What Is the Difference Between 600 Thread Count & 1000 Thread Count?
The thread count used in the construction of bed sheets can run anywhere between 80 to 1,000 and higher. The thread count is the number of threads used per square inch in any given fabric, counting both the horizontal and vertical threads. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Complexity of Comparison
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Compare like fabrics to one another and everyone agrees that the 1,000 thread count beats the 600 thread count, hands down. Unfortunately, manufacturers have not made this comparative distinction that simple anymore. Yarn size and ply have become factors in understanding how many actual threads are used in a square inch of fabric, making the thread count a little misleading.
Yarn Sizes
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The yarn size typically ranges in size from 40 to 100. The higher the yarn size, the finer the yarn. Long staple cotton is the preferred fiber of most but there are other varieties of silk, cotton/silk and linen.
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One Ply Vs. Two Ply
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Ply refers to the thickness of the thread. A single-ply fabric is woven from one yarn and a two-ply fabric will twist two sections of yarn together, then woven. Because the two-ply is considered by some manufacturers as two separate threads, the thread count is allowed to be doubled. Comparing a one ply of 1,000 thread count with a 600 ply of two-ply fabric is not equal in comparison. The package for the 600 two-ply fabric will read 1,200 thread count.
Finishing
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Consumers look for a higher thread count because they believe that little balls of cotton will form on cheaper, lower count sheets after a few washings. This is a misconception because the thread count does not affect the formation of the pilling. A finishing process known as singeing is what burns off the tiny fuzz that can develop into the pilling that appears on sheets. Mercerizing is a treatment that further improves strength and luster. A manufacturer that does not perform the singeing and mercerizing usually has a lower thread count. The association is then made that a lower thread count will cause pilling when the lack of a finishing process is the real cause.
Bottom Line
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In assuming that a 1,000 thread count is superior to a 600 thread count, take into consideration the fiber used, single or 2-ply and whether or not the package reads mercerized. In shopping for most common sheet sets, compare long staple cotton sheets that have a 2-ply thread and then compare the thread count for an accurate comparison. Also make sure that a finishing process has been used by looking for the word 'mercerized'. Although the thread count is important in making a good decision on quality sheets, there are other factors that need to be matched to get an accurate comparison.
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References
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