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Fabric Facts
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Pilling
There are several different kinds of fabric used in bed linens, and each has
different properties, advantages, disadvantages, and care instructions.
Percale
Percale fabric begins its life as two sets of
undyed, interwoven threads, known as a "greycloth" that will later
have its color and pattern "sprayed" on. The "thread
count" of a percale fabric is found by counting the threads going in both
directions inside one square inch of the fabric.
The thread count of the fabric determines its
density, and that generally gives you a good gauge of its softness, although
there are other factors that impact the softness of the fabric even more than
its thread count. One such factor is "content.
Percale
Weave
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The content of percale can vary widely.
Though many people assume that "percale" means a polyester-cotton
blend, this is untrue. A percale can be made of 100% cotton, 100%
polyester, or any combination in between. Even a high thread count 60/40
percale blend won't be as soft or luxuriant as a lower thread count 100% cotton.
Also, a dark colored cotton percale will feel stiffer than a lighter colored
percale with the same thread count (due to dye saturation).
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Even within cotton itself, there are many
differences in grade. Just as grapes grown in certain regions are favored
by wine connoisseurs over grapes grown in others, the quality of cotton can be
estimated by its origin. Our own domestic cotton is an excellent breed
called "pima" cotton. This is a long-staple cotton, and is
relatively inexpensive, considering its high quality. The fertile Nile
valley which also produces the same breed of Pima Cotton as the United States,
calls their more luxuriant textile "Egyptian Cotton." With its
longer, silkier, and thicker fibers, this cotton is woven into the absolute best
percales. Unfortunately, since it must be imported from Egypt, and usually
through Eastern European distributorships and plantation owners, it carries
with it a heavy price tag.
At the other end of the spectrum, some imported
percales are very inexpensive, and for good reasons. A combination of low
thread count and high ratios of polyester to cotton causes these percales to rip
easily, feel rough to the touch, and worst of all, pill. Pilling is that
sand-paper feel that sheets can get after washing. If you find your sheets
doing this, and are bothered by it, consider upgrading to a higher thread count,
and better content. Though this may mean more expense, you really do get
what you pay for.
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Often, you'll see fabrics with a
"sateen weave," which gives one side of the fabric a different
satin-like texture and luster. This is achieved through a special
elaborate process at the mill, where the fabric is woven. First, the
fabric is woven in such a way that the threads are twisted on the front side of
the fabric. Then, the fabric is "calendered" or passed under a
steam-roller-like apparatus that applies 2000 lbs of pressure per square inch.
Technically, the weave of a Sateen is different enough to pull it out of the
percale category altogether, and set it apart as its own fabric type.
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Sateen Weave, Front Side |
Percale fabrics are generally available in
widths great enough to provide a sleeping surface without any add-ons or seams.
Cotton Flannels
Cotton Flannels are one of the few fabrics that
we offer that are not domestic made. The European flannel is far
superior to the fabric which is available domestically, so we import all of our
cotton flannels from Portugal.
Flannel sheets come from wide fabric stock,
meaning that seams and add-ons are only necessary in the very deepest and
largest of beds.
Care should be taken in laundering these,
especially the first time. You can expect about 2% shrinkage if laundered
properly, and more if hot water or a hot drier setting is used. We build
2% shrinkage into the sheets, so after the first laundering, they should fit
perfectly.
Bridal Satin
Satins come in many grades, based on
weight. The weight that we use is called "Bridal Satin," which
is an industry-wide standard for the heaviest satin fabric.
Bridal Satin is not available in wide bolts,
and therefore, all sheets made with Bridal Satin will have seams.
Normally, the seam is in the center of the bed, where neither partner
sleeps. Horizontal seams are also available, but most people find those to
be far more intrusive.
The yarn used to make Bridal Satin is a
300-denier Acetate yarn, woven at 288 threads per square inch.
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