High Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Bed Sheets – Part 1

High thread count Egyptian cotton bed sheets are all the rage recently in the luxury bedding world. With thread count ranging from 180 all the way up to 1500 there is quite a range from which shoppers can choose. In general, bed sheets are softer and smoother to the touch as thread counts increase. However thread size and weave changes as thread counts increase, so comparing 2 different sheet sets of different thread counts can be an apples to oranges comparison. Making comparison shopping even more difficult are the wildly disparate price points set by retailers.

Let’s begin to unravel the mystery of high thread count fabric with a simple definition of thread count: number of threads per square inch of fabric. That’s simple enough. Cut out a square inch of fabric, count the number of threads and there you have your thread count.

The only problem is that you need a microscope to actually see the tiny threads. In fact the standard way of getting an accurate thread count is to have a sample of fabric analyzed at a lab. If you sent your 1000tc, 1200tc, or 1500tc fabric to a lab, you might be surprised by the results. Here's what you would learn:

1. Thread size decreases as thread count increases.
2. Threads are twisted (like the cords of a rope) before weaving to achieve super high thread count.
3. Twisted threads are referred to as “multi ply,” and are not as sturdy as single ply threads.
4. Fiber length is more important in creating a luxurious hand than thread count.