Lets start with understanding what a bed sheet is :
A bed sheet is a rectangular piece of cloth used as bedding, being placed immediately
below bed occupants. A bed sheet is laid above the mattress and bed occupants lie on it. It may be either a flat sheet (extra fabric is usually tucked under the mattress), or a fitted sheet, which is sewn in a pocket-like shape to go down over the corners of the mattress, and has an elastic band around the edges of the sheet to prevent the sheet from slipping.
History of bed sheets traces back to the 15th Century. Bed sheets were traditionally white and made of linen, cotton or silk, but now various colours and patterns are used.
Next lets understand how it is made :
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Weaving Process:
Weaving is the intersection of two sets of straight yarns, warp and weft, which cross and interlace at right angles to each other. The length wise yarns are known as warp yarns and width wise yarns are known as weft or filling yarns and the bed sheet produced is known as woven bed sheet.
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Knitting Process:
Knitting consists of forming yarns into loops, each of which is typically only released after a succeeding loop has been formed and intermeshed with it so that a secure ground loop structure is achieved.
What is warp and weft?
In w
eaving, the weft is the thread or yarn which is drawn through, inserted over-and-under, the lengthwise warp yarns that are held in tension on a frame or loom to create cloth. Warp is the lengthwise or longitudinal thread in a roll, while weft is the transverse thread. A single thread of the weft, crossing the warp, is called a pick.
Now let us understand what exactly to look for in a good Bed Sheet :
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Material Used :
The material used is the most important factor in the bed sheet. Is it Cotton or Polyester? If Cotton is it Egyptian cotton, Supima cotton, Pima cotton or Linen ? If Polyester then is it 50 GSM, 80 GSM, 90 GSM or 125 GSM
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Weave :
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Percale
Percale, also called plain weave, is made from high-quality combed cotton that is tightly woven. The weave produces a soft and smooth finish. Because of it has a light feel to it, it is the best choice for people who get hot when they sleep.
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Flannel
Flannel cotton sheets are made with a plain or twill weave and are noticeably soft and pliable.
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Sateen
Sateen is woven using the technique of four threads over and one under which leaves the fabric feeling lustrous and smooth and similar to silk. It is also heavier than other weaves, making it a good choice for people who get cold when they sleep. It is the least durable of the three weaves.
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Thread Count :
When people talk about sheets, inevitably the conversation turns to thread count. Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads in a square inch of fabric.
Back in the 1990’s, the idea was born that the thread count used in constructing bed sheets was all shoppers needed to know to determine the quality of the bed sheets.It was a very simple comparison; the higher the thread count, the higher the quality; the lower the thread count, the lower the quality. But today, knowing the thread count is just one piece of the puzzle when determining the quality of bed sheets.
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Fabric Construction:
Fabric construction refers to the fabric specification. The general format of fabric construction is given below:
Warp count X Weft count / Ends per inch X Picks per inch
Example: 20 X 16 / 128 X 60
Some times fabric construction is also written in the other way round i.e.
Ends per inch X Picks per inch / Warp count X Weft count
The More the Warp count x Weft count, the finer and better quality bed sheet it is.
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Shrinkage :
We should see the shrinkage of the bed sheets. Generally accepted shrinkage is less than 5%. If the shrinkage is more than that then it then after a few washes, the size of the bed sheet would drastically reduce than what it was originally.
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Please Note :- The data above is to the best of our knowledge. If you find any discrepancies then you can write to us at care@hc24.in