Content | Construction | Finish | Care

More than just thread count.

Today, we have become obsessed with thread count, but it is only one of the factors in determining the quality of bed linens. We must also consider the quality and content of the thread or yarn, the construction of the bed linens, and finally their finish.

I personally love my 400 thread count bed linens which are a lot less expensive than the 1,000 thread count sheets. If I blind folded you, I bet that you could not tell the difference.  You might even think that the 400 count sheets felt softer because of the fine cotton used. Remember, thread count is an important factor, but it isn't the only factor.

Content:

Cotton is actually the soft fibrous material that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. Perfect weather and soil conditions come together on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt to grow the very finest cotton.

But what makes one type of cotton better than others?  Cotton, in its raw state, is made up of individual fibers referred to as staples; it is these staples that are spun into cotton yarn for looming.  The longer and stronger the staple the better the quality yarn.  Yarn is much like the tobacco used in Cuban Cigars; Egyptian cotton is transplanted and grown in other areas of the world.  Since climate factors are very important to the quality of Egyptian cotton, removing the seeds from their native land and growing them elsewhere produces an inferior product.  Many manufacturers will claim that they use Egyptian cotton but in reality they are using cotton from these transplanted seeds.

We strive to make certain that our resources use genuine Egyptian cotton.  Once the cotton plant reaches maturity the fibers are hand selected and then cleaned and spun into a smooth, strong yarn.

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Construction:

There are many factors which go into the construction of fine bed linens.  When we consider the quality of fine bed linens we start with the diameter of the yarn.  Staples vary in diameter and smoothness.  Some manufacturers use very thin yarn so that they can achieve high thread counts with less cotton.  Obviously this yields an inferior product which will not feel and wear as well.  Our many years of experience allow us to sample the finished products to determine the yarn quality.  The next factor is known as the “hand” or the feel.  Yarns are used in various ways to produce a silky, shiny “hand” called Sateen (like glossy in photography terms) or a smooth, crisp “hand” called Percale (like matte in photography terms).   Your selection is a matter of your personal preference.

Finally, all stitching is done with very small, fine stitches.  Our hems have twice as many stitches as many other commercial brands and our hemstitching, scalloping and embroidery are literally works of art.  Many of the embroidered bed linens that we carry are created by an artist sketching the design on the sheeting and then an expert embroiderer hand-guiding a special embroidery machine over the design.  You may notice faint blue lines on the sheeting.  These are remnants of the artists sketch.  (They will wash out.)  Our fine bed linens are constructed from beginning to end like works of art.

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Finish:

Many commercial linens are processed or finished with one or more agents.  These agents may act to do any number of things from reducing shrinkage, called Sanforizing, to allowing for ease in folding and packaging, called sizing, to “easy care” applications which try to minimize required ironing.  Some companies even coat their linens with softening agents to make them feel especially soft to the touch.

While most of these agents are benign, many even wash out over time, rest assured that we deem them unnecessary and we try to stay away from them.  If you have a fine cotton blouse or shirt then you know that cotton, by nature, shrinks and wrinkles.  We size our fine bed linens with ample room to allow for shrinkage.  As far as the wrinkles I have a couple of tips in the “Care” section below.

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Care:

Now for the laundry.  Cold or warm water is best! Use a gentle cycle and rinse with cold water.   Wash cottons together!  Do not mix in polyesters as they tend to be rough and they may damage cotton fibers.  (This may be seen as pilling.)  Do not use detergents or spot removers with caustics.  Many detergents that say things such as “Whitener” or “Color Brightener” contain caustics such as bleach. We recommend Linen Wash.

Now for my secret about ironing. Don’t tell anyone but I don’t iron my sheets. Of course, line drying is best but our schedules do not always make this practical so I machine dry my bed linens. Take them out of the washer, untangle them and place them into the dryer as straight as possible.  Set the dryer for a warm, gentle cycle.  Check on them often and when they are just dry or even slightly damp take them out and if damp hang them, if dry pull them flat and fold them neatly.  The fitted sheet is the most difficult to fold but don’t worry because when it goes on the bed it will stretch out any wrinkles. If wrinkles really bother you, iron your shams or better yet get a steamer. The steamer makes it easy to get the wrinkles out.  You steam the bed linens right on the bed, 5 minutes and you’re done!

Lastly, how does your lifestyle affect your luxury bed linens?  Many of us care for our skin just before bedtime.  Our acne medications and skin moisturizers contain caustics that may cause staining, discoloration and even fiber breakdown.  If you are in the habit of using these products we recommend using a special sleeping pillow with a heavy protector on it that will stand up to these agents.  For more information please see “Help with the Laundry”.

Most importantly; Enjoy your fine bed linens!  They look wonderful and inviting, they feel lovely against your skin.  They create an environment that fosters serenity, romance and pleasure, so ENJOY!  You deserve it!

Check our luxury and designer bedding products:

Luxury & Designer Bedding

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