In the post “The History of Sheets” we discussed, well the history of sheets.  At first you may think that you cannot possibly imagine anything more boring, but if you made it through you realized there is much more tied to their history then first imagined.  This article discusses something that many of us have not had the pleasure of experiencing, Egyptian cotton sheets.  Egyptian cotton sheets are synonymous with luxury and as they say “Not all sheets are created equal.”.  Much of what makes the experience of having Egyptian sheets and what makes them so expensive and luxurious is thread count.

Thread count is very important, but let me back up for a minute.  The main reason that sheets from Egypt are so amazing and highly priced is the cotton they are made from.  The cotton is grown along the banks of the Nile River, literally along the banks.  As it happens, when the water from the river recedes, it leaves amazingly rich fertile soil, unique to this region and this soil is absolutely perfect for cotton.  Egyptian cotton is great because it is the longest staple of cotton in the world.  The staple is the individual fiber hair of the cotton.  This yields the sheets we all long to have.

Thread count is the measure of the number of yarns woven into one square inch of fabric.  That is the number of threads both vertical and horizontal.  There are also single play and double ply threads.  Ply refers to how many threads are wrapped together.  It also allows for the thickness of the sheet.  The finer the thread the more that can fit into a square inch.  The higher the thread count means the finer the thread being used, which in turn relates to the softness of the sheets.  There are more factors to consider when buying a pair of sheets however than thread count.

Another aspect of Egyptian sheets that makes them so expensive and sought after is the quality of the finishing.  How the cotton is treated is very important and the quality of the weave.  Some weaves of sheets are: Percale, Flannel, Sateen, and Jersey.  Percale is weaving is the finest available.  It is closely woven made from both carded and combed cotton and gives it the almost silk like feel.  Percale weave with Egyptian cotton is the finest of the fine and will cost you a pretty penny, but so worth it in the end.