A Guide To Linens

Design Services

Understanding the fine points of bedding - the various weaves, fibers, bedding components, or stitch techniques - is essential to creating a luxurious SFERRA fine linens experience in your own home.

Alpaca:

Related to the llama, the alpaca is native to the high Andean mountains. Its fine, downy fleece is soft, lustrous and very warm.

Appliqué:

A design fashioned from pieces of fabric that are cut out and sewn or embroidered onto a base fabric.

Baffle:

A type of construction for duvets and comforters, used on all Sferra down comforters. Baffles help keep down evenly distributed, while still allowing room for the down to loft, or expand, fully.

Bed skirt:

The bed skirt, or dust ruffle, is placed between the mattress and box spring to cover the box spring, bed frame and under-bed space, and also add another decorative element to the bed ensemble.

Blanket cover:

Unlike a bedspread a blanket cover does not extend to the floor, but ends just below the mattress. It is often made of a matelassé, diamond piqué or jacquard fabric, and may serve as a lightweight bedcover or coverlet. Traditionally, a 'covering' for the blanket giving a more formal look, blanket covers may also be used underneath a duvet cover.

Boudoir pillow:

These small (12" x 16") rectangular pillows are often used as decorative pillows, baby pillows, travel pillows or to add extra neck support on the bed.

Brushed or brushing:

A finishing process for cotton or other fabrics, where the fibers are brushed or abraded to create a raised nap and a very soft texture, for example, in cotton flannel.

Buffet napkin:

An oversize napkin, usually 24" or 27" square.

Carding:

A process in the manufacture of cotton where the fibers are separated, cleaned, aligned and formed into a continuous strand. This process removes most of the impurities and short, broken or immature fibers.

Cashmere:

The extremely soft, silky and strong hair of the cashmere goat.

Cocktail napkin:

A small, square or rectangular napkin; Sferra's cocktail napkins are 6 inches square or 6 x 9" rectangular.

Combing:

A premium step beyond carding in the cotton manufacturing process that can be done only to the best grades of cotton. The longer, choice fibers are separated out, straightened and aligned. Combed yarns are finer, cleaner, more lustrous and stronger than carded yarns.

Continental, or European pillows, are large 26-inch-square pillows. They are usually placed behind the bed pillows for extra support when sitting up in bed, or for decorative interest.

Cotton:

The ideal fabric for bed linens because it "breathes," absorbing moisture from the skin to keep you comfortable in hot or cool weather. It is durable, takes dyes well and launders well. The longer the staple, or fiber, of the cotton, the better the quality of yarn and fabric that can be produced. Cotton fibers range in length from less than ? to over 2 inches; to be classified as long-staple, the fibers must be at least 1 1/8 inches. Egyptian cotton is world-renown for being the premier long-staple cotton.

Damask:

A weave made on a jacquard loom where alternating satin and matte textures (produced by varying the warp or weft) create the pattern. Damask is often woven of a single color, as on a white tablecloth, but it can also be woven with two colors. The pattern can be seen in the reverse on the opposite side.

Duvet:

An envelope of fabric that buttons, snaps or ties closed over the duvet, which can be easily removed for laundering or cleaning. Duvet covers are not only decorative, but also protect your comforter from dirt, moisture and body oils.

Duvet cover:

An envelope of fabric that buttons, snaps or ties closed over the duvet, which can be easily removed for laundering or cleaning. Duvet covers are not only decorative, but also protect your comforter from dirt, moisture and body oils. They can be used in place of a blanket and/or top sheet.

Egyptian cotton is grown in the Nile valley and is considered to be the finest cotton in the world. It has a longer staple, or fiber, which allows it to be spun into a finer thread with more tensile strength, and woven into a softer, more lustrous fabric.

Espresso/cappuccino placemat:

A smaller (6" x 9") placemat designed for tea or coffee.

European return:

All Sferra top or flat sheets feature a deep turn back known as a European return, designed to be folded over the blanket cover, blanket or duvet. The sheet cuff is made of doubled fabric for strength and durability. Hemstitching, embroidery or other detailing is continued up the side of the cuff for 20 inches to allow for a finished appearance when the sheet is turned back over the blanket or quilt. The sheet is designed to lie flat and meet the bottom edge of the coverlet, rather than being tucked in.

European square pillows:

(see "Continental," above)

Eyelet:

A form of embroidery with cut-out holes edged in stitching.

Faggoting:

An openwork or hand drawnwork stitch, like hemstitching, where weft threads are drawn out from the fabric, and the cross (warp) threads are joined, often in a zigzag pattern or ladder effect.

Fill power:

Fill power is a measure of the volume filled by an ounce of down. It is used to measure and describe the weight and warmth of a down comforter or duvet. For example, "500 fill power" means that one ounce of the down fills up 500 cubic inches. The greater the fill power, the more the down will "loft" or expand and trap air. Greater loft creates greater warmth. 500 fill power is considered average; 550 to 650 and above is considered high. Sferra duvets offer a premium 750 fill power.

Filling:

The weft or crosswise yarns in a woven fabric.

Flange or flanged hem:

A flange is a flat cuff or border along the edge of a pillow sham or duvet cover, usually several inches wide that forms a "frame" around the sham or cover, to add dimension and a crisp finishing touch.

French back:

On a pillow sham with a French back or envelope closure, the pillow usually slips between a flap of overlapping fabric on the back of the pillow. This provides a neater fit as well as a more finished appearance.

Gigluccio:

A type of hemstitching created by drawing out the weft yarns and then wrapping the warp yarns with a finishing stitch creating an "X" shape.

Goose down:

The soft, light, fluffy undercoating of the goose is a superior fill to duck down or feathers. It offers larger clusters that fluff up or "loft" to produce better insulation. Unless a duvet is labeled "goose down," it is probably duck. Although there is no difference in quality between white and gray goose down, white is preferable because it won't show through the duvet shell. Sferra uses only pure white goose down in our duvets and pillows, gathered from mature Hungarian geese.

Hand:

The tactile qualities of a fabric, such as softness, smoothness, resilience, the way it drapes, and other qualities perceived by touch.

Hemstitching:

A decorative stitch, usually along a border or hem, that creates an openwork pattern by drawing out several weft yarns, and then sewing the warp yarns together in a uniform pattern, often in a ladder-like grid.

Herringbone:

A broken twill weave that creates a zigzag or chevron pattern in the fabric.

Jacquard:

Both a loom and a type of weave that creates a pattern through the weaving of the fabric. Different colors and textures are woven into the pattern by individually adjusting the warp threads. A jacquard loom allows for more intricate and complex designs than a standard dobby loom, and is used to weave damask, brocade and tapestry fabrics.

Linen:

Linen, woven from flax, is considered to be the finest material for table linens, and to many people for sheets as well. Linen is extremely durable, yet soft and lustrous, and it only gets better with age and washing. Linen's ability to "breathe" and absorb moisture, and its cool, smooth finish makes it particularly appealing in summer. It is non-allergenic and non-static, and because of its great absorbency, makes an ideal tea towel or dish towel as well.

Luncheon napkin:

A luncheon or dessert napkin is smaller than a dinner napkin, traditionally 18 inches square.

Matelassé [mat-luh-say']:

From a French word meaning cushioned or padded, this fabric is jacquard-woven to create a raised pattern with a quilted or sculpted effect. It is often used as a blanket cover.

Mercerized:

A treatment of cotton yarn or fabric that increases its strength, luster, and affinity for dyes. The material is immersed in special bath which causes the fibers to swell, giving the fabric greater sheen.

Merino wool:

Wool from the merino sheep, which is known for its very fine, dense wool. It is considered to be the softest and most luxurious wool.

Mohair:

This wool from the angora goat is known for its silkiness and luster, as well as its durability and resilience.

Percale:

A closely woven cotton in a plain weave of at least 180 thread count.

Pillow shams:

Pillowcases are open at one end, while pillow shams are finished on four sides and fashioned with a French back or envelope closure. The pillow usually slips between a tailored flap of overlapping fabric on the back of the pillow. This provides a neater fit as well as a more finished appearance. Most of our bedding ensembles offer both pillowcases and pillow shams.

Piqué:

A medium to heavyweight cotton fabric with a recessed or embossed pattern produced by a double warp thread.

Plain weave:

Along with satin and twill, one of the three basic weaves. A plain weave describes a simple under-and-over pattern of weaving with individual warp and weft yarns.

Punto ombra stitching:

A satin stitch done on the reverse side of the fabric, creating a raised border on the front, for a subtly finished hem. This special Italian hem treatment is done on many of our bed ensembles for a clean-lined, durable, elegant finish.

Rose scalloping:

An embroidered scallop border with a series of smaller scallops within the first, resembling the edge of a rose petal.

Sanforized:

A mechanical treatment that preshrinks fabric. Fabrics bearing this trademark are generally accepted not to shrink more than 1%.

Sateen and satin:

Sateen is cotton made with a satin weave. Rather than a one-over-one weave like percale, the warp or weft threads "float" or are passed over several filling threads, creating a fabric with a silken feel and a very smooth and lustrous surface. Sateens can be produced in both light and heavy weights. It is not as durable a weave as percale, and it should ideally be ironed to restore its luster after washing.

Satin stitch:

A simple straight stitch, done back and forth in a narrow line, often used to create a border or monogram.

Scallop stitching:

A scalloped border, with a series of curves or half-circles, that is finished with satin stitching.

Shadow work:

An elegant, subtle decorative treatment where stitching is done on the reverse side of the fabric, with only the outline stitching showing on the front, revealing the 'shadow' of the pattern underneath on the front face.

Shrinkage:

Widthwise or lengthwise contraction of a fiber, yarn or fabric after drying. All products made of natural fibers have a tendency to shrink 4 - 7%. All Sferra sheets are over cut and sized to accommodate shrinkage.

Staple:

A synonym for fiber, and also a term used to indicate lengths of fiber.

Tea cloth or topper:

A square tablecloth, usually designed to go over a floor-length tablecloth.

Tea napkin:

A smaller napkin for cocktails or tea; ours is 13 inches square.

Thread count is a measure of how many threads-warp (lengthwise) and weft (widthwise) are woven into one square inch of fabric. With finer threads, like those of Egyptian cotton, more can be woven into each square inch. Sheet thread counts generally range from 180 (anything above 180 is considered cotton percale) up to 1020.

Tick or ticking:

The shell or cover of a duvet, pillow or mattress. It should be made of the highest quality cotton, tightly woven to prevent the down from escaping. Sferra duvet tickings are made of down-proof Egyptian cotton sateen with a 310 thread count, and finished with a cotton satin braid.

Topper:

See "tea cloth" above

Twill weave:

One of three basic weaves (the others are plain and satin), characterized by a diagonal rib in the fabric. It produces a strong, durable, firm fabric. Denim is an example of a twill weave.

Warp thread:

The lengthwise yarns in a fabric that are parallel to the selvage and are interwoven with the filling, or weft.

Weft (also called woof or filling):

The crosswise threads.

Yarn-dyed:

A process where yarn is dyed before the fabric is woven, for greater color retention and durability. Used to create patterns such as gingham, plaids and woven stripes.

Source: Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, 7th Edition.