Before you order
Size & Care
Every measurement we publish is the specification we manufacture to. Woven linen moves a little in the wash, so allow about a centimetre either way on a finished piece.
The range, measured
| Piece | Specification | In inches | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napkins — Everyday | 45 × 45 cm | 18 × 18 in | Straight, bound |
| Napkins — Scallop | 45 × 45 cm | 18 × 18 in | Scalloped, bound |
| Placemats — Everyday | 33 × 48 cm | 13 × 19 in | Straight, bound |
| Placemats — Scallop | 38 cm diameter | 15 in diameter | Scalloped, bound |
| Tablecloth — round | 180 cm diameter | 71 in diameter | Straight, bound |
| Tablecloth — rectangular | 150 × 250 cm | 59 × 98 in | Straight, bound |
All pieces carry a 1 cm contrast bound border with a hand-run stitch line set 1 cm inside it.
Choosing a tablecloth
The number that matters is the drop — how far the cloth hangs below the table edge. Twenty to twenty-five centimetres reads relaxed. Thirty to forty reads formal. Below fifteen the cloth looks like it is the wrong size, because it is.
Round cloth — 180 cm across
| Your table | Drop all round | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| 90 cm (35 in) | 45 cm (18 in) | Generous, formal |
| 100 cm (39 in) | 40 cm (16 in) | Formal |
| 110 cm (43 in) | 35 cm (14 in) | Formal |
| 120 cm (47 in) | 30 cm (12 in) | Best fit — what we design to |
| 130 cm (51 in) | 25 cm (10 in) | Relaxed |
| 140 cm (55 in) | 20 cm (8 in) | The smallest drop we'd recommend |
Rectangular cloth — 150 × 250 cm
| Your table | Drop at the sides | Drop at the ends | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 × 160 cm | 35 cm (14 in) | 45 cm (18 in) | 6 |
| 90 × 180 cm | 30 cm (12 in) | 35 cm (14 in) | 6–8 — best fit |
| 100 × 200 cm | 25 cm (10 in) | 25 cm (10 in) | 8 |
| 110 × 220 cm | 20 cm (8 in) | 15 cm (6 in) | 8–10 — the limit |
Measure the table top itself, not the frame or the leaf extensions you rarely open.
Setting the table
Placemats
Allow about 60 cm of table edge per person. A 180 cm table seats three a side comfortably with the 33 × 48 cm mat; the 38 cm round needs a little less.
Napkins
At 45 cm square, a napkin folds cleanly into quarters to sit on a plate, or in thirds to lie beside one. Buy in fours — nobody has ever regretted the spare.
Mixing edges
The contrast edges are drawn from one palette, so a cherry edge sits with a chalk edge on the same table. Mixing Everyday and Scallop in the same colour works well.
Care
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wash | Machine wash warm, up to 40 °C, with like colours. Mild detergent. No bleach, no fabric softener — softener coats the fibre and costs you absorbency. |
| Dry | Tumble dry low and take it out slightly damp, or line dry. High heat is what makes linen brittle over years. |
| Press | Linen setting, while damp. If it has dried flat, mist it first. Press the bound edge from the back so the border keeps its shape. |
| Store | Folded and dry. Linen dislikes being stored damp more than it dislikes being creased. |
Stains
- Red wine — blot, don't rub. Cold water through the back of the cloth, then a mild detergent. Wash warm, not hot.
- Oil and butter — a little washing-up liquid worked into the mark before it goes in the machine.
- Candle wax — let it harden, lift what comes away, then press through brown paper with a warm iron to draw out the rest.
- Anything — never tumble dry a piece that still shows the stain. Heat fixes it permanently.
Not sure which size?
Send us your table measurements at info@froliko.com and we'll tell you which cloth fits — including when the answer is that none of them do. We reply within one business day.