Thread count is not the whole story

Thread count is the number of yarns in a square inch of fabric, warp and weft added together. On single-ply fabric it is a fair proxy for fineness: to fit 300 threads into an inch, each one has to be thin, and thin yarn needs long-staple cotton.

The inflation happens with multi-ply yarn. Twist four short-staple threads together, count the result as four, and a 250-count sheet is sold as 1000. The fabric is heavier and warmer — the opposite of what most buyers in India want.

Read three things instead: staple length, ply (single is what you want), and weave. Percale is a one-over-one plain weave that breathes; sateen floats four threads over one, which is why it feels smooth and sleeps a little warmer.

Our range runs from 210 to 600 threads, all single-ply. The 300-count percale is the one we put on our own beds.