pilling, softness, and overall comfort.

3. “Linen Bedding is Only for Summer”

This seasonal typecasting is another myth we often hear about linen bedding. It’s true that linen is a great summer fabric, due to the natural properties of flax. Like jute and hemp, linen is a bast fiber, meaning that it is made from the strong inner stem (bast) of the plant. The bast contains pores to allow water to move through. At the end of the linen production process, these pores remain, allowing warm air and moisture to pass through, keeping you cool and dry at night.

When the temperature drops, however, those same pores trap warm air next to your body, keeping you insulated yet still wicking away moisture so that you’re both cozy and comfortable.

4. “Linen Bedding Rips Easily”

Despite its lightness and breathability, linen is one of the strongest bedding materials. As a bast fiber, it is made from many tightly packed cells, unlike cotton which is a single-celled fiber.

It’s true that some linen, produced outside of western Europe, has been treated with chemicals that speed up production. These are often used during the retting process as it’s one of the most time-consuming parts of linen production. Five weeks of retting can be cut to just 2‒3 days by immersing the flax plants in a tank of highly corrosive solution such as sodium hydroxide or mineral acids. These chemicals dissolve plant matter fast but must be carefully monitored to prevent fiber damage. Even when this is done, the quality of the fibers is inferior to biologically-retted fibers. The Modern Dane’s European linen bedding, however, is free from harmful chemicals—we’ve even got the OEKO-TEX certification to prove it.

5. “Linen Bedding Looks Messy”

Linen bedding might be a bit rumpled in its natural state, but we wouldn’t say that it looks messy—especially compared with unironed cotton, which has more stubborn creases. If you want to iron your linen sheets, however, it’s easy: dry them on low heat, take them out of the dryer while they’re a little damp, and iron them on the reverse side at a low heat.

6. “Belgian Linen is the Best Linen”

Julius Caesar famously praised Flemish linen made in modern-day Belgium, and that reputation persists to this day. But even trademarked Belgian Linen™ doesn’t have to be Belgian! It must be woven in Belgium but the flax used to make it can be from Belgium, France, or the Netherlands—which is precisely where we get the flax used to make our linen duvet covers.

7. “Linen Bedding is Boring”

Admittedly, linen tends to come in fewer printed designs, because manufacturers love to show off the beautiful linen texture instead. But you still have options, such as our beautiful Scandinavian-design duvet covers. Celebrate the mighty oak with Agern, bird-spot from bed with Fugle, or channel vintage forest vibes with our new Skov print. And hey, if getting a great night’s sleep is boring, we’ll take boring any day of the week!

Have you heard any of these linen myths? Which ones have you believed in the past? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter!