Thread count

[ruby2shoes]

I have done a search and read the posts but am still confused so, embarassed as I am, can someone please explain to me about thread count? Now I read somewhere that a thread count of above 70 per square inch of quilting fabric is good but when I dutifully clipped a square inch of my chosen backing fabric, grabbed my tweezers and magnifyers and pulled said sample apart I counted 143 threads! Was I only meant to count the weft or warp threads...not both? Do I have too much time on my hands to be obsessing over this?

[Prism99]

IMHO, you are obsessing.

[quiltsRfun]

IMHO, you are obsessing.

..........Agree...........

[ManiacQuilter2]

IMHO, you are obsessing.

I agree too. The ONLY time I have ever heard of thread count is with bed sheets, not quilting fabric. You can actually tell by feel the difference between good quality cotton and the cheap stuff.

[notmorecraft]

I only consider thread count when buying Egyptian Cotton sheets for my bed, the higher the count the batter quality and more expensive. Otherwise why do you need to know?

[ruby2shoes]

Thought it would indicate a better quality quilting cotton? Not so?

[bearisgray]

I have done a search and read the posts but am still confused so, embarassed as I am, can someone please explain to me about thread count? Now I read somewhere that a thread count of above 70 per square inch of quilting fabric is good but when I dutifully clipped a square inch of my chosen backing fabric, grabbed my tweezers and magnifyers and pulled said sample apart I counted 143 threads! Was I only meant to count the weft or warp threads...not both? Do I have too much time on my hands to be obsessing over this?

I have considered doing exactly what you did. Just never got around to doing it.

I was also wondering the same thing you were wondering about thread count. 70 didn't seem to be "enough" threads for both the lengthwise and crosswise threads.

I thank you for doing so.

[ruby2shoes]

Maybe if it was 70 each way? That would make 140 total.......which puts my count more "in the ball park". I did a second count (am I nuts!!!!) of another 1" square and kept the warp and weft threads seperate and got 65 and 72 (give or take a few that may have fallen off the table, got stuck to my sleeve or been inhaled by the dog!). A bit of "after-dinner" googling has me none the wiser or informed on the subject!

[Mdegenhart]

I'm exhausted just reading this.

[quilterpurpledog]

Threads are counted in both direction. Thicker threads make for a coarser fabric and printing that looks 'muddled' or 'muddied' because of dye absorption. And, they fray easily. A another advantage of a higher thread count is that the yarns are more tightly twisted, thus they wear better. That is very important in some applications. More tightly twisted yarns provide more stability when bias direction is a factor. No, I don't think you are 'obsessed' you are asking questions that affect the end product.