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 large 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:
- Wash ≤30°C on gentle cycle before use
- Do not use bleach or softeners
- Line dry in shade
- Iron low on reverse
- Do not dry clean
- Shrinkage is approx. 5%
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 edges, if you'd prefer not to please minus approximately 1cm on both selvedges when calculating your fabric amount required just to be safe.
Pre Sale Products
What does pre-sale mean?
Pre-sale 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.
Often the items are in production or already on their way to us, or sometimes we use this to determine how much stock to order so we don't order more than we need!
I want to order something on pre-sale and something in stock, 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.
I missed out on a pre-sale item!
We're sorry you missed out on ordering a pre-sale item. We use this to help us with order quantities so we don't order more than we need, and we recommend you order as soon as we announce it so you don't miss out. Join our email list for notifications.