Question: What is the thread count in sheets? Does higher mean better?

Answer: Thread count is simply the sum of the horizontal yarns added to the vertical yarns in one single square inch of fabric. Higher count sheets don’t always mean better fabric. Before attempting to weave any type of fabric we always have to ask the question what is the final fabric finish we are looking to achieve. What’s the fabric weight and what’s the density. For example if we are looking to make a 300 thread count fabric best yarns to use are combed 60s and combed 40s and we need 174 vertical yarns (warp) with 126 horizontal yarns ( weft) for each square inch. If you add both yarns total is 300, which is your thread count. To weave a 600 thread count , we must use half the size of the yarns we used to make our 300, we need 120s yarns to replace 60s and we need 80s to replace our 40s ( the higher the number the thinner the yarn). In Today’s market most textile manufacture are after profit and won’t pay much attention to which yarns are used to make what. For example, they may use 60s yarns or 60s & 80s to make and not combed yarns, carded to make 600 thread count sheets which will result in cheap fabric. So it’s more important what yarns are used to make what!

Question: How many sizes of yarns are there?

Answer: There are full spectrum of yarns, more difficult to address here and will just take few example, of the most common used is sheets. To simplify things to a yarn size that you might be more familiar with and can see and touch. The yarns size 10 or 10s is more commonly used is towels. The (s) after the number stands for single since there are double yarns and usually written in 20/2, which means two 10s yarns twisted together to make the 20/2. In sheets the most common yarns used start at 30s, the 30s is used in weaving fabric of 144 count, after 30s comes 40s which is used to make 200 thread count. 60s mixed with 40s makes the best 300 thread count. 80s is the best choice if 500 thread count is what we want to make. For 600 thread count sheets, best choice is 80s in warp and 120s in weft. 1000 Thread count sheet best pick of yarns are 100s by 140s and for 1200 thread count 100s by 160s.  Note that any manufacture can choose to substitute any yarn size based on what’s available and the price offered.

Question: What are fabric weaves and how many types of weaves are there?

Answer: There are Three main types of weaves used in bed sheets fabrics: Plain weave or Percale weave is when the weft yarn goes under and over each single yarn of the warp yarns. Also, it’s sometimes called or referred to as “one over one”. This weave fabric is much stronger and tighter but less soft, most common thread counts are in the range 144-300 thread count. You cannot find 600 Thread count or higher in this weave simply because this can’t be done. Second weave is the Twill weave where the weft yarn goes under and over each two of the warp yarns. It treats each two warp yarns as one and this weave fabric is more soft than the first plain or percale weave and it can weave higher thread count fabric but not as stronger. Third weave is the Sateen weave, in this weave the weft yarn goes under and over four of the warp yarns treating each four of the warp yarns as if they were one. In sateen the fabric has much smoother or even surface, softer hand feel, higher thread counts like 1000 and even 1500 thread count can be achieved. However in sateen weave fabric is not as strong as it’s in the previous two weaves.

Question: What are Bamboo sheets and why should I buy Bamboo fabric sheets?

Answer: Bamboo fabric is made using fiber from the bamboo plants through long and extensive process. Bamboo fabrics are way softer than cotton and it’s much cooler on the body than any other fiber out there. It’s silky touch makes Bamboo linens extremely a high quality product while it is cool on the body sensation. This is a must have for hot sleepers!