Threads | Chert

Chert is a textured plain from the Threads Quintessential Naturals collection, named after a stone and woven to look like one. The linen brings a dry slub and body, the viscose a soft sheen and a fluid drape, so the cloth reads as a natural with a little more light in it than a pure linen, and the surface shifts between matte and glint as the folds turn. There is no motif; the interest is in the grain. At 145 centimetres it is slightly wider than most of the collection, which helps on larger windows.

The composition is 55 per cent linen and 45 per cent viscose on a 145 centimetre width, with no pattern repeat. The page lists it for curtains, and the collection is designed for curtains and blinds; there is no rub count, so it is not a seating cloth. It comes in a single colourway, Linen, a warm, mid-toned natural that suits plaster, limestone and pale oak, and reads a shade lighter under artificial light because of the viscose.

We tend to use Chert for full-length curtains in a living room or bedroom where the drape matters more than pattern, and for Roman blinds in a dressing room or study where a flat panel shows the grain. It pairs well with a heavier textured weave on the sofa and with a printed cushion from the Nala Prints or the Faraway collection for a note of pattern. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

There is no repeat, but viscose blends can shade slightly along the roll, so cut all the drops for one window from a single bolt and keep the direction of the weave consistent. Line and interline the curtains so the fluid cloth hangs in deep, even folds rather than clinging, allow a generous hem for movement, and dry clean rather than wash.

• Composition: 55% linen, 45% viscose
• Width: 145 cm (57 in)
• Suitable for: Curtains, blinds
• Care: Do not wash; dry clean professionally, do not bleach and do not iron
• Collection: Quintessential Naturals, Threads
• Colourways: 1 (Linen)