Not all types of cotton are the same, and not all cotton sheets are woven the same way. Different terms indicate the fiber content and manufacturing process used on the sheets.
Identification
Pima is a type of cotton. The pima cotton plant is crossbred from Egyptian and American cottons. It produces extra-long fibers. The term percale refers to the way the cotton is woven; percale cotton sheets have a thread count of at least 180 threads per square inch and the same number of threads lengthwise and widthwise.
Considerations
Because the term percale refers to the weave of the sheets, not all percale sheets are 100-percent cotton. Some percale sheets are blends. Pima cotton sheets are 100-percent cotton unless otherwise marked as a pima blend or a mix.
Fun Fact
It is possible to have pima cotton percale sheets. This means the sheets are made from pima cotton but woven in a percale fashion.
References
- "Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring For Clothes and Linens"; Cheryl Mendelson; 2005
- "Knitters Book of Yarn"; Clara Parkes; 2007
- "Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House"; Cheryl Mendelson; 2005
Writer Bio
Elizabeth Tumbarello has been writing since 2006, with her work appearing on various websites. She is an animal lover who volunteers with her local Humane Society. Tumbarello attended Hocking College and is pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in veterinary technology from San Juan College.
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