What thread count is the best and what is Percale?
The most common
question in our business is “What thread-count is the best?” The answer is
certainly not straight forward. When you mention thread-counts everyone has an
opinion of what is best and what you should have etc. The answer is, as with
most things, it depends.
Thread-count is the number of threads or yarn woven into a square inch of cloth. There are threads running lengthways known as Warp and width ways known as Weft. The thickness of yarn or thread is known as the denier and is shown as a number. The higher the number the thinner the yarn.
Percale is any fabric with a thread-count over 200 Thread-count. A standard 200 Thread-count would use 40’s Denier Yarn and in a square inch there would usually be 110 yarns in the weft and 96 in the warp. Total 206, which is then rounded down. When the thread-counts increase, thinner yarns are required otherwise you simply cannot squeeze them into the square inch. For example our 400 Thread-count uses 80’s Yarns in the warp and 60’s in the weft and there are 200 threads running in the warp and 196 in the weft. Total, 396 which is then rounded up.
When you get into higher thread-counts there is a danger of the cloth becoming too thick. To create an 800 Thread-count for example some companies would use 60’s yarns spun together and woven into a square inch. This just creates a very thick cloth and as a result air cannot pass through easily and it becomes uncomfortably hot to sleep under. To create a perfect 800 Thread-count cloth you should ideally use 100’s yarns in the warp and 80’s in the weft but this is of course expensive and so people tend to cheat.
So in conclusion, there is no perfect thread-count, we feel 400 made properly offers a lovely softness and drape but is still very breathable and because the yarns are not super thin they withstand constant washing and ironing.
Thread-count is the number of threads or yarn woven into a square inch of cloth. There are threads running lengthways known as Warp and width ways known as Weft. The thickness of yarn or thread is known as the denier and is shown as a number. The higher the number the thinner the yarn.
Percale is any fabric with a thread-count over 200 Thread-count. A standard 200 Thread-count would use 40’s Denier Yarn and in a square inch there would usually be 110 yarns in the weft and 96 in the warp. Total 206, which is then rounded down. When the thread-counts increase, thinner yarns are required otherwise you simply cannot squeeze them into the square inch. For example our 400 Thread-count uses 80’s Yarns in the warp and 60’s in the weft and there are 200 threads running in the warp and 196 in the weft. Total, 396 which is then rounded up.
When you get into higher thread-counts there is a danger of the cloth becoming too thick. To create an 800 Thread-count for example some companies would use 60’s yarns spun together and woven into a square inch. This just creates a very thick cloth and as a result air cannot pass through easily and it becomes uncomfortably hot to sleep under. To create a perfect 800 Thread-count cloth you should ideally use 100’s yarns in the warp and 80’s in the weft but this is of course expensive and so people tend to cheat.
So in conclusion, there is no perfect thread-count, we feel 400 made properly offers a lovely softness and drape but is still very breathable and because the yarns are not super thin they withstand constant washing and ironing.
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