What You
Should Know About 1000
Thread Count Sheets
Nothing is more helpful in getting a good
night’s sleep than quality sheets. You can own a
cutting-edge sleep system that boasts the most
high-tech features available in bedding today.
However, if you don’t have quality sheets you
are still going to find yourself tossing and
turning all night long.
The higher the number thread-count the better
the sheets are. These high thread count sheets
are also called percale. A sheet set has to have
at least 100 to be considered percale. Some of
these sets boast a whopping 1000 thread count
sheets in their collections. Many of us know
that traditionally, 250 count was prime and 400
was outstanding. So why all the high numbers
today? You would have never heard of 1000 thread
count sheets two decades ago.
Here’s a little background information on the
new 1000 thread count sheets available on the
market today. Basically we have to look at how
the item is made. Most sheet sets are
constructed out of cotton. Cotton is
fundamentally a fabric that is woven into form.
Each square inch of cotton has a certain number
of threads that are used in the weaving process.
Today, weaving has become quite high-tech and
some manufacturers have produced thread that is
so fine that 1000 of them can be fit into a
square inch of fabric.
There is another factor in the high numbers as
well. Ply refers to the thickness of the
material. Some fabric is two ply. This two ply
fabric is constructed by twisting the yarns
together. After the yarns are twisted the fabric
is weaved. Single ply only uses one thread.
Basically, using two ply yarns will double the
sheet’s thread count. One company can make a set
out of single ply that has 500 stitches in each
square inch. Another company can make the same
using two-ply yarns and wind up with 1000 thread
count sheets.
Ironically, the two ply material makes the item
heavier simply through its nature. A person may
get a better night’s sleep on a lower number of
threads than on 1000 thread count sheets. In
order to reach the high number, the yarns have
to be woven together making the bed set heavier
and thicker and this is not always the most
comfortable.
Ideally, you want to look for bed sets that have
between 100 and 400. Anything higher than that
may not be the best investment. The 1000 thread
count sheets may look good on paper but it is
the performance that really matters.