---
title: "Is Linen Fabric 100% Linen? Usually a Blend or Linen-Look"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/is-linen-cushion-fabric-100-percent-linen/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-07-08"
updated: "2026-07-08"
keywords: "is linen fabric 100% linen, linen-look cushion fabric, linen blend cushion fabric, 100% linen cushion cover, natural fiber cushion fabric"
---

# Is your linen cushion fabric really 100% linen?

*On a cushion chart, linen is often a look before it is a fiber. Here is what each so-called linen is made of, laid out like swatches on a table.*

Also asked as: Is the linen fabric 100% linen?; Is it pure linen or linen-look?

> **The quick answer:** Usually not: the standard linen cushion fabric is a blend or a linen-look weave, not 100% linen. Linen-look codes such as L44 are 100% polyester, the natural linen chart is 50% linen and 50% polyester, and another range is 50% cotton and 50% linen. A separate 100% linen chart and 100% cotton fabrics are available on request.

![Ivory daybed mattress cushion with navy piping and three back pillows on a wicker daybed in a screened porch at sunset](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/ivory-navy-piped-daybed-cushion-screened-porch-sunset-848.webp "A thick ivory mattress cushion with navy piping turns a wicker daybed into the porch's summer reading bed.")

## Key facts

- The standard linen fabrics are not 100% linen.
- Linen-look codes such as L44 are 100% polyester.
- The natural linen chart is 50% linen and 50% polyester.
- One range is 50% cotton and 50% linen.
- A separate 100% linen chart and 100% cotton fabrics are available on request.
- A sturdy acrylic linen is recommended for hard-working projects.
- The daybed cover set is made in velvet and soft fabric, not linen.

## What each linen on the chart is made of

| On the chart | Fiber content | Chosen for |
|---|---|---|
| Linen-look codes, e.g. L44 | 100% polyester | Durability and easy cleaning |
| Natural linen chart | 50% linen / 50% polyester | Linen texture with easier care |
| Cotton-linen range | 50% cotton / 50% linen | Natural fibers throughout |
| Cotton linen-look | 100% cotton | A natural fiber with a linen look |
| Acrylic linen | Acrylic | Hard-working projects |
| Soft fabric | Poly-cotton blend | Thick, soft, easy to clean |
| Striped and ticking | 100% cotton | Classic stripes in a natural fiber |
| Separate linen chart | 100% linen | Pure fiber, sent on request |

## Why the chart says linen and the label says polyester

Most of what sits on a cushion chart as linen is linen in look, not in fiber. The everyday codes are blends or [linen-look weaves](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-look-fabrics/), picked because they are durable, easy to clean and the colors buyers reach for most. Replies over the years have described the same shelf in different words, so the honest answer always comes from your exact fabric code.

If you want the dry, slubbed character of the real thing, ask for the separate 100% linen chart, or start in the [linen and cotton-linen](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-and-cotton-linen/) family. The daybed cover set, for the record, is velvet and soft fabric. The [real linen vs linen-look Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/real-linen-vs-linen-look-cushion-fabric/) compares how each wears.

Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does, my friends, so judge an oatmeal or a washed flax by a window, not a monitor. Which matters more to you, the fiber or the look?

## Getting the fiber you actually want

- ✓ Ask for the fiber content of your exact code, not the family name.
- ✓ Want pure fiber? Request the separate 100% linen chart.
- ✓ Want a natural fiber with the linen look? There is a 100% cotton version.
- ✓ Want a stripe? The striped and ticking fabrics are 100% cotton.
- ✓ Hard-working bench? The sturdy acrylic linen is the workshop's pick.

> **Tailor's margin:** A linen-look code such as L44 is 100% polyester. If fiber matters, ask for the content of your exact fabric code before you order.

> Linen on a cushion chart is often a blend, 50% linen with 50% polyester or 50% cotton with 50% linen; pure linen lives on its own chart.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Is the linen on your chart pure linen?

**The workshop's answer:** No. The standard linen is a linen-look polyester, like the velvet, chosen because it is durable, easy to clean and a best seller. Separate charts of real linen and 100% cotton fabrics are sent if you ask, and the striped and ticking fabrics are 100% cotton.

**A common question:** Is the daybed cover set made in 100% linen?

**The workshop's answer:** No. The daybed cover set uses the shop's velvet and soft woven fabric. If you specifically want 100% linen, the workshop sends a separate 100% linen color chart.

**A common question:** Real linen or linen-look? And what are the stripes made of?

**The workshop's answer:** Both exist. One linen range is 50% cotton and 50% linen, another is a linen-look polyester, and all the striped fabrics are 100% cotton.

**A common question:** I would rather have a natural fiber. What are my options?

**The workshop's answer:** The standard linens are blends, so for a natural fiber there is a 100% cotton linen-look fabric. For hard-working projects, the workshop recommends its sturdy acrylic linen.

**A common question:** What is the soft performance fabric made of?

**The workshop's answer:** A poly-cotton blend: thick, soft, durable and easy to clean. The natural linen chart is 50% linen and 50% polyester, and linen-look codes such as L44 are 100% polyester.

## Questions buyers ask next

### What are most custom cushion fabrics made of?

Mostly polyester or polyester blends, chosen for durability and easy cleaning: velvet, soft fabric, linen-look and corduroy. The natural choices are the 100% cotton stripes, the linen-cotton blends and the separate 100% cotton and 100% linen charts. All covers wash at 86°F (30°C).

### Is there a low-sheen alternative to velvet?

Yes, linen. The velvet has a short, tight pile, and its sheen has been described both as slightly glossy and as not shiny, so ask for real-life photos. For a reliably matte surface, a linen or linen-look fabric is the calmer choice.

### How many fabric families can I choose from?

Three main indoor families, linen, velvet and easy-clean soft fabric, each with a chart of roughly 40 colors. Beyond those sit teddy, corduroy, 100% cotton or linen, faux leather and a water-repellent outdoor range, and thousands more fabrics can be sourced on request.

## Related at the atelier

- [Is your linen durable enough for seat cushions, and will it wrinkle or stain?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/linen-seat-cushion-durability-wrinkles-stains/): Yes, the cushion linen is durable enough for seat cushions, because it's a linen-polyester blend, not pure linen.
- [Is your velvet cotton velvet or polyester?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/velvet-cushion-fabric-cotton-or-polyester/): The cushion velvet is synthetic, polyester or a poly-cotton blend, not cotton, linen or silk velvet.
- [Do you have 100% cotton or linen fabrics, and do they cost more?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/100-percent-cotton-linen-cushion-fabric/): Yes, 100% linen cushion covers are made from a dedicated 100% linen chart, alongside 100% cotton fabrics, heavy pure linen and linen-cotton blends, viscose and terry-like fabrics; hemp isn't offered.
- [Petrol Teal Lumbar Pillow in Linen-Look: Feel, Wear and Washing](https://cushionguide.com/readings/petrol-teal-lumbar-pillow-oak-headboard-pothos/): A linen-look lumbar pillow has a dry, matte, lightly slubbed hand that reads like linen from across the room, and a zippered cover that comes off for washing.
- [Made to measure cushions for Scottish tenements, cottages and bothies](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-scotland/): Made to measure cushions in Scotland should be warm to the touch and easy to wash.
- [Performance fabric on a cushion: what the word does and doesn't promise](https://cushionguide.com/guides/performance-fabric-cushions-explained/): Performance fabric cushions use cloth built to handle daily spills and wear, but the word covers three different things: a barrier built into the cloth, a surface finish that wears off and needs…
- [Linen bench cushions: which 'linen' is on your bench, and how it wears](https://cushionguide.com/guides/linen-bench-cushions/)
- [Real linen or linen-look? Reading a cushion fabric label honestly](https://cushionguide.com/guides/real-linen-vs-linen-look-cushion-fabric/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/is-linen-cushion-fabric-100-percent-linen/