Cotton Sheets and Fabrics: Vocabulary Lesson

Cotton 101

Okay. Now that I’ve told you to forget about the technical aspects and buzzwords of sheets in favor of personal tactile preferences (previous blog), I want to reintroduce the technical stuff. It does matter, after all, but only once you know what you like your sheets to feel like.
So let’s talk cotton. Here’s a little primer of cotton-oriented verbiage to help you know what’s what when it comes to shopping for cotton products.

Egyptian
You’ve heard of it. But what makes it so special? Egyptian cotton is grown in a unique area—along the Nile—that allows the cotton staples (a single cotton fiber) to grow extra long. The longer the thread, the smoother and finer the finish you can weave from it. Because these staples are the longest in the world, they make the finest cotton sheets.

Organic
Organic cotton, like any certified organic product, takes the idea of "natural" to a new level. This is a great choice for those who are sensitive to pesticides, dyes, and other irritants, as well as for those who want to ensure that the products they buy do not have unnecessary environmental impacts.

Pima
This is the American answer to Egyptian cotton. It, too, has exceptionally long staples and can be woven into incredibly soft and smooth fabrics.

Ticking
This is tightly woven material used in comforters and pillows to keep the feathers from poking out. Fine cotton ticking helps preserve your pillows and comforters and keeps the feathers in your products and out of your nose…ah-choo!

Fiber
A single strand of the base material (e.g. cotton) of a fabric that is then spun with other fibers to form threads or yarn.

Yarn/Thread
Yarn/thread are the building blocks of fabrics and are spun from individual fibers to make long strings of material. These are what manufacturers weave and stitch with to make fabrics. Though we often associate the word “yarn” with rough knitting applications, it’s really any strand that is used in weaving the fabric. Thread refers primarily to the strands used to stitch fabrics together—but can also be used interchangeably with yarn to describe the strands used to weave a fabric. Now, just to confuse you, while a yarn can be called or made from thread, a thread cannot be called or made from yarn (the word “yarn” is generally not used to describe the strands used in stitching).

To Sleep, Don't Count Threads, Count Sheep

I’ve talked about thread count before. It’s the single most talked about feature among fine linens shoppers. While the number of threads per square inch can be an indicator of a sheet’s feel and quality, in isolation it won’t tell you much. In fact, while high thread count is an important element in certain lines of excellent brands, there are many knock offs available in big box department stores that boast big numbers but otherwise produce an inferior sheet.

A better way to approach sheets is to ask not only about thread count, but the weight of the fabric, the quality of fibers used, the finish (a final step in treating sheets that gives it a certain sheen or softness), and the feel. In fact, I’d pull those elements apart a bit.

But I’d start with the two elements that will matter most to you as you slip into bed every night, night after night. Those elements are weight and feel. Everyone is different in terms of their preferred weight (do you want your sheets wispy light or do you like to feel something substantial on your skin) and their preferred feel (some like crisp and cool, some like soft, some like silky).

Once you have your own preferences in mind, you’re ready to ask intelligent questions about thread count and weave; thread type, quality, and length; and the finishing process for that particular sheet. All of those factors will impact the things that will matter to you when you’re actually between the sheets—specifically the weight and skin feel of the sheets.

So don’t get lost in popular terminology that means nothing out of context. Instead, think about what you want your sheets to feel like. I can help you find the right weave, weight, fiber, finish, and—yes—thread count to make all your dreams come…if not true, then at least a little more quickly. Because to sleep…perchance to dream…that’s the point of fine linens after all.

Twill Fabric: What and Why

Looking for a fabric that’s soft, will drape well, and is a great choice for duvet covers, shams, sheets and pillow cases? A great choice is twill such as SFERRA’s MacKenzie – a very soft, 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen.

Here’s a close-up of a MacKenzie twill swatch:




A twill weave is a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs (in contrast with a sateen and plain weave). This is done by passing the weft thread over one or more warp threads and then under two or more warp threads and so on, with a "step" or offset between rows to create the characteristic diagonal pattern. Because of this structure, twills generally drape well.

Below is an illustration of the twill weave, courtesy of SFERRA.



At Snuggledown I stock a wide variety of gorgeous twill fabrics in dozens of patterns and styles. Browse my site, call me, or email me to discuss twill options for your home!