Hebden Percale Cotton Pillowcase Pair - Cotta

This is a pair of Hebden pillowcases made from 100% cotton percale. Percale is a plain, tightly woven cotton, and the thing to know about it is how it feels: crisp and cool to begin with, softening the more you use and wash it. These have been garment-washed before they reach you, which takes the starch out and gives them a relaxed, lived-in hand from the first night rather than after a month of laundering. The colour is a soft, dusky pink, warm rather than bright, closer to a faded rose than a candy shade.

A pair means two cases, which is what a double, king or super king bed wants, and they will sit happily on a single too if you like a spare. The washed pink is easy to place: it works against natural wood, warm neutral walls and the kind of understated bedroom that is more about texture than pattern. Layer it with plainer whites and creams, or let it sit as the softest note in a scheme built on stone and oatmeal. Because it is plain rather than printed, it carries a room without competing with anything else on the bed.

Each case has a twin-stitched trim, a double row of stitching around the edge that keeps the seam neat and hard-wearing, and an envelope closure at the back, so the pillow tucks in and stays put with no buttons or zip to feel through the cotton. Cotton is breathable and takes a hot wash well, which matters for something your face rests on every night. Wash it, and it will keep giving back that soft, worn-in feel that made it worth buying. It shares the Hebden name with the rest of our washed cotton bedding, if you want to build the bed up to match.

What does percale actually feel like?

Percale is a plain, tightly woven cotton that starts crisp and cool, then softens with every wash. These are garment-washed already, so they feel relaxed from the first use.

How many pillowcases do I get?

You get a pair, two cases in total, which suits a double, king or super king bed, or gives you a spare on a single.

What is the envelope closure and why does it matter?

It is a back opening where the fabric overlaps to hold the pillow inside. There is no button or zip, so nothing hard sits under your head.

What is the twin-stitched trim?

It is a double row of stitching running around the edge of each case. It keeps the seam neat and gives the trim a little more strength over years of washing.

Can I wash these on a warm cycle?

Cotton is breathable and copes well with regular washing, which is what you want for something your face rests on each night. The washed finish means they only look better worn in.