de Le Cuona | Primitive Linen – Fennel

Primitive Linen is de Le Cuona's honest, slightly rough linen, and Fennel is a soft, earthy green that sits somewhere between sage and stone. The cloth has a visible, relaxed weave with the natural irregularity linen should have, and the hand is dry and a little crisp rather than slick. It is plain, but not flat: the slubs and small variations in the yarn give the colour life, so a whole window or a sofa never reads as one dead block.

The cloth is 100% linen, 140 cm wide, and carries a Martindale rating of 20,000 rubs, which is strong enough for regular domestic upholstery as well as curtains. It is sold by the half metre, so you can order exactly what you need and add to it later in the same batch. There is no pattern repeat to account for, which keeps the quantities simple and the waste low. The reference is PRIM4, and it is suitable for both curtains and upholstery.

We would use Fennel for full, softly gathered curtains in a living room, where the green takes on the garden light, and for loose or fitted covers on an armchair or sofa in a study. It also works well on a deep window seat. Pair it with warm white, putty and natural oak, and bring in a deeper bottle green or a rust cushion to add contrast. It is a calm colour next to stone floors and plaster walls, and it ages well with use.

Linen moves, so allow for it. Have your workroom pre-wash or steam as they recommend, and ask whether the curtains should be lined and interlined, which gives the cloth a better fall and protects the colour from sun. Because the cloth has no repeat, cutting is straightforward, but ask for all your metres in one batch. For upholstery, confirm quantities against the frame with your upholsterer before ordering.