In previous articles, we’ve discussed the importance of thread count in determining the quality of sheets. Because few of us have a microscope available to actually count the threads, how can you be sure you’re not buying a re-labeled product? Here are a few hints.

Always buy from a reputable retailer. This does not mean you need to buy the most expensive set of sheets you can find but beware of prices that seem too good to be true. Does the store or website specialize in luxury linens OR do they also sell kids toys and kitchen sinks? If a retailer isn’t specialized, chances are good that they have minimal knowledge of their products and are more likely to not know what they’re selling.

The most reliable ways to determine if you are getting what you are paying for is weight.  A 300 thread count set of queen Egyptian Cotton sheets weights about 4-5 pounds, a 600 thread count set weighs 6-7 pounds and a 1200 thread count set weighs 8-9 pounds. This is one of the main reasons high thread count sheets cost so much; they take a lot more raw materials to make. It’s also why they’re worth the money… you get a lot more sheet.

In our last entry, we discussed thread count… how many threads per inch of fabric and why it was important. Thread ply is less understood. While higher thread count is usually considered better there is some discussion, even among the experts as to how to measure thread count and the argument usually centers around the term “thread ply.” Before we discuss “thread ply,” we need to define thread.

A thread is a very long thin strand of something. Nylon thread might be a single extruded piece of plastic many yards long. Other than silk, natural fibers such as cotton don’t get that long and so they need to be spun into threads. If you were to look at a thread under a microscope, you wound find that at any given point, several cotton fibers are twisted together each one overlapping the next. If you make the thread too thin, the fibers won’t overlap enough and the threads will be weak and break easily. Because Egyptian Cotton fibers are so long, it is possible to spin much smaller diameter threads without compromising the integrity of the thread.

Once you’ve spun individual fibers into threads there are at least two options:  you can weave fabric directly from these threads OR you can create stronger threads by twisting two threads together to create a 2 ply yarn and then weave the yarns together.

This is the point at which the experts start arguing: Some assert that if you twist two threads together (2 ply yarn) you can only count these yarns when advertising thread count,  others assert that a thread is a thread, and that it is perfectly legitimate to count both threads in a 2 ply yarn when advertising thread count.

So what does this mean to you? If you’re comparing two full sheet sets ; one advertised as 600 thread count single ply, the other as 600 thread count 2 ply… lets do the math:

For the single ply: 600 yarns x 1 thread/yarn = 600 threads/inch

For the 2 ply: 300 yarns x 2 threads/yarn = 600 threads/inch.

The point is that each of these sheets contains the same amount of cotton. The difference is in how it was twisted and woven together. In short, the argument between 1 ply and 2 ply is a matter of opinion not fact. What really matters is the underlying quality of the fibers themselves. Cheap short fibers create inferior fabrics no matter how they are spun and woven together. Stick to products made with 100% Egyptian Cotton and you’ll be OK.

Thread count is universally perceived as a measure of fabric quality. Department stores frequently carry thread counts in the 100-200 thread count ranges and often advertise anything 300 thread count or greater as “luxury.” So what about those specialty shops or websites that advertise really high thread counts… sometimes as high as 1200! Are they for real or is it just marketing hype?

Thread count is simply defined as the number of threads per inch of fabric. The human eye has a difficult time quantifying anything smaller than 150 parts per inch so you can’t tell the difference between 300 thread count sheets  and 600 thread count sheets by looking at the fabric. You also can’t tell the difference by the feel, at least when the fabric is new.

If you can’t tell the difference by look or feel… does it matter? Yes it does.

Take a close look at the photo above. The salmon colored fabric on the left is a low thread count fabric made from short staple cotton. Note the air gaps between the fibers and note the fuzzy loose strands… those are fibers breaking away from the fabric. They will probably fall off the next time the fabric is washed and end up as lint in the dryer.

The winter white fabric to the right is obviously different. It is high thread count Egyptian Cotton fabric. There are only a few small loose fibers and they are probably firmly attached due to their length. The fabric on the right will outlast the fabric on the left and may actually end up being more economical in the long run.

Shopping for linens can get confusing. Knowing more about the product you are shopping for will help save you time and ensure that you purchase a product of superior quality. If sheets are what you’re looking for then you may wonder how 1000 thread count sheets vary from jersey-material sheets, or 300-thread count sheets.

Thread count refers to the number of threads, both vertical and horizontal, present in one-square inch of fabric. But thread count can be affected by a variety of factors such as the ply and thickness of the threads used. Some fabric dealers say that thread count doesn’t matter (the numbers at least) and that the type of fabric is the most important thing to consider when your buying sheets. But owners of 1000-thread count sheets would tell you otherwise.

Regardless of what type of sheets you decide to buy, try feeling the fabric between your fingers before you leave the store. If you like the feel buy them, if not pick try another set.