Does high thread count in luxury sheets and pillowcases matter?
Yes, but the type and quality of the yarn and how it's woven are equally
important. Thread count is the measured number of threads woven
together in one square inch of fabric. As a rule the higher the thread
count, the finer the yarn in each square inch.
But there is a limit to how many individual threads can actually be woven in a sheet before the threads are just too thin, making weaving of a strong, soft, quality sheet fabric impossible. That limit is around 500 individual threads per square inch. Odds are very high that a manufacturer or retailer of bed linens claiming a thread count of much more than 500 threads per square inch derives their number through one of the tricks described below.
One trick is to use plied yarns. Two or more threads are plied (twisted) together and woven as if they were one thread. The sheet fabric is in fact courser than fabric made with the same number of "ends" of single ply yarn, but the seller will state thread count based on the number of threads in the plied yarn, which doubles, triples or even quadruples the actual number.
The United States Federal Trade Commission has issued an opinion that this practice likely deceives consumers. In fact sheets that claim thread counts of 1000 are generally made with yarn that has been plied as many as 4 TIMES. The real thread count is actually 250.
Another trick is to vary the weave of the sheet. For example, a sateen weave, which involves weaving as many as four filling threads over each warp thread, as compared to one for one in a plain weave, is cheaper to weave. Unfortunately, sateen bed linens also tend to pull, pill, fray and generally disintegrate, whereas traditionally woven bed linens will last for years and are much less likely to deteriorate with time.
The bottom line is, look for 100% cotton sheets and pillowcases that specify they are woven from single ply, ring spun yarn. Be extremely cautious if they claim a thread count in excess of 500, as they may well be made from plied yarns. Avoid sateen weaves.
With all the noise and hype associated with the marketing of high quality bed linens, it may take some work to find sheets and pillowcases that meet the above criteria. Take the time, and you will be thrilled with the way in which they get softer with each laundering and last for many years. You may pay a few dollars more initially, but you will find such bed linens are the more economical choice over the long run.
But there is a limit to how many individual threads can actually be woven in a sheet before the threads are just too thin, making weaving of a strong, soft, quality sheet fabric impossible. That limit is around 500 individual threads per square inch. Odds are very high that a manufacturer or retailer of bed linens claiming a thread count of much more than 500 threads per square inch derives their number through one of the tricks described below.
One trick is to use plied yarns. Two or more threads are plied (twisted) together and woven as if they were one thread. The sheet fabric is in fact courser than fabric made with the same number of "ends" of single ply yarn, but the seller will state thread count based on the number of threads in the plied yarn, which doubles, triples or even quadruples the actual number.
The United States Federal Trade Commission has issued an opinion that this practice likely deceives consumers. In fact sheets that claim thread counts of 1000 are generally made with yarn that has been plied as many as 4 TIMES. The real thread count is actually 250.
Another trick is to vary the weave of the sheet. For example, a sateen weave, which involves weaving as many as four filling threads over each warp thread, as compared to one for one in a plain weave, is cheaper to weave. Unfortunately, sateen bed linens also tend to pull, pill, fray and generally disintegrate, whereas traditionally woven bed linens will last for years and are much less likely to deteriorate with time.
The bottom line is, look for 100% cotton sheets and pillowcases that specify they are woven from single ply, ring spun yarn. Be extremely cautious if they claim a thread count in excess of 500, as they may well be made from plied yarns. Avoid sateen weaves.
With all the noise and hype associated with the marketing of high quality bed linens, it may take some work to find sheets and pillowcases that meet the above criteria. Take the time, and you will be thrilled with the way in which they get softer with each laundering and last for many years. You may pay a few dollars more initially, but you will find such bed linens are the more economical choice over the long run.
Lee Goodrich is co-founder of Thomas Lee Ltd, the creators of
Thomas Lee® sheets. Thomas Lee's 500 thread count PerfectCale(TM) luxury sheets have been rated best sheets
in an article by Ellen Warren in the Chicago Tribune and feature the
finest cotton sheet fabric woven with ultra-fine ring spun yarn. Thomas
Lee luxury sheets can be ordered online at their website http://www.thomasleeltd.com
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