Stonewashed Linen Fitted Sheet, 100% French Flax, Deep 35cm

Linen gets better the more you wash it. This one is stonewashed before it reaches you, so it starts soft rather than needing a year of use to get there, and it keeps the relaxed, slightly crumpled look that nobody needs to iron.

• 100% French flax linen, stonewashed, 200 thread count
• Deep 35 cm skirt with all-round elastic — it holds on a thick mattress or a mattress with a topper
• Breathable and genuinely cooler than cotton in summer, without feeling cold in winter
• Generously cut, so it stays on rather than pinging off a corner at 3am
• No ironing. Creases are the point

Which size do I need?

Measure the mattress. Single fits a 90 x 190 cm mattress. Double fits 135 x 190 cm. King fits 150 x 200 cm. All are cut with a 35 cm skirt, which is deeper than most, so they also work over a topper.

A note on first wash

Linen can feel slightly crisp out of the packet and softens properly after the first wash. Wash it before you put it on the bed. Expect a small amount of shrinkage on that first wash — the sizes above already allow for it.

Looking after it

Machine wash warm on a normal cycle with a mild detergent. Tumble dry low and take it out slightly damp, or line dry. Do not bleach. Do not use fabric softener — it coats the fibres and stops linen softening naturally.

Comparable 100% linen fitted sheets at John Lewis run from £99 to £149.