How your bed linen looks and feels is determined by three main factors: the type, quality and thickness of the base thread used; the way the threads are woven on the loom; and the thread count. Don't be deceived, however, into thinking the higher the thread count, the better the sheet - different bed linen requires different counts to make the finished product.
As a general rule, look for a 150 thread count upwards, and remember that natural fabrics let your skin breathe. So what's what?
Cotton percale is made from high-quality combed cotton (180 threads per square inch or more) to create smooth linen that's crisp and cool to touch. Percale launders beautifully, is long lasting and durable. For high quality, look for a 200 thread per square inch count.
Cotton jacquard has a matt/sateen self-pattern in the fabric - typically a stripe, check or floral. The thread used is a fine (finer than percale), high-quality combed cotton, and the bedlinen looks stylish and feels wonderfully smooth.
Cotton sateen is generally made from a combed thread, but uses a finer thread than percale to produce bed linen of a higher thread count (because the threads are thinner) with an elegant sheen that feels luxuriously soft and smooth against the skin. A sateen is slightly less hard-wearing than percale, but nevertheless very special to sleep in. Look for 300 threads per square inch.
Pure linen is one of the finest bedlinens you can buy, renowned for its crispness, coolness and breathability. It has a lower thread count than cotton percale, as the threads are heavier and more loosely woven. When new it has a slightly 'slubby' appearance, which, with laundering and age, softens to a beautiful, light sheen. More expensive than cotton, it requires more careful laundering, but is extremely long lasting and once you've discovered linen, nothing else is quite the same. Look for 112 threads per square inch.
Linen cotton is ideal for those who love the coolness and texture of linen, but want easier wash days and lower prices. Usually blended 50 per cent pure linen and 50 per cent combed cotton to produce a slightly less 'slubby' look than linen, it feels crisp and beautifully cool.
Easy-care poly/cotton percale is easy to look after, but look for a 50/50 polyester/cotton percale mix with a thread count of 180 for quality. High-quality poly/cotton percale feels smooth, launders easily and requires little or no ironing. Poor quality will soon bobble, or the easy-care finish may gradually wash out. Look for 180 threads per square inch.
For more info, go to www.sleepcouncil.com.
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