Do you know the difference between single and two-ply yarns and how it actually affects your sheets?
Single-ply and two-ply are terms you’ve heard thrown when talking about the quality of sheets, pillows and other bedding materials. Without research, you might think that a higher thread count or higher ply would mean that the weave is of a higher quality and a warmer or more luxurious feeling fabric. This isn’t true. Taking the time to understand what these buzz words really mean can help you recognize true quality, outsmart low-quality brands, and become a more informed buyer.
To help you understand, we have to start with the basics. ‘Ply’ simply indicates how many threads are wrapped together to form a single thread for sewing. Single-ply yarn is made using one long-staple cotton fibre to create a thread while two-ply yarns (or double-ply) refer to a yarn made with two threads of lower quality, shorter and weaker threads twisted together to make one thicker thread. When you see a thread count of over 1000 thread count, you may think this higher count means higher quality but this is in fact, just a marketing trick. Any company that boasts thread counts this high is using the double-ply method and really just has a double count of lower quality fibre.
Vicki Fulop, co-founder of Brooklinen puts it best: “In the case of cotton, a longer staple is a better staple. Longer cotton fibres can be spun into stronger, finer yarns, and produce extremely smooth and supple weaves. Shorter fibres can poke out of the weave, leading to a coarser, weaker fabric.”
Maholi sees this as a misnomer and never uses this process to overpromise and underdeliver. Instead, we use only single-ply cotton fabrics that are 100% genuine long fibre cotton yarn. We offer both a sateen and percale style weave in many of our produces so you can choose your favourite style for your specific bedding needs.
Products with a sateen weave feel silky smooth and extremely soft and cozy. This weave creates a light fabric ideal if you often get hot while sleeping. Sateen material also typically drapes well, resists wrinkles, and has a silky finish with a slight sheen. The secret to this weave is multiple horizontal threads over one single vertical thread creating a weave with a super-soft finish. Because several threads lie on the surface, sateen fabrics usually appear more vibrant and lustrous.
In contrast, a percale weave is much tighter and feels crisp and cool to the touch and is often more durable when it comes to pulls and snags. While it doesn’t feel as smooth and soft as sateen, this is a great option if you are on a budget and will keep your temperature regulated while you sleep. Percale follows a one-yarn-over and one-yarn under grid pattern and results in a matte finish with a cool, crisp feel that’s easy to maintain and care for.
We at Maholi love to offer a wide variety of the best materials and styles for you to choose from. If you’re looking for sateen, we have Comforters/Duvets and pillow shells and the exclusive Maholi brand has a luxurious 500 single-ply thread count Comforter/Duvet. We also have percale options under our Royal Elite and Ambassador brands. You’ll find a wide range of Comforters/Duvets, Pillows, and Mattress Topper shells with thread counts of 233, 260, and 280.
The more educated you become the better decisions you can make for yourself and your family when it comes to buying the best possible bedding for your needs and desires. Maholi ensures a top-quality guarantee no matter which options you choose so you can get a perfect sleep!