Choosing the Fabric That Best Suits You - Egyptian Cotton, Percale, Or
Sateen
By Paul
Britt
EGYPTIAN COTTON
Known as the best cotton in the world, Egyptian
cotton is a particular type of extra long staple cotton (ELS) originally grown
along the Nile in the rich soil of Egypt's Nile River Valley. When the ELS
cotton is pulled from the cotton plant, and the seeds and waxes removed, it
leaves longer fibers for spinning into yarn than other cottons. It is then
woven by intertwining strands of yarn.
Egyptian cotton bed sheets don't pill from
use, thin with wear, or get that sand-papery feel. That's because the plant
produces little or no lint. Also, it has fewer connection points, rendering a
greater percentage of area of natural softness making it an undeniably superior
fabric.
PERCALE
Percale bed sheets date back to India's 17th
and 18th centuries. Percale is often referred to as Percale Cotton - it is
sometimes made with 100% cotton - but the defining factor is the weave-type. It
is a distinctive single pick insertion that uses both carded and combed yarns.
While carded is less expensive, when it is combed the short fibers are removed
leaving a smooth, compact yarn better suited for weaving. The vertical yarns
are then inserted with horizontal ones. When inserted one yarn at time, it's
known as single pick insertion; four at a time is 4-pick insertion. The higher
number of insertions speed-up the weaving process but at a cost and that is a
lesser quality product.
Percale sheets are known for their crispness,
firmness, smoothness and affordability. And, they wash well, too. The tightly
woven yarns make excellent sheets for both conventional beds and waterbeds
SATEEN
Sateen cotton feels and looks a lot like
satin. In the early 1900s it became popular mostly because it cost much less to
produce than satin. It is usually composed of 100% woven cotton, however,
you'll occasionally find some from rayon.
Quality Sateen is made via the Two-Step
Process, using both carded and combed yarns. The cotton is first mercerized,
i.e., it is soaked in sodium hydroxide, and then is placed in an acid bath.
This creates both luster and strength. Next is the Sateen Weave which is one vertical
thread woven for every four horizontal ones. More threads exposed on the
surface allows for more light to be reflected giving the fabric that high
sheen.
Some Sateen producers choose not to employ the
Two Step Process in favor of the Calendared Method. Fabric is merely run
between two rolling pins to create the glossy sheen. The result is a poorer
grade product and one in which the sheen quickly fades with laundering.
"Two-Step" Sateen it is both a quality and an affordable fabric with
a luxurious long-lasting luster.
Hopefully, these explanations clarify the
distinctions and will help you make astute selections of the fabrics that best
suit you.
