Thread count (TC) what exactly does it mean?

Thread count (TC) 

What exactly does it mean ?

There is a common misconception that if you want to sleep on quality sheets, they must be made from the highest thread count cotton you can afford.

Higher thread counts mean higher prices - not necessarily higher quality.

People are led to believe that thread count is everything when buying luxury cotton, but it's not the only thing to look out for when making your purchase.

Technically, the "thread count" or TC is the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric, counting the threads both horizontally and vertically. The idea is that the more threads there are, the more luxurious the fabric.

How do manufacturers work out the thread count of a fabric?

Manufacturers can use innovative ways to increase the TC of their yarns!

Some count the individual threads twisted together to make a single thread. This could be two or three twisted into a single thread.

And while one manufacturer may correctly count it as one thread, others count it as two or three threads. So a number of 600 threads could actually mean 300 threads double.

Similarly, a triple yarn woven from 200 to the square inch could be labeled 600. This also means that a fabric with high quality TC200 yarns could feel better than a higher TC400 or TC600 with inferior yarns.

Are there other indicators of quality cotton fabric?

Even if you could stand in the store with your magnifying glass and calculator, thread count isn't always an indicator of quality—the fineness of the fibers also plays a role in how luxurious your sheets will feel, as well as how the fabric is woven, the finish applied and the way it is sewn.

Think you could tell if a sheet is top quality just by touching it? This is not so simple.

Manufacturers often apply substances, such as varnishes and waxes, to increase the luster or soft feel of their fabrics. But these materials don't last and will wash out after a few washes.

Higher quality sheets, however, will feel better - softer - after every wash. They will last for years and without making knots .

Before you buy, take a look at the hems and seams of the sheets you are interested in. If there is messy, uneven stitching or loose threads, this probably means that it is not the best quality.

What is the difference between percale and sateen?

Percale is a tightly woven plain weave fabric made from combed yarns that usually have a cool feel. Sateen weave has more yarn surface on the face of the fabric than other basic weaves giving a softer, shinier satin-like appearance.

The way a fabric is woven has a big effect on how it feels to the touch. Cotton sateen sheets are often softer than percale.

And while it is likely that percale sheets will last longer, preferring cool percale sheets over soft and silky sateen is a purely personal choice .

Is Egyptian cotton the best?

Gossypium barbadense long (ELS) cotton is called Egyptian Cotton only when grown along the Nile River in Egypt. This cotton is rare and therefore can be extremely expensive.

But manufacturers have realized that consumers are looking for the label 'Egyptian cotton' and so the majority of what is sold in Egypt today is much lower quality cotton.

You can tell by the price of a fabric if it is made from the best, most valuable ELS Egyptian cotton. It would cost many times more than the general sale stuff labeled "Egyptian cotton".