Threads | Minette

Minette is a plain linen weave from the Threads Quintessential Naturals collection, a group of relaxed, unfussy cloths built for curtains and blinds. There is no repeat or motif here, only the natural, slightly uneven grain of good linen, which catches light differently across a fold than a smooth cotton would. It is the sort of quiet plain we use to let a room's architecture, or its other fabrics, do the talking.

The cloth is 100 per cent linen, 137 centimetres wide, with no pattern repeat. The collection is designed for curtains and blinds rather than upholstery, and there is no published rub count, so we keep it away from seating. It comes in a single colourway, Ivory, a warm off-white that reads as a true neutral against most wall colours and works equally well against plaster, stone or pale timber.

We tend to use Minette for full-length curtains in a bedroom or living room, where the plain linen lets a patterned cushion or a piece of art carry the interest, and for Roman blinds in a kitchen or bathroom where a flat panel shows the weave at its best. Pair it with one of the Faraway prints on cushions or an occasional chair. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

With no repeat, quantities are simply drop times width, but linen shows its natural slubs and any small variation along the roll, so cut all the pieces for one window from the same bolt of cloth. Line and interline the curtains for weight and to protect the linen from strong sun, allow a generous hem for natural movement, and dry clean only rather than washing it at home.

• Composition: 100% linen
• Width: 137 cm (54 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 (Ivory)