Glossary of Terms
A glossary of terms to help you with all those bedding technical terms!
Anti-Allergy - Anti-allergy labels are given to products which provide a barrier to allergens that can cause irritations during the night such as asthma, itchy eyes, itchy skin, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and blocked nose.
Applique - It refers a needlework technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto another piece of fabric to create designs
Binding - Also called edging or piping, this is the decorative trim on the fold-down portion of a flat sheet or pillowcase.
Blend - A combination of two or more different types of fibers woven together to make cloth. A blended fabric can be made with different fiber yarns or with blended fiber yarns
Cassette (Box) Construction - Rectangular stitched pockets to keep the filling in the natural duvet evenly spread when in use.
Comforter - A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering. Comforter sizes correspond with bed sizes: twin, full, queen, king, and cal-king. Comforter sizes run slightly larger than actual bed sizes to allow for draping over the sides of the bed.
Cotton - Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant (Gossypium sp.), a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India, and Africa. The fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile, which is the most widely used natural-fiber cloth in clothing today.
Down - Is the lightest most effective insulator. Soft, fluffy puffs of down grow under the breast feathers of geese and ducks keeping them warm and cozy in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer
Dust Mite - Invisible insect like creature that lives on house dust and dead skin. They tend to live in the mattress or pillow. Their droppings cause allergies. Use of mattress and pillow protectors to keep them away from your bedding is well recommended. Washing your bedding at 60°C kills dust mites and their eggs.
Duvet - A warm, soft bed covering that is filled with down or feathers.
Duvet Cover/Comforter Cover - Similar to a large pillowcase for your comforter/Quilt/Duvet, acts to protect a comforter and add a decorative element.
Egyptian Cotton - The term Egyptian cotton is usually applied to the extra long staple cotton produced in Egypt and favored for the luxury and up market brands worldwide. In fact, the cotton species which produces extra long staple "Egyptian" cotton was introduced by Mohammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century. It gives ultra softness and is cool in nature.
Fitted Sheet - Sheet used to snuggly cover one's mattress, also called the "bottom sheet". Fitted sheets usually have gusset corners with some type of elastic sewn around the bottom edge to provide fit and holding attributes around the mattress
Flat Sheet - Also called the "top sheet", a flat sheet is placed on top of the fitted sheet and is typically tucked around the mattress at the sides and the bottom
Greige Fabric – It is a raw or unfinished state (pronounced "gray Most cotton greige cloth is a cream or tan color)
GSM - Grams per square meter. It refers to the weight of the fabric, thus the higher the GSM the heavier and thicker the material.
Hypoallergenic - A term to describe objects that have a decreased likelihood of provoking an allergic reaction.
Jacquard - A type of weaving and the cloth produced by such weaving. Jacquard weaving is not done with harnesses to lift the warp yarns, but rather a "jacquard head" on the loom individually controls each warp yarn. Jacquard weaving allows intricate designs to be woven.
Mattress - The actual sleep surface of the bed; a bed's support, firmness and comfort are supplied by the mattress.
Mattress Protector - A cover for your mattress to provide a barrier to allergens and protection against spills.
Memory Foam - A type of elastic, viscous synthetic foam with exceptional contouring abilities.
Percale - Percale refers to a closely woven fabric often used for bed linens. Many people are of the mistaken impression that the term "percale" refers to a blend of cotton and polyester, etc. This is not the case. Percale can be a 50/50 blend, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fabrics in any ratio. The word "percale" refers to the weave of the fabric, not its content. A percale weave is noticeably "tighter" when compared to the standard type of weave used for bed-sheets.
Polycotton - A blend of polyester and cotton that gives breathability and is lightly brushed for a soft handle. The softness and finish of cotton and the easy care non iron qualities of polyester mean that polycotton bed linens are popular choices for regular home use.
Sateen - Sateen is a cotton fabric with a satin-like finish, often found in bed sheets to provide a smoother, softer and silkier finish. Sateen is usually made of cotton, or sometimes rayon. Better qualities are mercerised to give a higher sheen. Sateen produces the sheen and softer feel through the use of a different stitch in the weaving process making it extremely soft, though slightly less durable than other weaves.
Thread Count - The quality of bed linen is often conveyed by the thread count - the number of threads per square inch of material. Refers to the number of threads, both lengthwise (warp) and widthwise (weft) woven in one-inch square of fabric. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the thread counts the greater the softness and quality.
