David Raminfard, president of Kaslen Textiles, emphasizes the importance of thread count as a measure of fabric quality, indicating the density of threads in a square inch. While a higher thread count can enhance softness and comfort, the quality of yarn and weave type also play crucial roles in defining fabric comfort. The ideal thread count for a balance of softness and breathability is often found around 400, as counts above 600-800 may hinder airflow.

1. THREAD COUNT AND FABRIC QUALITY
David Raminfard

2. INTRODUCTION
Based in Southern California, David Raminfard serves as president of
KasLen Textiles, which offers clients fabrics of a wide range of styles
and types, with uses from drapery to upholstery. One quality
differentiator among the products David Raminfard distributes is
thread count, which describes density of threads within a square inch
of fabric.

3. In essence this is a measure of tightness of weave, as it calculates
the total of widthwise (weft) and lengthwise (warp) threads within
a given area of fabric. A 200 thread count fabric will have 100 weft
threads and 100 warp threads within each square inch.

4. In practice, thread count is often secondary to quality of yarn in
defining the comfort of the fabric. With sheets, higher thread count
sheets tend to feel softer and offer a more comfortable sleeping
experience. A plain-weave sheet is typically in the 180-200 thread
count range, while average sateen weave sheets are in the 250-300
range.

5. Keep in mind that quality sheets can be within a 200 to 800 thread
count range, depending on the yarn used, weave type, and
production process,. Accounting for all these factors, a thread
count of 400 may provide the ideal combination of softness and
breathability. Once in the 600-800 range, airflow may become
stifled which create a heavier and warmer fabric.