I do like cotton, and cotton bedding in particular. I keep looking for those oldfashioned cotton chenille bedspreads in the second hand stores.

But my great fabric love is antique rayon, the heavy, slightly glossy, beautifully printed stuff they made housecoats of before the 1950s. I've had three of those housecoats in the past thirty years, but only one has survived, black background, medium size floral motifs, with three-quarter sleeves, tucked prettily at the cuff (to prevent sleeves catching fire over the breakfast making, I suspect), and a darling tiny round gathered pocket.

Why don't they make beautiful housecoats anymore? All I ever see are utilitarian terry or some kind of plush designed to make one look like an oversized stuffed toy - or dreadful sleazy fake satin.