| Choosing luxury bedding is not a simply task. | | | | touch. Only carded or combed yarns are used. |
| Customers must understand the factors which | | | | Combed cotton is screened from impurities. |
| contribute to its value and quality like the | | | | The best quality sateen is mercerized to give |
| types of cotton, types of weave (sateen, | | | | it a higher sheen. Mercerized cotton has been |
| damask,chenille), thread count, ply and | | | | treated with sodium hydroxide to shrink it |
| embroidery. Some of these factors will be | | | | and increase its luster and affinity for dye. |
| summarized below. To get the most for your | | | | It is also makes it more mildew resistant and |
| money, these factors must be considered and | | | | stronger. Some sateen sheets are only |
| questioned. | | | | calendared to produce the sheen. This is when |
| | | | the fabric is pressed between two rolling |
| What are the Types of Cotton? | | | | pins to give it a glossier appearance. This |
| | | | is lower-grade sateen. The sheen will |
| Consumers should always be looking for the | | | | eventually fade away with a few washings. |
| best quality cotton products made from an | | | | This is not considered genuine sateen. |
| extra-long staple cotton ( ELS cotton). The | | | | Genuine sateen can be bleached, dyed, or |
| long fibers of ELS cotton make a stronger and | | | | printered. |
| more softer yarn, and, in turn, weave into a | | | | |
| much stronger and softer fabric. Most high | | | | What do You Need to know about Thread Count? |
| thread count sheets are made from ELS cotton | | | | |
| because a long fiber is needed to make a very | | | | Thread count (TC) refers to the number of |
| thin, yet strong, yarn. Among the ELS cottons | | | | fibers woven together in one-square-inch of |
| is Pima, Supima and Egyptian cotton . Pima | | | | fabric. It can range from 80 to 1200. The |
| cotton is a generic label given to any ELS | | | | higher the thread count, which requires finer |
| cotton grown in any country from a particular | | | | threads, the desirable smoother and softer |
| type of long-staple cotton. Supima cotton is | | | | the fabric. However finer threads mean the |
| Pima cotton grown in the U.S. Egyptian cotton | | | | threads a slightly more delicate, so one must |
| is a fine, lustrous, long staple cotton grown | | | | use proper care when washing. An other |
| in Egypt. Long staple cottons are more | | | | important criteria is ply. Ply refers to the |
| expensive than the commonly available | | | | number of single fibers twisted together |
| cottons, because they are synonymous with | | | | before it is woven into a fabric. By twisting |
| quality and have a higher thread count. The | | | | two fibers together, the thread count can be |
| quality and feel of a sheet depends on the | | | | doubled. Some 1000TC sets of sheets are |
| fibre the fabric is made from and the number | | | | actually 330TC 3-ply or 250TC 4-ply. The |
| of threads woven per inch. The higher the | | | | higher the ply, the heavier and thicker the |
| thread count, the softer and more durable the | | | | sheet and the greater chance of the fabric |
| sheet. Also, if it doesn't say 100%, don't | | | | pilling (little balls). The highest thread |
| assume 100% Cotton. | | | | count that can be woven into a single ply is |
| | | | 500TC. All 1000TC sheets are at least 2-ply. |
| What is Mercerized Sateen? | | | | In summary, if softness is desired, a high |
| | | | thread count and low ply is required but at a |
| Sateen is usually a cotton fabric that has a | | | | higher cost. If one prefers a heavier sheets, |
| satin-like feel. It's often found in bed | | | | a high thread count with a high ply (3-4) is |
| sheets and other textiles throughout the | | | | required. They will also keep one warmer. If |
| world. Sateen is usually 100% woven cotton, | | | | one chooses a higher thread count, proper |
| although it is occasionally formed from | | | | care must be done to prevent pilling. |
| rayon. Like percale, sateen method in which | | | | Anything above 300TC is usually soft enough |
| the sheet was woven. The weave is what gives | | | | for most people. If one prefers a lighter |
| the sateen sheet its soft, satin-like feel. | | | | sheet, select 250 to 500TC range with a |
| The material is lustrious and smooth to the | | | | single ply. |