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How Many Threads In A Thread Count Count

We spend approximately one third of our day nestled in our beds, rejuvenating ourselves so that we can wake up energized, alert and ready to take on a new day. The time we spend cuddled up in our bedding is very important to our well-being, so doesn’t it make sense that we should be as comfortable as possible? Think about it, if you have an important job to do, wouldn’t you get the best tools you could afford so that you could complete the job to the best of your ability? Sleeping IS an important function and we perform it each day; just try going without it and that point hits home. One of the most important “tools” for this job is your sheet set. I’ve done quite a bit of research on what to look for when buying sheets and I’d like to share that information with you, so it will make your shopping a little easier.

Many shoppers are wrapped up in thread count. Though it is an important aspect, it is not the only thing to consider when choosing bedding. Thread count can be affected by fiber quality; therefore, I will begin with that.

• A 200 thread count sheet with higher quality fiber could feel softer than a 400 thread count sheet with a lower quality fiber. What determines a quality fiber? The length of the fibers. The longer the fiber, the higher the quality.

• Egyptian, Pima, Supima and Sea Island Cotton are all high quality cottons with long staple fibers. All cotton shares the same basic qualities; however, the longer fiber of these cottons makes them particularly soft, supple and glossy. Egyptian cotton is considered the highest quality cotton.

• Combed Cotton refers to cotton that has been combed to remove the shorter fibers making it more luxurious.

• 100% cotton is soft, cool, breathable, and pulls the moisture away from your body.

• 100% cotton does tend to wrinkle. To avoid this, purchase a cotton-polyester blend. You may sacrifice some of the softness, but a cotton-polyester blend will be wrinkle resistant, slightly more durable and less expensive.

• 100% cotton is less likely to stain than a cotton-polyester blend because it releases dirt easily when wet.

SPARKED NOTE: The “hand” of a fabric refers to how it feels when handled such as its texture, smoothness, softness, weight, density, etc.

Now to clear up some misconceptions about thread count...

• Thread count is the total number of threads woven vertically (the warp) and horizontally (the weft) in a square inch of fabric. (Example: 200 vertical threads and 200 horizontal threads produce a thread count of 400.)

• A lower thread count means the sheets may be thinner, less smooth and not quite as durable. It is recommended that you don’t go below a 200 thread count.

• A higher thread count means the sheets may be smoother, more durable and of higher quality. It is generally recommended that a 400 – 500 thread count is the highest you should go. Anything over 500 is an unnecessary expense. Not only that, sheets over this thread count are very dense and don’t breath as well; thus, they can be very hot to sleep under.

• If you are working within a tight budget and think you can only afford a 200 thread count, that is perfectly fine; but keep in mind that overtime these sheets may wear out faster, so you might be replacing them sooner. A higher thread count could last much longer; therefore, it may save you money over the long term.

• Sheets that are made of flannel, jersey or linen have lower thread counts due their fabric type. The lower thread count helps them to retain qualities that make them appealing. However, they do tend to shrink more.

SPARKED NOTE: There has been some controversy concerning thread count. Some sheet manufacturers count plies when determining thread count. Plies are the thin, individual yarns that make up a thread. By doing this, it gives an overinflated thread count. According to Consumer Reports one manufacturer claimed their sheets were 1200 thread count, but they were counting plies and the actual thread count as determined by an independent textile lab was 416. Here’s how it works, it may take 5 plies (yarns) to make a thread. Most manufacturers will count that as one thread, but another will count it as 5 threads, thus inflating the thread count. What should you do? Simply choose a sheet that meets your needs and budget with a quality fiber and a thread count between 200 and 500; you will be fine.

The weave of a sheet will affect its feel, durability and price. Here’s some information on the most common weaves.

• A Plain Weave is the most common and least expensive weave; it is not usually noted on product packaging. It is made from an equal amount of vertical and horizontal threads.

• Percale sheets refer to an upscale plain weave in which the yarns are woven over and under each other like a basket weave. This produces a strong, durable fabric with a crisp, cool feel.

• A Sateen Weave consists of more vertical than horizontal threads thus producing fabric with a lustrous sheen and a soft, silky feel. Sateen sheets are more prone to pilling or tearing than those created with a plain weave.

• Jacquard and Damask are intricate weaves that create a pattern that alternates between a silky feel and something slightly more textured. These weaves are usually more expensive.

That concludes my crash course in Sheet Buying 101. Happy Shopping!

So, That's What the Kitchen is For

I’ve always joked that if I can’t bake, boil or burn something in 8 minutes or less, I won’t even try to make it. That’s a slight exaggeration. When it comes to cooking I subscribe to one belief and it involves a simple mathematical theory. ‘Preparation time of a meal should be inversely proportionate to the time it takes to consume it, with the preparation variable always being of lesser value than the consumption variable.’ In other words, it shouldn’t take longer to make it than it does to eat it. I’m not concerned with how much time it has to bake in the oven, simmer on the stove or cook in the slow-cooker. That’s ‘free time’. I’m talking about the time spent cleaning, chopping, dicing, measuring, stirring, mixing, browning (especially hate that one for some reason), folding, kneading, and any other culinary activity. All this is kept in mind when looking for new recipes.

For those of you that like serving great meals but don’t like ‘serving time’ in the kitchen, I highly recommend getting a good slow-cooker and the cookbook Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good. I have a dozen or more slow-cooker cookbooks, but this is the one I seem to use the most and I do so at least once a week. If I was to write a cookbook, it would be called Forget-it, I’m Not Fixing-it; so for a cookbook to make me eager to try new recipes, it has to be good. There are hundreds of recipes in it with everything from appetizers to beverages, main dishes to desserts and everything in between. With so many recipes offered, you are bound to discover several favorites. A few of mine are Another Chicken in a Pot, Pot Roast with Gravy and Vegetables, Swiss Steak and Beef Stew Ole. The recipes are simple, but the results are fantastic. The book also includes helpful tips throughout that are the sage advice of veteran slow-cooker-users. The tips combined with the variety of recipes have given me the confidence to experiment with my own combinations from time to time with quite tasty results. I won’t plan a menu without this cookbook!

Let me know if you try this book, have this book or recommend another one like it. I’d love to hear your comments.

SPARKED NOTE: One of the greatest advantages of using a slow-cooker (besides the time saving aspect) is that you can use less expensive cuts of meat. When slow-cooked for hours, most any cut of meat turns out tender, juicy and delicious.

Grocery Shopping Made Easy

The last entry was more of a commentary on my mindset and meant to be inspirational. Now that you know where my head is at, I will get off my virtual soapbox and move on to other topics. Let’s start with one of my favorites – organizing. Small acts of organizing reap huge rewards, especially for grocery shopping.

• In my kitchen, I keep a long lined pad along with a pencil so that every time we run out of something, we write it on the list. (First ‘we’ means the whole family, second ‘we’ means my daughter and me.)

• Each week I plan my menus for the next 7 -10 days and write down any items that aren’t on hand. I try to plan my menus according to what is on sale at the grocery store that week. And yes, Leftovers are an entrée.

• When making the ‘menu items’ list, I separate the items into produce, meats, dairy, frozen, other food, bakery/deli, and household items. By separating them into store sections, it speeds up the shopping (no running from one side to the other and back) and I am less likely to forget something.

• I then add the items from my ongoing list. Be sure to ask everyone in the family if they need something added to the list.

• If you have more than one store to go to, keep a separate list for each.

Besides saving time at the store, I also find that I only have to go grocery shopping every 7 – 10 days.

A Fine How Do You Do

I am sitting here trying to decide on a topic for my first post; after all, it is an important entry. There are two clichés that support this theory – 1) You only have one chance to make a first impression and 2) Everyone remembers their first time. Anyway, as I do this I glance at a saved page of my quote-a-day calendar that is dangling from my overloaded magnetic board. It says “A finished person is a boring person.” – Anna Quindlen. I’ve heard something similar; that version was “As long as you’re green you’ll grow; it’s when you’re ripe that you rot.” We are all works in progress and should relish that state. Everyday is an opportunity to become more than we are. Many times in response to something new, my mother will start with “Back in my day blah, blah, blah.” Well, as long as I am alive, it will be in my day! Learning keeps your mind young; therefore, I will never be old – wrinkly as hell, maybe, but never old. So, don’t close yourself off from personal growth with the excuse that you are “finished” or “ripened”. As soon as you do that you will become less than your potential.