You'll want to consider more than thread count when buying sheets.Jackal Pan/Getty ImagesThread count — referring to the number of yarns in a square inch of sheeting — has long been considered an easy way to shop for luxurious sheets: The higher the thread count, the better the bedding.But that's not necessarily the case because of the way some brands count yarns.
Plus, not all types of sheets use thread count as a designator of quality. Manufacturers of cotton sheets list the thread count, but you won't always find a number on your best linen sheets, for example. Here's what you need to know about sheet thread counts, and why the best sheets don't always have the highest thread count.
What is thread count?In a percale weave, one yarn is woven with another thread into a tight grid pattern. It's a "one under, one over" pattern. In a sateen weave, three or four threads are woven over one thread into a looser grid pattern.
It's a "three over, one under" weave pattern.Alyssa Powell/Business InsiderWoven fabric is made of horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) yarns. If a piece of fabric has 100 warp yarns and 100 weft yarns in a square inch, it would be a 200-thread-count sheet.
The reason people often associate higher thread counts with luxury is the quality of the yarn. Finer threads feel silkier, and you can weave more into a square inch than a thicker yarn. The woven pattern also factors into the thread count.
For percale sheets, the pattern alternates with a thread going o.
