Bedding 101

Mattresses and beds date back to the Neolithic period. The first ones probably consisted of piles of dried leaves, grass and possibly straw with animal skins covering it. Beds were raised off the ground in those days for most Neolithic souls, hardy though they were, refrained from sleeping with multi-legged pests and dirt. Around 3600 BC., beds made with goatskins filled with water were used in Persia (the first water beds?). The ancient Egyptians slept on palm boughs stacked in corners of the homes as far back as 3400 BC. The mattresses of the ancient Romans varied; beginning around 200 BC,...

Even the word satin conjures images of lushness and privilege. Derived from the Old French, samit, which in turn came from Medieval Latin, samitum, examitum and the Byzantine Greek, hexamitum, satin indicated the use of six varying yarns. The fabric dates back to the Middle Ages, and refers to a heavy and luxurious silk known as samite. Its weave was a twill type and often included threads of gold and silver. Samite and other Byzantine silks entered Europe beginning in the ninth century via Italian trading ports. In the tenth century, the Vikings expanded their trade routes to include Constantinople, and samite-embroidered with...

Sateen is usually a cotton fabric that has a satin-like feel. It's often found in bed sheets and other textiles throughout the world. Sateen is usually 100% woven cotton, although it is occasionally formed from rayon. Like percale, sateen does not refer to the material of the sheet. It refers to the method in which the sheet was woven. The weave is what gives the sateen sheet its soft, satin-like feel. The material is lustrious and smooth to the touch. Only carded or combed yarns are used.

A "sateen weave" means that there is one vertical thread woven for every four or more horizontal threads....

Believe it or not, most comforters are easy to care for and are designed to last night after night and year after year. Here are some tips to help ensure your comforter lasts for many years:

1. Use a Duvet Cover. When protected by a duvet cover, your comforter will only need to be cleaned every three to five years. Also, with a duvet cover, you won't need a top sheet, blanket, or bedspread. Making your bed will be a flip and a fluff! Remove and clean your duvet cover whenever sheets are laundered.
2. Professionally launder your comforter every three to five years. Down actually washes...

Sateen is a cotton fabric (sometimes rayon) with a satin-like finish, often found in bed sheets. The better qualities of sateen are mercerized to render a higher sheen. Also known as pearl or pearle cotton, this process of treating cotton with sodium hydroxide increases luster, strength, affinity to dye and resistance to mildew, but also increases the fabric’s affinity to lint. Cotton with long staple fiber lengths responds best to mercerization.

Lower quality sateen is only calendered (another word for fraud) to produce the sheen, which gives the consumer enough time to pay a high price for it and enjoy it...

Pima cotton is an American grown cotton recommended by Supima. Supima is the organization in charge of overseeing the distribution of American Pima cotton seed throughout the US.

When purchasing a set of sheets, consumers should always be looking for cotton products made from an extra-long staple cotton (commonly referred to as ELS cotton). The long fibers of ELS cotton make a stronger and more softer yarn, and, in turn, weave into a much stronger and softer fabric. Most high thread count sheets are made from ELS cotton because a long fiber is needed to make a very thin,...

Southern America’s Version of Egyptian Cotton

In response to the popularity of Egyptian cotton, the United States attempted to grow its own version in the southern part of the nation where the climate is similar to that found along the banks of the Nile. Read on and learn more about this durable imposter.

This species of cotton plant dates back to 4200 BC in Peru, although it was named after the Pima Indians of Arizona who were the first to cultivate it in the United States. Pima cotton is considered to be a superior blend of cotton with a much more extensive weave, which bears some similarity to many...

Flannel sheets have up to quite recently had a rather drab reputation. While a bad reputation is certainly not a good thing, when it comes to just about everything, elegance and style wins over dull and conventional. Elegant prints, rich plaids and sophisticated colors now offer an alternative to the cutsie patterns of the recent flannel sheet past. Jolly snowmen and penguins toting candy are okay, but there are other dazzling alternatives bursting to fit around your bed! Do you know what flannel actually is? According to Cotton Incorporated, an American trade group, flannel is defined as: “A soft, medium weight, plain or twill weave...

Is Egyptian cotton superior to others and if so, why? Read on but don’t expect a colorful journey down the Nile River.

Contrary to other cottons, the higher the thread-count on cotton grown in Egypt the stronger and more durable it is. When creating threads or yarns, the long staple or fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton renders a thread smaller in diameter, but sturdy and resilient. In fact, if cared for properly, Egyptian-produced cotton fabric used for bedding products can actually last for decades.

Sheets created from Egyptian grown cotton are a bit harder to the touch than other cottons, particularly when the bedding is new....

In simplest terms, the "thread count" (TC) refers to the number of fibers woven together in one-square-inch of fabric. Thread counts can range anywhere from 80 - 1200TC. Low-end thread count fabrics are generally used in settings where the linens are going to have a short life span (ie. institutional settings).

Although it's very important, thread counts alone are not the only factor to consider when purchasing a set of sheets. One must take into consideration the type of cotton used and the "ply" of the sheets. The term "ply" refers to the number of single fibers twisted together...

Before buying bedding (especially bed sheets), we suggest measuring your mattress to make sure you're getting the correct size. Below is a mattress size chart with the most common dimensions of beds on the market. We offer 200TC Percale and 300TC Egyptian cotton bed sheets and bed skirts for all of the sizes of mattresses listed below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

• First of all, lay the sheet on a bed or a large table and fold in and smooth all the edges. Then slip your hand into the top two corners of the sheet. (If I have to be more specific here, you better forget the whole thing.)
• Fold in half horizontally, sliding the top gathered end into the pocket of the bottom gathered end. (Do not fold in animals or humans who may be napping in or on bed as they create uneven and sometimes noisy folds.)
• Arrange and fold the corners neatly. Turn in selvage edges enough to make four straight sides. Then fold in half and then in half again. (You will know you did it right if all four...

Gently shake your new feather bed and air it out for a few hours to allow the feathers to fluff up. On a regular basis we also suggest fluffing, flipping, and rotating your feather bed. If your feather distribution becomes uneven, simply redistribute the fill by placing the feather bed on a flat surface and pushing the feathers to the desired location. To push the feathers, use the palm of your hand and your forearm.

Like a mattress, feather beds should be properly covered. To help prevent damage from spills and stains, cover your feather bed with a feather bed protector or a fitted sheet....