de Le Cuona | Stonewashed Corduroy – Natural

Stonewashed Corduroy is a linen cord, which is not a combination you meet often. The wale runs lengthways in a soft, slightly irregular rib, and the stonewashing takes away the stiffness you would expect from a new corduroy. It drapes rather than stands, and the surface has the gentle crumple of a cloth that has already been lived with. Natural is a warm, undyed oatmeal tone. In a room it behaves as a quiet texture, and the light catches the ribs differently through the day.

It is 100% linen and 295 cm wide, which is exceptionally wide for a cloth of this kind. The Martindale is 20,000 rubs, a figure that puts it well within the range of regular domestic upholstery. It is sold by the half metre, so you can order exactly what a project needs. There is no pattern repeat to account for, as the interest comes entirely from the cord. We have not been given a country of manufacture for this one, so please ask us if provenance matters to your project.

We would use it for curtains in a bedroom or sitting room where you want weight and softness without a pattern. At that width, a full-height curtain can be cut from a single drop with the cloth run sideways, so there are no horizontal seams. It also suits a deep sofa or a generous armchair, where the ribbed surface hides the small creases that plain linen shows. We like it with white-washed oak, plaster walls and a flatter weave such as a herringbone linen on the cushions, so the cord stays the main texture.

Because the rib is directional, every piece should be cut with the cord running the same way, or the colour will appear to shift between panels. For curtains, ask your maker to railroad the cloth, since the 295 cm width allows this and avoids joins. We would line and interline for body, and allow a little extra length, as linen can relax slightly once hung. For upholstery, keep seat, back and arm cords aligned, and ask for a sample length before cutting if the piece is large.