Ranges & Fabrics

Easycare Polycotton

Our range of polycotton linen is made from a blend of 180 long-lasting polyester and soft cotton threads. Not only are they extremely comfortable, they are also easy to machine wash, dry and iron before use.

Luxury Egyptian Cotton

Our Egyptian cotton makes for a strong yet soft exterior; featuring an extra-long staple for a soft handle. This range of linen includes a 200-thread count, which makes for a durable yet comfortable material which is easy to care for.

Photo Credit: gina pina via Flickr

Sumptuous Pima Cotton

For an extra comfy night’s sleep, the Sumptuous Pima Cotton range is on hand to add a touch of luxury to your bed wear. The cotton is collected from various parts of the world, equipped with an extended staple for a consistently reliable finish.

Exquisite Genuisa Cotton

For the most supreme offerings in bed linen, our Exquisite Genuisa range is a mixture of deluxe duvet covers, pillowcases and sheets. Its silk-like texture makes for a lusciously luxurious feel, combined with a 1000-thread satin weave for that extra sturdiness also. The collection is machine washable as well as suitable for tumble drying.

Egyptian Cotton

Our Egyptian Cotton range comes in two selections, Crisp & Fresh and Soft & Silky. These both provide a soft, crisp feel against your skin, but each caters individually to your skin type and personal preferences. The tightly-woven cotton is condensed to create a strong fabric which is extremely smooth to the touch.

Silk

Silk sheets are a top-end choice for bedding accessories, providing you with extra comfort when wrapped up at night. Its natural characteristics help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, whilst also providing anti-ageing benefits for your skin.

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Thread Counts & Weaves

Thread Count

The ‘thread count’ is a common term used when describing the qualities of bed linen. It relates to the number of threads in one inch of its fabric (both horizontally and vertically). In most cases the higher the thread count, the softer the material will feel against the skin. The quality of the thread is also important however, which is something we offer with all our duvet covers, pillowcases and sheeting options.

Plain Weave

The plain weave uses a simple arrangement of horizontal (warp) and vertical (weft) threads in a traditional criss-cross pattern.

Percale Weave

The percale weave typically uses at least 200 threads and woven tighter than the plain weave for a smooth finish.

Sateen Weave

Often using cotton or rayon, the sateen weave produces a sturdy finish by using a mostly weft face pattern.

Satin Weave

Satin weaves are sewn to produce fewer intersections of vertical and horizontal threads, made up of silk, polyester or nylon. Its fibres are woven in close proximity to produce a tight weave.

Photo Credit: Zip Eye via Flickr

Jacquard

Created on a specialised jacquard loom, this pattern is more stable and resilient than typically basic weaves. As the warp threads are raised independently, jacquard weaves feel thicker to the touch.

Seersucker

Seersucker is an all-cotton fabric, woven to create a narrow stripe always facing in the warp direction. One thread is more tightly woven than the other, producing a crinkled effect.

Flannelette

Flannelette weaves encompass a plain texture, using a square pattern. Its unique finish is created when scratched and raised up, thus creating a super-cosy feel.

Feature image credit: Didriks via Flickr.

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There is definitely a skill to making the perfect homemade burger and whilst there are obviously certain aspects which are down to taste, there are some basics which must be followed by any budding burger expert. They may seem like they are easy to do, but actually, there is a quite a craft to making a good burger.

Quality Beef

The most important thing to getting a really good burger is that the quality of the meat is good. This means that you shouldn’t use lean beef, go for fatty beef as this will ensure that your heavenly burger stays juicy and succulent. If you can’t manage to mince your beef yourself (and let’s face it, who can?), get your butcher to do it for you.

Photo Credit: U.S Department of Agriculture via Flickr

Other Ingredients

A hamburger in its purest form is beef and a little seasoning. It is also allowed for you to add some finely chopped onion and maybe some herbs. If the meat is of the best quality, you won’t need anything else.

There are a number of recipes which suggest the addition of extra ingredients such as egg, cream, even Guinness. But it all really boils down to one thing – the quality of the beef. You can add extra flavour with flavours which work well with beef, but the key is to enjoy the quality of the meat.
Bearing all this in mind, here is a great homemade hamburger recipe.

Serves 6 Famished Friends

1 tbsp oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1kg roughly minced chuck steak (or any non-lean mince)
1 tsp garlic
2 tbsp brown breadcrumbs
2 tsp chopped herbs (parsley or thyme work well)
1 tsp salt
Black pepper
Garnishes, sauces and rolls, as desired

Photo Credit: niki georgiev via Flickr

1. Over a low heat, warm the oil in a frying pan, and cook the onion until soft and slightly browned. Add in the garlic at the end to release the flavours. Leave it to cool.
2. Sprinkle the onion and garlic over the beef, then mix in the breadcrumbs, herbs and seasoning and mix lightly together with a fork, but be careful not to overwork it.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 relatively flat burgers, putting a dimple in the centre of each one, cover and leave in the fridge for one hour.
4. Cook the burgers on a medium to hot barbecue or griddle pan: leave them for the first 3 minutes without disturbing them, so that they seal on the bottom, then turn them over carefully. If you wish you can add a slice of cheese on top if desired. Cook for 4 minutes more for rare, and 7 for well done, and then allow the burger to rest for a few minutes before serving.

You can serve your burgers with toasted or untoasted buns and maybe garnishes such as salad, tomato sauce or garlic mayonnaise for a really delicious delight
Now go and call your friends, break open the beer and enjoy the sun!

Feature image credit: Monica Müller via Flickr

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