Cotton Bedding
Cotton is a fabric made by spinning the cotton ‘flowers’ or seed heads into threads. It has been used in textiles for a long time. It is soft, lightweight, and breathable, which allows air circulation to your skin. It is extremely common, durable, and easy to wash.
It should also be noted that cotton does not insulate well (with the exception of cotton flannel), and therefore, although it remains an all-weather good choice as an outer bedding material, it is not the right material for a blanket in winter. In addition, cotton absorbs a lot of moisture, which means if someone tends to perspire a lot at night, the cotton fabric will keep the moisture pressed against skin, potentially causing discomfort as well as creating a home for bacteria.
It is the most popular natural fiber for bedding, but it’s also one of the most diverse. There are many different kinds of cotton fabric on the market.
How to choose your Cotton Bedding
Cotton fiber quality is rated on several things and one of them is the length and strength of the spun threads. The longer and smoother the threads the better the finished fabric and the higher the cost. Another measurement of quality is the thread count or the amount of warp and weft threads used in one inch of fabric, the higher the count the better quality the fabric.
For bedding, you might see labels like ‘Egyptian cotton‘, ‘Pima cotton’, or ‘American Upland’.
Egyptian cotton has the longest fiber length and is considered the softest of all cotton fabrics. Originally it was only grown in limited areas of Egypt but because of demand is now grown commercially. Typically, it has a minimum thread count of 200. It can be lower in some cases, but the best choice for beddings, is to have a minimum TC of 200 for a luxurious feel. The combination of high thread count and quality yarn means it’s the strongest, most durable cotton on the market.
Pima cotton has the second longest fiber and is considered the second best quality, a luxe hotel effect at home, but within a budget. It’s an extra-long staple (ELS) cotton meaning you get the same softness and longevity for your beddings that you get with Egyptian cotton, but at a slightly cheaper price – it is usually produced in the United States.
Any bedding marked 100 percent cotton is from other varieties of cotton plant which, whilst natural, the quality can vary greatly.
The fabric weave and weight of a cotton bedding can affect how crisp, soft, warm, or cool it is. A few common types of cotton bedding are Percale weave, Sateen, Jersey and Flannel. Flannel beddings, give warmth on cold winter nights, durability and good value for money.
Organic Cotton Bedding, are the suggested natural choice here in Naturalmall.uk. They typically have been verified from a governing body such as Australian Certified Organic (ACO) or Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) – there will be a logo on the packaging – to ensure the bedding is the real deal and meets organic textile processing requirements.
A good choice for sensitive skins, it is resilient, washable and durable giving warmth and softness, a great choice for sleepwear and bedding.
