Types of pillowcases and their choice

Pillows play a rather important role in everyday life, as well as in the interior of a residential apartment or house. It is convenient to fall asleep on bulky and soft items after a working day, and small bright squares on the sofa will dilute the monochrome interior and become an unusual highlight of the design.

But in order to extend their service life, to protect yourself from tiny linen mites, which can start even in the cleanest housewives, it is necessary to put pillowcases on the pillows.

A pillowcase is essentially a normal protective cover. For many years, special sleeping mattresses, blankets and pillows remained a luxury item, they were available exclusively to wealthy merchants and townspeople. It was very difficult to clean heavy down feather beds, stuffed with a feather of a bird or dry herbs, so special bedding appeared in the everyday life of the rich, which cost a lot of money and was made to order.

With the development of technical progress, special equipment appeared, which greatly facilitated and made the production of fabric products much easier and cheaper, and by the end of the 18th century, pillowcases began to appear in many city, and later in village houses, and have remained there to this day.

Modern bedding, although not too different from itself a century ago, still became richer in various types of pillows, and, accordingly, pillowcases for them. They can be classified in two different ways.

By design, any pillow covers can be divided into those that are used for the bed, that is, sleeping, and those that serve as decor, that is, decorative.The first ones perform primarily a protective function, protecting the pillow itself from wear and tear, and the person sleeping on it from microscopic parasites and dust. The latter allow you to quickly change the color and texture of the decorative pillow.

Separately, it is worth mentioning special disposable covers, which are often used in hospitals or other government institutions where a bed is expected.

The second way to classify pillowcases is to divide them into types depending on design features and shape. According to the shape of the pillow, pillowcases can be:

• classic square and rectangular;
• oval, round and cylindrical;
• in the form of flowers, hearts and other unusual shapes, which are made to order.

Depending on the design features, pillowcases can be:

• with a flap - these wrap-around pillowcases are often used as bed linen, as they do not contain fasteners that get in the way under the head;
• with ties from various ribbons and ribbons, with buttons or hooks - most often used with decorative pillows;
• with ears - the so-called Oxford pillowcases with a border and ears along the edging;
• on buttons - one of the most common types;
• zippered pillowcases are the most popular type of pillowcase available today.

For sewing pillowcases, both natural and synthetic materials can be used.

These natural fabrics are most often used for sewing bedding. They have a long service life, are resistant to frequent washing and retain the brightness of colors well. Linen pillowcase is perfect for hot summers and frosty winters.

These fabrics are used for both decorative sewing and premium bedding for special occasions.

Soft and warm pillowcases for the little ones are sewn from flannel. Such underwear absorbs moisture well and makes the child's sleep more restful. Older children will appreciate knitted pillowcases with the image of their favorite cartoon characters.

Plush dense fabrics are perfect for sewing decorative pillowcases that you don't want to let go of your hands, like fluffy soft toys. Most often they are complemented with complex embroidery or fur and leather inserts.

Sleeping on tapestry pillowcases with metallic shiny thread, of course, is not very comfortable, but decorating a sofa cushion with such a product is a great idea. Expensive heavy fabrics have a catchy look and emphasize the refined taste of the hostess. The main thing is not to overdo it with colors and shapes.

Synthetic waterproof fabrics are great for special beanbag pillowcases or kitchen chair cushions. They will not be afraid of any hot dishes and cold drinks that can get on the furniture.

Exceptionally decorative material that will look great in country or Provence style. The fabric looks rough, as if woven from straw stalks, but it is environmentally friendly and will not cause allergic reactions even in babies, so you can decorate decorative pillows or cushions with these knitted pillowcases even in a children's room.

The standard dimensions of a conventional sleeping pillow cover according to GOST are either 70x70 or 50x70 cm. However, in different bedding sets, the size of the pillows can be very different from each other.

• For a one-and-a-half or teenage set of underwear, the size is standard: 50x70 and 70x70 cm.
• For a regular double set, the dimensions of the pillowcases will also remain 70x70 in the case of square pillows and 50x70 cm in the case of rectangular ones. The same can be said about the double euro, and euro-maxi sets.
• Pillowcases for babies in a crib come in two sizes: 25x30 and 40x60 cm.

Today, there are such a huge number of different design and construction options for pillowcases on sale that simply choosing the right ones sometimes becomes an overwhelming task. And if, in the case of bedding, you can stop at a classic white or plain fabric, then you will have to work hard to choose decorative ones.

• Professional designers advise to select fabric and pattern, focusing on the purpose of the room itself. So, beautiful tapestry embroidery depicting landscapes, cities or abstract paintings is suitable for the living room.

• For the kitchen and dining room, it is better to give preference to quick-drying and waterproof fabrics with the image of mouth-watering desserts, juicy fruits or ripe coffee beans.

• Pillows made of bright patchwork patches with appliqués in the form of their favorite characters will be appreciated by kids, and adolescents will like unusual textures in the form of beads with sequins, leather scraps and even plastic elements. The main rule here is quality and safety.

According to reviews and evaluations of buyers, there are several domestic and foreign manufacturers of pillowcases, whose products are in consistently high demand.

A Turkish firm of high quality bedding with branches in both European and Asian countries. TAC pillowcases are durable and hypoallergenic, and in addition, they have a very wide range of designs. There are goods and categories of luxury, and economy class. The materials used in production are satin, cotton and jacquard.

The Italian company produces branded bedding sets for luxury lovers. Luxurious sets of Egyptian cotton with branded embroidery and at a very high price. The manufacturer also offers tailoring services for bed linen according to the customer's size, which will be especially appreciated by the owners of non-standard pillows and blankets.

Belarusian products made of poplin and coarse calico of various colors will satisfy the most picky designer, and the low price will delight any buyer. Especially loved by their cotton bedding sets for newborns.

The leader among domestic manufacturers produces pillowcases not only from linen or satin, but also from bamboo, eucalyptus, cashmere and even natural sheep wool. Product prices are not too high and the assortment is incredibly wide.

Another domestic manufacturer, whose bedding was especially appreciated by schoolchildren and adolescents. A huge number of baby bedding sets, 3D designs and decorative pillowcases for sofa cushions are the key to such success.

And, of course, one cannot ignore the pillow cases from the city of Ivanovo - the center of the textile industry in Russia. The main assortment is sleeping sets made of coarse calico, linen and satin of various colors. A distinctive feature is high quality, at the same time a low price.

It is very important to choose the right sleeping pillowcase to ensure a comfortable sleep. This is especially true for owners of a sweating head, who would otherwise have to wake up at night from unpleasant sensations. Therefore, preference should be given to natural breathable fabrics. However, the main thing is to choose the right size.If the cover is too large, the pillow will dangle in it, the fabric will gather in folds, and leave imprints on the face.

If the pillowcase is too tight, the pillow will gather in a lump on which it will simply be impossible to sleep. It is especially important to choose the right size for the orthopedic pillow, otherwise its effectiveness will greatly decrease.

In order for the new pillowcase to retain its original appearance as long as possible, it is necessary to take proper care of it. Both natural and synthetic fabrics are best washed on the delicate cycle of the washing machine, at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. This is enough to wipe away sweat and discharge. Do not overdo it with washing powder, it is better to take it a little less than for a regular wash, and start an additional rinse. In this case, there is less risk of an allergic reaction on the skin. The best way to dry your pillowcases is to spread them out on a horizontal surface out of direct sunlight. You can also use a dryer.