Thread count means the number of horizontal and vertical threads counted in a square inch of fabric. Using this method of grading the quality of linen is a good way of grading your bed linens quality but only up to a point. We at Victoria Linen have considered 400 count Egyptian Cotton to be the best material to give the ultimate in quality and comfort while also using 200 Thread Count Poly Cotton as a more easy care fabric that also has a long life and is resistant to pilling.
The common perception is the higher the thread count the higher quality of bed linen and this is true with lower grade fabrics. Thread counts of linens starting at say 70 threads to the inch will be more susceptible to pilling and will definitely feel of a lesser quality when compared to higher TC’s.
However, as the thread count does increase the quality and feel of the fabrics isnt as apparant and after you get past 400 count linens manufacturers tend to ‘stretch the truth’ as to how many threads there really are to the inch. This is because there is only so much room in that square inch for the threads to go, thread width only allows up to 400 threads to fit in that small space. The way some manufacturers get round this is to twist two fibres together when weaving and this way achieve an 800 or even 1000 thread count bed linens, but research has shown weaving like this doesn’t achieve a better quality and is a bit of a misnomer as a guide for quality.
