What to look for when buying cotton linens.

About Egyptian cotton

Throughout the past two centuries, Egyptian cotton has prevailed as one of Egypt's biggest competitive advantages. With an established reputation of being the "best" cotton in the world, its softness, strength and superior characteristics, have positioned products made of Egyptian cotton as the world's finest. Egyptian cotton has not gained such a reputation without reason. Egyptian cotton "is" the world's finest cotton and the following characteristics are what sets Egyptian cotton apart from other natural fibers: 1-The length of the fiber makes it possible to make the finest of yarns without sacrificing the strength of the yarn 2-The strength of the fiber makes fabrics more solid and more resistant to stress 3-Its ability to absorb liquids gives fabrics made of Egyptian cotton deeper, brighter and more resistant colors 4-Its softness increases with each washing Egyptian cotton is hand picked which guarantees the highest levels of purity. In addition, hand picking puts no stress on the fibers - as opposed to mechanical picking - leaving the fibers straight and intact. All these factors have resulted in the Egyptian cotton being by far the best cotton in the world. Fabrics made of Egyptian Cotton are softer, finer and last longer than any other cotton in the world.

What Is Thread Count in Sheets?

How to buy Quality Sheets Things you need to know before buying sheets By Abdel Ghunaim/ CEO Royal Plaza Textiles, Inc.
What Is Thread Count in Sheets?Thread count is simply the sum of the warp (lengthwise) and weft (widthwise) woven together in one squire inch of fabric. In general the higher that number, (thread count) the better the fabric. But in our days, I have to say that thread count has almost nothing to do with the fabric quality and became only of a marketing tool. Around 20 years ago, Textiles Mills around the World would use one type of quality yarns woven in the same exact process, so whomever achieved higher thread count in those days, did in fact achieved better quality fabric. In our days, things have changed dramatically. As technology advanced, what was not possible for the older generation of textile manufacturers became available for this one. Lower quality fiber which was not used in making T250 sheets for example, now were able to be use even in up to T300. Weaving looms were updated as well to able to weave fabric in many methods and speeds. To simplify things, a 300 Thread count sheets made with quality yarn from quality fiber, woven in an authentic weave can well be of much better quality than a T500 or even higher. Does thread count is sheets still means quality to you?? What is Cotton Quality or Yarn Quality? Quality of the fiber used in spinning the yarns can be of the most important in sheets making. Longer fiber such as Egyptian cotton or Pima cotton can produce much better yarns than other cotton which lacks such fiber. Combing is additional process in which Raw cotton is blended and cleaned from short fiber. Fibers of 1.25 to 2 inches in length are of Egyptian cotton while 7/8 of an inch for those of Pima cotton. The longer the fiber, the better, stronger & smoother fabric can be constructed. What are the weaving processes? The way in which the fabric is woven has very important effect on the finished fabric. The old traditional weave, plain weave or percale weave is one process in which the fabric is woven in one over one. It produces much stronger fabric but also limits the ultimate thread count which can be archived to 400 thread count. Sateen weave or satin is the weave in which the fabric is woven in four over one; it means four yarn acts as if they were one. In this weave most of the yarns would be on the top surface of the fabric, resulting in silky smooth touch. In this weave higher thread count can be archived, even up to 1000 thread count per squire inch. Just as the previous steps were effects by the advanced technology, weaving also received its share. The term insertions started to be used, the more insertions used in weaving a fabric the lesser quality it will get. For example a T400 woven with one pick insertion can be of much better weave of a T1000 woven with 10 pick insertions. It means 10 yarns were being inserted into the fabric from the weft (widthwise) as if they were one single yarn, creating a thicker heavier fabric as a result of the yarn build up.

Why Egyptian Cotton Is Still King By Pat Bowlin

Why Egyptian Cotton Is Still King by Pat Bowlin
Egyptian cotton has become wildly popular for bedding in recent years. Why exactly? Does it really matter? It was thought for ages that cotton was cotton and thread count was king when choosing quality sheets. That is no longer true. Consumer guidelines for buying bedding suggest that cotton from Egypt is superior to other cotton. Is this true and, if so, what is the big difference? Egyptian cottons are used to create bedding of all types from sheets to pillowcases to comforters. The long staple or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be use to create stronger fabric which is light in weight yet breathes well. More threads per inch mean that the thread count on the bedding label will be higher. Many buyers think that choosing high thread count sheets is the only gauge of quality. This is not true, but in the case of cotton grown in Egypt, the higher thread count means the fabric will be incredibly strong and will last for years and years. If cared for properly, Egyptian produced cotton fabric used for creating bedding products can last for decades. The hand or feel of the sheets created from Egyptian grown cotton is a bit harder than other cottons when the bedding is new. However, with every single laundering, the cotton sheets from Egyptian fibers become softer and softer. Like a fine wine, age improves the Egyptian fiber cotton bedding and, unlike many products, you will prize your Egyptian fiber sheets of cotton more and more as they age and become soft and cuddly. Cotton grown in the Egyptian fields will also produce less lint and therefore will not pill after repeated washings as some materials may do. At one time, the only way to obtain Egyptian fiber cotton sheets was to shop in high-end expensive stores. This is no longer true and most department stores and online bedding stores carry a selection of Egyptian produced cotton sheets and other bedding items for the buyer seeking this quality product. King Cotton was once the name for the cotton grown in the Deep South of the United States. This cotton has much shorter fibers or staple than the Egyptian produced cotton. Egyptian fiber is now considered the king of all cottons for its durability and luxurious feel. After all, we spend almost one-third of our lives in our beds and our bedding should be comfortable and durable. Choosing the right sheets made from the king of cotton, Egyptian produced fibers, you will experience a bed that is comfortable and cozy. A word of caution regarding bedding labels: if the package says "cotton rich" the actual amount of cotton, whether Egyptian or other cotton, is not stated and can be a very small amount. It is better to select products that state 100% cotton or, if choosing a blend fabric, that clearly state the exact proportion of cotton in the bedding. This will ensure your product composition is one that you will be pleased with. If the package says "percale", this means that the thread count is at least 180 count. Many people believe that percale is a fabric type in its own right. This isn't the case at all; it simply means the thread count is 180 or more. Percale can be 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and other fibers! Sferra Brothers always has a special eye for quality and their Celeste linens in 100% cotton from Egypt is no exception. These mix and match fine quality linens are created with 406 thread count. The linens are cool and crisp yet soft for luxurious comfort. White plus 10 solid colors are available. You simply can't go wrong with these machine washable luxury linens. Matouk Classics collection includes the Lowell design. These Egyptian long fiber cotton sheets are 600 thread count for true luxury. Available in white with one inch sateen tape accents around edges of pillow cases and on sheet hem. Select choice of five solid colors for the accent. These linens are elegant enough for the finest bedrooms. Frette's 600 thread count Royalty sheet sets come in a shade called "money green" which is actually a deep olive green. Other colors are also available. The linens are accented with a square jacquard weave around the edges for a very distinctive, classic look. If you want beauty beyond compare, these linens from Frette are for you. Egyptian remains King of the cotton world today and will retain that crown for many years into the future. You'll find this long staple cotton used in sheets by many different designers and can enjoy this Egyptian luxury, suitable for the kings and pharaohs in your very own home! Patricia Bowlin informs and entertains you as you shop for home bedding! Find out everything you need to know about chosing the perfect pillows, comforters, and bedding here now. Article Source:

Egyptian cotton and Thread count or TC

THREAD COUNT: Simply put, this is the number of threads per square inch. both vertical and horizontal, in a one-inch square of fabric. Hold the sheet up to the light, if you can see through the fabric and make out the actual weave, you’ve got a low thread count on your hands. The higher the thread count (or tc), the softer and more lustrous the fabric, and the more durable and less prone to shrinkage. PERCALE: A smooth, flat, closely woven and combed fabric that comes in 100% cotton or 50/50 cotton/poly blends. Finer than muslin, expect TC’s here to range from 180-250. PIMA or SUPIMA: A high quality cotton whose long fiber staple is somewhat similar to that of Egyptian cotton. The differences are geographical only. Pima is grown in the southwestern part of the U.S. and Egyptian is grown along the Nile River. Supima is made from extra-long staple Pima. The soft hand feel of Pima and Supima make them very desirable in bedding. Expect to find TC’s here from 200-300. EGYPTIAN COTTON: This is the cotton queen of the Nile. Grown alongside the river, this quintessential cotton owes its superior durability, luster, and silky hand feel to its extra long fiber staple. TC counts range from 200-1000. SATEEN: a weave construction that has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more lustrous look.

Superior Egyptian cotton Percale

Percale stands for the weaving process in which the fabric is woven by. In percale the yarns are woven in one over one, unlike Sateen where it’s four over one. The one over one (percale) weave create a much even, stronger, denser & softer fabric, which can stand the test of time and gets better and better feel the more you wash it. It’s just like your favorite old shirt, the more it’s laundered the softer and durable it gets. Superior single pick insertion of 300 Thread count Percale make this better than a 600 Thread count with 4 pick insertions as most of the T600 are. Insertions means when weaving the fabric, you have the vertical yarns being inserted or hemmed by the horizontal yarns. If the horizontal hemming yarns are being done with 1 yarn at time , it’s called single pick insertion, if it’s using 4 yarns, it’s called 4 pick insertion. The higher the number of insertions the faster the weave and the less quality fabric gets. Have you ever wondered why your old 200 or 300 thread count feels better than your new 600 Thread count sheets? The reason is simply because new high thread count sheets are being woven with a higher and higher insertion to save money. This is not the same thing as 2-ply sheets. The 2 or 3 ply sheets refer to the yarn being used in weaving and not how it’s being woven. Finally, this superior weave, woven in the best authentic way is done using the best cotton in the world. Egyptian cotton, it’s not just cotton grown in Egypt - it is a particular type of long-staple cotton originally grown along the Nile. Egyptian cotton has the longest fibers. That is, when you pull the cotton from the cotton plant and remove the seeds and waxes, Egyptian cotton has longer fibers available for spinning into yarn than other cottons. When intertwining strands of yarn to make a larger product, long-staple cotton has fewer connection points, and therefore a greater percentage of area is the natural softness of the cotton.