More than a decade ago nobody knew about thread counts nor we imagine we had it on our bed sheets. Today we know that thread count is the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. Most good quality bed linens thread counts start at 150 thread count up to 1000+ thread count in a single square.
The quality of a bed linens is marketed as the highest of the thread count on it, the better quality are the sheets. Which may misguide most of us. Simply because the more warp (lenghwise) and weft (wedthwise) are woven into the square inch of the fabric. Making it tight where less air can pass thru. I have touched and felt many “high” quality high tread count sheets and I see that most I’ve touched are not so soft feeling as a good 300 and 400 thread counts. Simply because the quality of the fabric just can’t be ignored or confused with the high amount of thread count on it.
Discount Department Stores often sell cheaper high tread count sheets made in China and India. But are those low cost high tread count sheets better? Not so fast, we all know that lots of those companies don’t have good standards to woven a quality cotton because there are standards in the processing of the cotton. A fine quality linens begin with the fine cotton, the way the cotton is woven has more to be taking in consideration than the quantity of the thread count alone.
Linens manufactures in Europe have been wovening and making the best linens in the world for centures. They are passionate for the work they do they use techniques that has being passed down from many prior generations. So, if we have to relay in quality bedding and linens most likely those Italian and French known better what they are doing. Steady of just mass produced the linens, they create their linens with love and proud.
I read not long ago in Good Housekeeping magazine an article about the Institute of Textile by director Ms. Kathleen Huddy, where Ms Huddy sais “don’t believe on it” there’s thread count inflation. The Institute tested nine well known brands of sheets sold at national linens chains and discovered that several — including Synergy and Rainbow Linens among other — don’t have anywhere near the 400, 600 , or even the 800 tread counts listed on their labels. They inflated the number by counting individual plies within a thread rather than threads themselves. How can we spot the impostors? We need to beware of high number of thread counts on low prices prices sheets, mostly those made in Asia.
Sheets with true 400, 500 and 100 thread count are most likely being produced in Italy , France or Portugal. Infarct, you will notice the difference of the quality of these European sheets as soon as you feel and touch it . Because sheet with true high tread count should increase in softness while maintaining luster after many washes. Steady, some of the sketchy sheets felt lush in the store but all too ordinary after they were washed five times or less.
One, two, three, four… To measure the thread counts in the little-know brands, says Huddy. She cut eight samples from different areas of each sheet and counted every thread count using a pick eye , and a magnifying glass-like device designed for textiles. What she found on the results she compared them to the company’s clams. She did the same with name brand sheets and the final results:
1. Hotel Fine Linens which claimed 600 actually only had 240 thread counts.
2. Bar Harbor Collection which claimed 400 only had 213 thread counts.
3. 800 Natural which claimed 800 only had 387 thread counts.
If you need to shop on-line for your bed sheets, I recommend not the cheapest department stores and not the most luxurious either. I am buying my sheets at Finest Linens and things or www.finestlinensandthings.com they sell good quality sheets with good prices that nobody will have a nightmare because of the bad quality or because of the price.
