Linen
Annex Product Guide
What is thread count, and
why is it important?
Thread
count refers to the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. These
consist of vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft) woven
together. To really understand
thread count, you need to understand 2 other important components: yarn size and ply. Yarn size refers to thickness of the
yarns that are woven together to make fabric. A higher yarn size indicates a finer
yarn. Finer yarns can only be made
from high quality long staple cotton.
Generally a yarn size range of 40 to 100 is what you will find quality
sheets are made with. Yarn size
relates to thread count because when the yarns are very fine, they are actually
thinner and thus there will be more of them per square inch, producing a higher
thread count product. The other
component is ply - single ply vs. 2 ply.
Single ply fabric is made from individual yarns, which are woven
together. 2-ply fabric is made with
yarns that are twisted together and then woven. 2 ply fabric allows weaving looms to be
more efficient since it starts with yarns that are already twisted together in
2s, so whatever construction is then woven—the thread count will actually be
double since each yarn is actually 2 yarns. For example, a single ply 300 thread
count will have the same construction as a 2 ply 600 thread count. 2 ply sheets
must be made with a very high yarn size, like 100s otherwise it will feel very
thick and heavy.
Cotton
What is the difference
between Egyptian cotton and regular cotton?
Egyptian cotton is
grown exclusively in Egypt and has the longest staple fibers in the world,
between 1" and 2" inches. Regular cotton fibers are up to 1" inch
long.
Egyptian cotton is
more durable, softer and has more luster than regular
cotton.
What is long staple
cotton?
Long Staple Cotton
is cotton fiber that typically ranges from 1 to 2 inches long. The longest
staple fibers, longer than 1 inch, including the Pima and Egyptian varieties,
produce the highest quality cotton fabrics.
What is combed
cotton?
Combed cotton
has been processed to remove all of the shorter fibers. The longer the cotton fiber is, the
higher the quality of the fabric produced.
Choosing
the Right Towel
There are several
factors that affect the quality of towels. Among them are pile density, pile
height, yarn strength, and yarn twist.
When the loops are denser and the yarns are strong and tightly twisted
the towel will be more durable.
However, tall loops and a more loosely twisted yarn will create the most
absorbent towel.
Towels are evaluated
in terms of weight. The more a
towel weighs, the more loops of yarn went into its construction which typically
indicates a higher absorbency.
Caring
for Towels
When laundering your
towels it is recommended that you omit the use of fabric softeners, many or
which contain silicone-based chemical which will decrease the absorbency of the
fabric.
Down
What is
Down?
Down is the light,
fluffy undercoating of waterfowl, consisting of clusters of filaments growing
from central quill points. A Down
cluster has a quill point but no quill shaft, so it is far more resilient than a
feather. Down is lighter than a
feather, it is three-dimensional rather than two, and therefore Down has more
loft or filling power. When Down is
compressed, a good shake is all it needs to make it bounce right back to its
original fluffy loft. A single ounce of Down contains thousands of clusters that
trap warm, still air to prevent heat loss.
What is Fill Power, and why is it
important?
Fill Power is a
measure of how many cubic inches one ounce of down will loft and expand to fill
an empty space. Fill power usually ranges from 500 to 800 cubic inches. A higher fill power means that the down
will loft more, insulate better and provide greater warmth and comfort.
Caring for Down
products
Once you remove your
down duvet, comforter or pillow from its packaging shake the product in order to
restore the natural loft. After
every couple of weeks of use shake and rotate your duvet or comforter in order
to break up any clumps or flat spots.
Make sure to check the care label before laundering your duvet, comforter
or pillows to insure best results
Choosing
a Down Comforter
Down
comforters can be constructed in one of two ways, by being sewn through or with
a baffle boxes. In the sewn through
construction the two outer layers of fabric are sewn together in quilt-like
manner. This construction prevents
the down from shifting, but it also does not allow for maximum loft, or
fluffiness. In the baffle box
construction fabric walls are sewn throughout the comforter creating box-like
pockets of down. This way the down
will not shift and it will also achieve its maximum loft.
Choosing
a Down Pillow
Down bed
pillows are available in a range of fill densities, which create pillows of
different firmness levels such as soft, medium, and firm. The best density is purely a matter of
personal preference and generally corresponds with sleeping style. Soft pillows are best for stomach
sleepers, while back sleepers typically find a medium density most
comfortable. Side sleepers
generally require a firm pillow to give proper head and neck support.
