At The Linen Closet, we get asked about high thread count and what it means:

• Its funny, 15-20 years ago mainstream American had never heard of high thread count. Then the term started popping up on tv, I even remember a scene on 90210 about sheets having a high enough thread count for a sleep over. Now its common place, even country folk, like my parents are in the know.
  
  Thread count is the number of threads that can be counted in a square inch of fabric, both the warp and weft combined. The dealers of these fabrics have special magnifying glasses for just such a counting. Think about it, even 300 threads is kinda tiny for the naked eye.
  
  The thing is, reducing the quality of a sheet to thread count alone is like picking wine by the year. There is a lot more to it than that. Since, we in the States, are relatively new to the idea of quality sheets, we have clung to this terminology out of ignorance. People come in our store all the time and ask, “what's your highest thread count?” As if that will size us up or something. Well, we stock up to a 700, but some people prefer the feel of our 500s. We’ve looked at 1000 thread count sheets and found them too heavy and too dense for anything but a cold winter , and Eureka just doesn’t get that cold.
  
  So although thread count is a place to start, I’d say its more important to trust the “hand,” how they feel to you, and the reputation of the manufacturer. As of yet, we know of no legal guidelines in the labeling of sheets. The manufacturer can say 200 thread count when its a 100 double ply. They can even say Egyptian Cotton when they are not using the long staple cotton, but the broken off bits left behind. Don’t get too hung up on the term high thread count when choosing your new sheets. Like a good bottle of wine, if it pleases you, then it is, indeed a good choice.
  
  Patty Costanzo
  The Linen Closet