Once upon a time, 300 thread-count sheets were the standard for luxury. But now, 500- and even 1,000-count linens are available.
Which makes us wonder, what’s the deal with ever-growing numbers?
We turned to Erin Burke, product trend analyst with Cotton Inc. , the research and marketing firm funded by and representing U.S. cotton growers and importers, to learn, in a nutshell, the truth about the numbers and what consumers should consider when buying sheets.
— Karen Klages, [email protected]
1. What it means: Thread count is the number of threads — vertical and horizontal — in a 1 inch square of fabric. If there are 150 threads in the warp (lengthwise) and 150 in the weft (widthwise), that’s a 300 thread-count sheet. Thread counts affect the sheet’s feel (generally, the higher the count, the softer and better quality the sheet), but there’s more to consider.
2. Number confusion: Sometimes manufacturers put out thread counts that are very high, but they’re actually using plied yarns, taking two smaller yarns and twisting them to create one yarn — “but they’re counting those as two,” Burke says. So if there are 250 yarns in the warp and 250 in the weft direction, a sheet could be labeled 1,000 thread count — not 500 count, as is more accurate — if the yarns were plied or two twisted to form one.
3. The bottom line: The numbers alone don’t really matter. Base your selection on feel, Burke says.
“There is nothing bad about doing plied” threads, she adds. Just know that the 1,000 thread-count (plied yarn) sheet may feel “exactly the same as a 200 or 500 thread-count sheet depending on the quality of the yarns.”
And know that a lower thread count sheet isn’t necessarily inferior. Sheets made of thicker yarns (which are typically more durable) naturally will have a lower thread count than those made from finer yarns. A flannel sheet, by its very nature, has to be made from thicker yarns in order to withstand the finishing process in which the surface of the material is “napped” (which gives flannel its nubby feel).
4. Under construction: Which leads to a discussion of weaves, which determines the feel as much as thread count. Some common weaves/terms:
– Percale: Feels like silk, thanks to the soft and finely combed cotton and plain, tight weave that allows for very high thread counts.
– Sateen: Has a lot of sheen and feels like satin. The cotton is woven in a way (some threads float over several others in either the warp or weft) that exposes more thread surface, causing the lustrous look.
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– Jersey: Not a weave, but a knit. Sheets are stretchy and drape nicely.
– Flannel: Is soft and of medium weight.
5. Egyptian cotton: It’s grown in Egypt where, because of the climate and growing season, you can get those long, luxurious cotton fibers.
But you can get the same kind of softness from any kind of cotton that has been combed, Burke says. That’s a process by which smaller fibers are pulled out of a batch of cotton, leaving only the long, luxurious ones that go into the making of the yarn.
Don’t be fooled by marketing techniques, Burke says. “Some people will put in 1 percent Egyptian cotton” and label the sheet Egyptian cotton.
Your best bet: Touch and feel for yourself.