Frequently Asked Questions
Please read here first to see if your question has been answered. If you still need assistance please email hello@rarepatterns.com.au
About Linen
Why linen?
Linen is a versatile fabric with so many uses. It's suitable for clothing, accessories and home items.
It's a more sustainable fibre, taking less water than cotton to grow, and less chemicals to process.
It naturally has a slightly uneven texture, referred to as slubs. This is normal and nt a fault in the woven fabric.
Linen fabric is breathable, cool in summer and insulating in winter.
My fabric has crease marks
Crease marks are more common with linen than other fabrics. This is because linen fibres are naturally strong, have low elasticity and don't bounce back after being bent or folded.
To minimise this you can iron while it's still damp, or use a high steam setting on your iron. This will re-hydrate the fibres.
Also hang your garments or fabric instead of folding, this will reduce the amount you need to iron.
My printed fabric has small white spots
The inherent nature of linen fabric means there are often tiny slubs or knots in the fabric, some might say imperfections. This is a natural texture of linen and is not considered a flaw in the fabric.
For our printed fabrics it's possible that there could be small white areas that have not been printed due to small fibres or slubs.
These are usually small and not noticeable, you should be able to work your project around any that may appear.
If you have any questions about your fabric please contact us.
Ordering
Can I order samples?
Yes you can order a sample of any fabric we have in stock. Go to the product page and choose 'Sample Swatch' for a 10x10cm sample to be sent to you. Samples are sent by standard letter post without tracking. Free shipping for samples within Australia.
If you require a larger sample we recommend you purchase 0.25m (1 unit).
Can I change or cancel my order once it's been placed?
If you made a mistake and need to amend your order please email hello@rarepatterns.com.au immediately and we'll do our best to help you. Once you have placed and paid for your order the sale is final.
If your order has already been processed for packing & shipping you can't make any further changes. For further details about returns, exchanges and refunds please see our policy here.
Can I pick up my order?
We are online only and do not allow local pick up currently.
Where are you based?
We are based in the South Coast region of NSW, Australia.
I need help with my order
No worries, we're here to help! Email us at hello@rarepatterns.com.au and we'll be happy to help you out.
Fabric Usage & Care
How should I wash my fabric?
For the best results please follow these care instructions ofr all linen and cotton fabrics:
- Wash ≤30°C on gentle cycle before use
- Do not use bleach or softeners
- Line dry in shade
- Iron low on reverse of print
- Do not dry clean
- Allow approx. 5% shrinkage
What does a 'washed finish' mean?
A washed finish means the fabric has already been through one or more washing cycles during manufacturing. This helps to pre-soften and pre-shrink the fabric so it feel like it's already been worn in.
It will state on the product listing if the fabric has a washed finish.
Currently only our printed linen has a washed finish.
What is the usable fabric width?
Each fabric will have the full width listed on the product page, this measurement is from selvedge to selvedge. Some people use the entire fabric right to the selvedge edges.
If you prefer not to, please minus approximately 4-5cm (to also account for the logo selvedge) when calculating your fabric amount required just to be safe.
Pre-Order Fabrics
What does pre-order mean?
Pre-order means you are ordering the fabric or product before it has arrived into our store. You're agreeing to purchase the items and it will be dispatched to you at a later date, which will always be stated on the product listing.
We use this to determine how much stock to order so we don't order more than we need, or sometimes the items are in production or already on their way to us,
I want to pre-order fabric and in stock fabric, how does this work?
You can place one order altogether as long as you are happy to wait for the pre-order item to arrive into our store.
If you'd like the in stock item now please place a separate order and it will be dispatched to you immediately. You will need to pay for separate shipping if you want one item sooner.
Help, I missed out on a pre-order item!
We're sorry you missed out on pre-order fabric. We use this to help us with order quantities so we don't order more than we need.
We will likely order a little more and make this available on the website once it's in stock. But we can't guarantee, so your best option if you see something you like is to pre-order it.
Join our email list for notifications.
Pre-Sale Fabrics
What does pre-sale mean?
Is when the items are in production but aren’t in stock yet.
You will see an estimated dispatch date on the product listing so you know when to expect your order.
Pre-sale items are limited in stock, so purchasing before it’s in stock ensures you will secure your fave fabric!
I want to pre-sale fabric and in stock fabric, how does this work?
You can place one order altogether as long as you are happy to wait for the pre-sale item to arrive into our store.
If you'd like the in stock item now please place a separate order and it will be dispatched to you immediately. You will need to pay for separate shipping if you want one item sooner.
Help, I missed out on a pre-sale item!
We're sorry you missed out on pre-sale fabric. We only order a limited amount of each fabric and design.
Your best option is to pre-order our fabrics when they go live, this guarantees your order - and be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter for updates!
What's the difference between pre-order & pre-sale?
Pre-order means you are ordering before the fabric is put into production, so it's not in stock just yet.
Pre-sale means we have ordered the fabric and it's still in production, and there is a limited quantity available. It's also not in stock yet.
With both options you will see an approximate delivery date on the product listing. These options allow us to place an order with our suppliers knowing how much to order.