On the market today, high thread count in bed sheets, which are often called percale, are advertised quite a bit. The question that needs to be asked is, what exactly does a high thread count mean to the individual or the couples that are purchasing the bed sheets?
By now, you must know that it mostly means quality and comfort, but do you know why? It used to be considered good to have thread count of up to two hundred, but thread counts of up to one thousand are now being advertised these days. So, do you know what is going on? Does a high thread count always mean better quality? Is there an optimum thread count, and if so what is it?
Cotton is known as a woven fabric. The number of threads that are used in weaving are counted by the square inch. If a thread count of one hundred eighty means that a weave of one hundred vertical threads per square inch, which are called the warp, and eighty horizontal threads, which are called the weft. The thickness of the thread is also a factor in this equation, because the finer the thread the more of them there will be in one square inch, giving a higher thread count.
Another thing to be aware when purchasing bed sheets is the ply. A two ply fabric is made by twisting the yarns together before weaving, where as a single ply uses a single thread. Using two ply yarn only doubles the thread count. So, to compare the two, you may need to remember that a single ply with a thread count of one hundred is equal to a two ply with a count of two hundred.
Thread count can go as high as eight hundred or even one thousand threads, but you can buy perfectly good bed linen with a thread count of one hundred eighty. The term percale means a thread count of at least one hundred. A higher thread count is not necessarily better, because the higher the thread count, then the thinner and more delicate the fibers will be, unless it is two ply. Since two ply doubles the thread count, this makes the cotton heavier, not necessarily what you want in bed sheets.
A thread count of between one hundred and four hundred is really quite sufficient, because there is simply no need to pay for anything more. If you are buying pure linen bed sheets, rather than cotton, then a thread count of one hundred is good, since linen has thicker fibers. Of course, a high thread count is not the only determinant of quality in bed linen.
The treatment that the cotton fiber has received, for example, mercerizing, and the way in which the bed linen is woven and finished will all contribute to the quality of the finished product. Mercerizing is a chemical treatment, which produces increased strength and a sateen finish and will allow it to accept the dyes more readily. By: Victor Epand
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