Thread Count.... Is it all that it's made out to be? Or is there more to it?

I've been regularly meeting people who judge the quality of a sheet purely by it's thread count. I must admit that in the past, I've caught myself doing the same while shopping on-line! But did you know, that thread count only tells part of the quality story? Read on and I'll explain.......

Thread count is the sum of the warp and weft threads that run horizontally and vertically through the fabric. Some thread counts account for the whole thread, which we believe is the correct and ethical way to state a thread count. However, some account for the fibers within the thread (or plies within the thread) – so if two plies are twisted together to form the thread, and are then woven together into a 200 thread count fabric, this fabric might be stated as a 400 thread count fabric! So thread count can be VERY misleading.....

SO..... What else affects sheet quality??? 

1. The weight or thickness of the threads, affects the weight, thickness or heaviness of the fabric. So if you weave a 200 thread count fabric from a very light/thin thread, you will get a thinner/lighter fabric. If you were to weave a 200 thread count fabric from a thicker/heavier thread you would get a thicker/heavier fabric. But, each of these fabrics would still be noted as 200 thread count even though the weight and feel of them would be very different.

2. The length of the cotton fibers that the threads are made from.... A longer fiber gives a smoother fabric surface as there are less fiber ends to possibly come loose. A shorter fiber can give the fabric a "furrier" surface and mean the fabric may "fluff" more.

3. The amount of twist in the yarn when it is spun also makes a difference. If the amount of yarn twist is not optimal, a fabric can pill (get little balls) and fluff, or even have a stiffer feel to it. 

4. The construction of the fabric....There are quite a few ways to weave or make a fabric by varying how the warp and weft (up and down) threads in the fabric are woven together. We have chosen to use a "sateen" weave as it gives our sheets and quilt cover sets a luxuriously soft and snuggly feel. 

It's an eye-opener isn't it!? I actually studied textiles at university and I've STILL found myself ohhh-ing and ahhh-ing over sheet packaging that stated 1000 thread count in the past!! It's so easy to do as thread count has been marketed as the be-all and end-all of sheet quality for such a long time!!

With that all said though, I believe our Moonlit Sleep fabric is the perfect quality, weight and thread count. It’s substantial without being too heavy, so it’s great for both summer and winter. It’s durable and wears well over time, as well as being luxuriously soft and comfortable to sleep in..... And for the record, it's just over a true 200 thread count! 

Did you know that we pack all our sheets and quilt covers in a matching fabric bags? So if you see our products out and about, have a feel of the fabric! It took a lot of time and testing to get our sheet quality just perfect and I'm so VERY thrilled with it!!

Feel free to pop me a comment with any sheet quality questions you might have. 

Sweet Dreams in Organic Cotton xxx