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Frequently Asked Questions

Purchase wisely.  Make an informed decision.  Invest in the Best Quality possible for the maximum durability & enhanced enjoyment.    An Heirloom quality Comforter will provide a decade or two of life with proper care.

WHAT IS FILL POWER? 

WHAT IS THREADCOUNT?

SHOPPING TIPS FOR BUYING A DOWN COMFORTER

 

WHAT IS FILL POWER?

Fill Power is a number which indicates the fluffiness of the down, or LOFT. The loftier the down, the higher the number, the better quality the down

Fill Power is not everything and sometimes this number is not honest. The measurement needs to be made in a very specific manner to be accurate. Down mixtures for comforters usually measure in the 600 to 850+ FP range.  Do not believe claims of a higher number.  

Fill Power is a volume measurement for one ounce of down. In other words, how much space does an ounce of down occupy? One ounce of a 650 Fill Power down mixture means that it takes up 650 cubic inches of space.  The measurement must be done in a specific way in order to be accurate. Fill Power is only one indicator of the comforter quality, but not the only one.   Mixtures incorporate different particle size. feather content, fiber content, dust and contaminants.

WHAT IS THREADCOUNT?

Thread count (TC) is defined as the number of threads per square inch of a fabric. For example, if a vendor claims they are selling you a 600 TC sheet, you should be able to count 600 threads in every square inch of fabric.


It is one way for you to determine if the sheet is coarse or soft to the touch. Lower thread count means that the sheet is coarser. Higher thread count usually means the sheet is softer (and lighter). The starting quality of the cotton actually has greater impact on the final fabric.

The fabric will have its own unique feel, which is referred to as "the Hand" of the fabric.  Thread count is only one indicator of a fabric's quality and softness. Just as with Fill Power, it is just one of several factors that contribute to overall quality. The truth is that thread count calculations can be misleading.  Good quality cotton percale sheets usually start in the 200TC range. Excellent quality sateen sheets may be found in the 300TC range or higher and are usually made of Egyptian cotton.

Higher thread count is not always an indicator of better quality.  In fact, Egyptian cotton sheets in the 300 thread count range are frequently superior to the 1,000 thread count bed linens that are now appearing in the mass market. Many of the best luxury linen companies refuse to state their thread count except to say that they are high.
Other things to consider.

The best cottons have long fibers (or staple) which are needed for the creation of soft, durable yarns. Better quality sheeting is made of Egyptian cotton, because Egyptian cotton is long noted for these properties. The raw materials must be properly cleaned and processed while making of the yarn, which also contributes to the hand.

Better cottons wear longer and feel more comfortable.
A high thread count sheet woven from an inferior cotton lacks physical integrity and can literally fall apart. A long-staple fiber is the best starting material, because it can be spun into a thinner, stronger thread. (Note that as thread count increases, the individual threads must get skinnier in order to fit into a square inch, and therefore need to be stronger.) Thread count calculations increase, if the yarn is double twisted or a multiple-ply construction is used. The type of weave (percale, sateen, jacquard, twill, etc.) will also influence the texture and the feel of the sheeting.

SHOPPING TIPS FOR FINDING THE BEST DOWN PRODUCTS & COMFORTERS 

  • The OUTSIDE of a comforter is just as important as the INSIDE. What distinguishes a better comforter is its overall construction, sewing, fabric quality and type of down. The expected life of a superior comforter should exceed a decade or two with proper care.

  • Basic Down Products should contain a light, dust-free, high loft Goose Down* fill, with a minimal feather content (less than 0.3% by weight). Generally, the higher the fill power the better the down (the higher the loft). Goose Down provides superior warmth and lightness, compared to DUCK DOWN found in the United States. (**see Eiderdown)

  • The shell should be a high-grade fabric that is well-sewn. The ticking should be a tight-weave of cotton (or Lyocell) to prevent leakage and deterioration of the fabric over time.  A  280-330 Threadcount Long-Staple cotton is optimal to maintain breathability. A higher thread-count may not breath, and rarely adds real value.

  • What gives down its special properties is its warmth and lightness along with its resilience against compression. How much air is trapped in the microstructure of the down filaments (loft/high fill power) is also important. Broken down filaments and feather are called “fiber.” These particles lay flat, do not hold air and have zero insulative power.

  • GOOSE DOWN IS SUPERIOR to Duck Down**

  • Mature geese from the coldest climates produce the very best down and the largest clusters. White down is preferred because darker down particle will show through your linens or your duvet cover. Duck Down is an inferior product, comes from China, a byproduct of the food industry and is vastly cheaper. Do not be fooled.

  • Do not purchase a dusty comforter, or one filled with hard materials or feather. The ticking should not be made of coarse fabric and the sewing should look tight. Use your hands to feel the comforter or pat it vigorously several times to see if it is dusty. If it is, you will see a cloud of dust.

  • Quality Control* is the Most Important Standard when it comes to the Down and Feather industry and comforters. Down products are made from mixtures of down and feather. It’s impossible to separate the two. Down is graded by its attributes: cluster- size, fill power, purity, and country of origin

*Manufacturers stated quality can be very misleading.  Specification in the United States allows up to 20% by weight non-down product to be legally contained in a product and still be labeled as 100% Down.  Duck feather can also be introduced, which is cheap and heavy when compared with goosedown. Feathers are heavy and poke through the fabric, causing permanent leaks in the comforter. Adding feather only adds ounces to the weight of the comforter and is a sign of a cheap quality product.

**Duck down is vastly inferior to Goose down, except for the Eider duck which produces an unusual grey down with special attributes, making it extremely light and warm. However, the Eider duck is endangered. Down from the Eider duck must be collected only from abandoned nests and can be extremely difficult to find. Thus Eider down comforters are rare and very expensive. Please call me for a quote if you desire an Eider down duvet. Expect to pay in excess of $5,000. A full deposit is required for these orders and no returns will be accepted.