Comparison of Properties of Cotton and Linen
Linen is Stronger
Linen is the strongest of the vegetable fibers and has 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton. Linen table cloths and napkins have been handed down generation to generation.
Linen is Smoother
Not only is the linen fiber strong, it is smooth, making the finished fabric lint free. Fine china, silver and candles are enhanced by the luster of linen which only gets softer and finer the more it is washed.
Wrinkles more easily than Cotton
Linen does wrinkle easily but also presses easily.However, constant creasing in the same place in sharp folds will tend to break the linen threads. This wear can show up in collars, hems, and any area that is iron creased during the laundering.
Not As Elastic
Linen has poor elasticity and does not spring back readily.
Touch is Different
Cotton is softer, fluffier, and warm to the touch. Linen is smooth, heavy and flowing, and feels cool because it absorbs moisture more readily than cotton.
Cotton is Easier to Rip
Since flax fibres are longer than cotton fibres, cotton is easier to rip.
Pure Linen Vs.Linen/Cotton Blend
Cotton/linen - a little softer, and won't wrinkle as much as pure linen.
For shirts, cotton/linen is great
Pure linen is not bad, necessarily, but it is stiffer and also hard to find in really light weights. The thickness of most pure linen does not lend itself to dress shirtings well.
For jackets and trousers, pure linen is better
