What is Thread Count?

With thread count, the higher the better. Right, but why?

First of all, it's good to know what we are counting. The thread count of a fabric is the number of threads per inch (TPI) it has. It is actually the measure of how many threads (crossing overs of the yarns) are in 1 square inch of the material. Imagine a girls braided hair, ever time the two clutches of hair cross over each other that is like one thread, now transfer that down to the tiny detail of your bed linen, towels or blankets. Repeat that process 400 times over one square inch and you have what would be described as a high TPI sheet, towel or blanket.

The quality scale of the thread count goes something like this. Standard lies at around the 150 mark, anything above that region would be named good quality, then there is quite a large range of what is considered high quality ranging from 200 to around 450. As soon as you're getting over 500 then you're looking at a very high thread count.

A word of caution to you though. People will always find a way to exploit systems of measurement, and the next piece of information shows, why higher thread count equally better quality doesn't always ring true. Some smart man probably got paid a lot of money for working out that if you count the twisting on the thread in plied yarns (yarns that are made up of many fine threads twisted together) in the thread count then your fabric passes this lofty 500 TPI barrier by some margin.

So be aware, a higher count does not always mean higher quality, in truth when picking a fabric don't be concerned about numbers, numbers don't feel soft or course, numbers don't keep you warmer or drier. Feel the fabric, the way you, your family, your children will interact with this fabric for the rest of your life will be in a sensual way. So ignore the numbers and go for what excites or calms your senses.

Source: EzineArticles.com