How to choose Quality Linen |
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The Bedroom, a place to unwind let your hair down and put your feet up. For all the time spent and the intimacy it demands, a bedroom takes very careful and detailed planning. Not because it is the most personal room in a house but because it is a room WHERE YOU DREAM!!! When it comes to shopping for bed linen it can be a confusing ordeal. Below are some handy hints and brief explanations of terms used, to ensure you always have those amazing dreams.
FABRICS
Cotton is generally the most desirable fabric for sheets. Cotton fibre has a hollow core so it "breathes," taking in moisture from the skin to keep you comfortable in warm or cool temperatures. It is durable and launders well.
Sateen is a high quality cotton fabric made in a satin weave. Silk-like to the touch, sateen has all the wonderful qualities of natural fibre.
Linen, woven from flax, is extremely durable. It is soft, strong and lustrous, and grows silkier with each washing. Linen's cool, smooth finish makes it particularly inviting in the summer months.
Silk sheeting is also available. Soft, warm and very sensuous to the touch, silk is both very expensive and quite delicate, requiring extra care in laundering.
Satin sheets are generally made from acrylic or polyester, a man-made fibre. Although smooth and sensuous to the touch, acrylic fabrics have very low moister absorbency.
Thread-Count
A thread-count is the number of threads woven together within a specified area. This consists of the fibres woven both vertically (WEFT) and horizontally (WARPS). This term is used to grade a percale fabric. A thread count of 150 is minimal for sheets, and has a rough texture, and not much durability. A thread count of 200 has a smoother texture, and is built to last. A thread count of 250 or above is exceptional fabric that is soft and thickly woven.
While thread count is a great way to compare sheets, there are many other qualities to consider. The quality of the cotton will make quite a difference in the feel, or the "hand" of the sheet. The longer the pieces of cotton that is woven, the better the quality. Short strands of fibre will break easier which causes "pilling". It is why 200 thread count sheets that are considered "quality" products as they do not pile.
You can usually tell the quality of a fabric by the feel and overall look of the finished product. With finer threads, like those of Egyptian cotton, more can be woven into each square inch, producing a softer, finer fabric
By industry standards, a sheet can be called an "Egyptian Cotton" sheet as long as it contains at least 10% Egyptian cotton. The balance is usually low quality cotton and results in a coarser hand. Look instead for sheets labelled "100% Egyptian cotton" for better quality.
DECODING LAUNDRY SYMBOLS
Following these simple instructions will promote longevity of your luxury linens!
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