If you’ve spent any time comparison shopping for sheets, you’ve probably been confronted with confusing claims regarding thread count. Don’t be embarrassed – it’s a tricky subject that often involves misleading information and subterfuge. For many years, conventional knowledge suggested that the quality of sheets was solely determined by thread count. But things became a bit more complicated when bedding manufacturers started twisting threads into two-ply sheets. Suddenly a set of sheets with 200-thread-count softness could be marketed as having a 400 thread count.
Today, thread length represents the most reliable way to determine the quality of flat sheets. A long cotton fiber tends to come from better cotton and in turn creates stronger, smoother fabric. Short fibers are prickly and scratchy to the skin. When comparing fabrics, hold them up to the light and judge them based on their level of transparency. The more solid and opaque the fabric, the more likely it is to be soft and more durable.
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