How do ply yarns affect the quality of the fabric?

If you've ever knitted or crocheted, you'll know most woollen threads are ply yarns. In the context of bed linen, ply yarn is two or more individual threads that are twisted together as they are woven on the loom to make a thicker, stronger, smoother thread.

Ply yarns are an interesting subject as they are widely perceived as just a way to 'bulk out' thread count and rarely are the benefits of ply-ing yarns at the forefront of discussion. Because a ply yarn is made up of multiple threads, fabrics made with ply yarn tend to be stronger than those made without. They are often also smoother thanks to the way the individual fibres lie within the yarn.

If a ply yarn has been used in a fabric, the fineness of the yarn used is paramount. Fine yarns used to create a ply yarn will still result in a smooth, supple luxurious fabric. Ply yarns that use thicker yarns will result in a more starchy finished feel. At Soak&Sleep, we flag any fabrics that use ply yarns in the product content and we can guide you as to the fineness of the yarn used in the ply-ing process so you know what to expect from your fabric of choice.