Not too long ago, noone even cared about thread counts.

But today, look out! Thread counts seem to be the biggie for alot of people when deciding on what sorts of bed linens to buy.

The truth concerning thread counts may seem a bit difficult to understand. Hang in there with me though and you'll know more than most folks about the subject! Let's look at this and get it sorted out so you don't jump at those 1000 count sheets without knowing why!

Our grandparents and parents slept on lower thread count cotton sheets and did just fine, didn't they ? These sheets were functional, but could feel abit thin and unsubstantial by our standards these days. Heck..I remember some of my favorite sheets actually wearing out in the middle they got so thin. lol

Today, bed linens can be found from a miserly 120 thread count up to as high as 1200. Who knows where it'll end!

Is all this talk about thread counts much ado about nothing? Well, the answer is yes and no. Thread count alone will not tell you how bedding will feel to the touch or how well it will hold up over long years of use.

The feel of bedding, what the sheets feel like on your skin, is defined as the "hand" or "handle". The hand of the bedding does have something to do with thread count, but that's not the only thing to consider. The way the bedding is woven and the content of the fabric have a lot to do with the hand of the bedding. The character, or individuality of a material includes how the fabric drapes, the elasticity, softness and fineness of how that particular sheet feels.

The ply is another part of what defines the number of single yarns which are twisted to become the ply from which the bedding is woven. By twisting these single yarns together, the fabric is more resilient and long lasting. The ply yarns are twisted together to form cord- and the cord is the actual material used in the weaving process. How's that for confusing? Before you jump ship, relax...it gets easier.

Finish is yet another characteristic of bedding which affects how it will feel to the skin. Is the sheet smooth or more natural under your fingers..? What you prefer is what's best for you. Sort of getting simpler isn't it..?

Now that we know a bit about what makes one sheet different from another sheet, let's get the facts go back to the facts about thread count.

The actual definition of thread count is the number of threads per square inch of fabric going horizontal and vertical. So you see now that you can't really decide on bed linens just by thread count now.

Generally speaking, the higher thread count materials will have softer textures- or hands. However, the bedding has to be viewed from an overall standpoint and take into account the fabric composition and the finish to determine how soft a sheet will actually be.

The most favored thread counts in bed linens today are in the 200 to 600 range. The best combination of softness and durability are found in this range.

So, bottom line is, just look for what features most important to you without worrying so much about getting the highest thread count possible.

If you want few or no wrinkles, choose a polyester/cotton blend. Less crisp, less cool than cotton.

If you like the feel of satin or silk, but don't like sliding off the bed, choose a 100% cotton sateen weave. =)

If you like the extra warm feel of flannel, select brushed cotton or flannel finish- but be aware that this weave often pills quickly after only a few washings. (Look for the highest ounce weight fabric you can find to minimize this).

Percale often softens more and more as it is washed again and again. Simple, elegant, cool.

Egyptian cotton is King of course, with the longest cotton fibers available to date. Supima cotton is also excellent, with a tiny bit shorter fiber length. Either of them becomes softer and even more sumptuous with each washing! You can't go wrong no matter what with either choices.

So, don't be taken in by a high price tag. Just because a sheet costs a lot doesn't necessarily mean it will feel any better than a lesser expensive sheet.