Can you suggest a paisley or small floral print in a tightly woven cotton to cover eiderdowns? Most cottons I've found have too coarse a weave.
JH, Rimpton, Somerset.

Perhaps you're thinking of the paisley designs printed on fine featherproof cambric that still survive on many old eiderdowns. No-one produces these now, but I'm sending you some cuttings of fine, closely woven cottons that work equally well. A classic paisley is Biltmore NCF3005 (left), £51m, by Nina Campbell at Osborne and Little, www.osborneandlittle.com. For fabrics with a lightly glazed finish, you may also like Cochin 2783, around £54m from Borderline, www.borderlinefabrics.com, and Coraux 62702, £60m from Brunschwig & Fils, www.brunschwig.com. For miniature designs that co-ordinate well with other patterns, try Fancy Lining, at £40m, by Warner Fabrics at Zimmer & Rohde, www.zimmer-rohde.com, and Rose Toile J240F (right), £31.99m, a delicate, country-style floral from Jane Churchill at Colefax and Fowler, www.janechurchill.com.

CELIA RUFEY
JULY 2008