Glossary
Baffle Box - Internal three-dimensional fabric wall boxes allow maximum thickness and comfort while maintaining even distribution of the fill within the boxes. Minimizes migration of fill for maximum comfort and support Baffle Box finishing is often found on quality Duvets and Comforters, especially when filled with down or feathers and is considered a key feature to look for when investing in quality comforters or duvets.
Bedskirt – A Bedskirt (or Dust Ruffle) covers your box spring and touches (or nearly touches) the floor. Bedskirts are often coordinated with Bedding Collections or sets and provide a finished and tidy look to your bedroom décor. The standard drop on a bed skirt is 14”.
Binding - This is the finished stitching on sewn items, also often referred to as edging or piping. Binding can also be decorative trim detailing on the hem portion of a flat sheet, pillowcase or pillow sham. Binding can also be used in contrast to bed linens allowing the detailing to stand out.
Blend - A combination of two or more different types of fibers woven together to make a distinct cloth. An example would be a blend of polyester and cotton fibers used in a sheet set, which allows the sheets to be warmer and less wrinkle prone than cotton fiber alone.
Brushing - A mechanical fabric finishing process that raises the nap of the fabric, similar to combing, which gives the fabric a softer feel. An example of a brushed fabric would be Flannel.
Cambric – A lightweight, closely woven white linen or fabric with a slight glossy surface created by calendaring.
Carding - A yarn preparation where raw cotton is separated, opened, cleaned, and made into sliver (a continuous ropelike strand of loosely assembled fibers). All cotton yarns are carded, not all cotton yarns are combed. See also: Combing.
Chamber - Term used in pillow, comforter, and feather bed construction that indicates walls of fabric sewn inside the basic shell that contains down or feather separate from other filled portions, enabling various support characteristics. See the definition of baffle box above for more details on this.
Combing - A yarn preparation for removing all short fibers and impurities from cotton. Combed yarn is superior to carded yarn in that it is more compact and has fewer projecting fibers. The finest cotton fabrics are made from combed yarns.
Comforter Cover - See: Duvet Cover.
Cotton – Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile. The length of the fiber is the major determining factor in the relative quality of the cotton. The best quality cotton is Egyptian, Supima and Pima cotton.
Damask- Is a glossy jacquard-patterned fabric. Gorgeously detailed intricate patterns can be found in damask bedding. Damask is similar to brocade but flatter and reversible. In general, any piece of dyed (single color) cloth with a woven pattern is called damask.
Down - Down is a fine thermal insulator and padding, used in goods such as jackets, bedding, pillows and sleeping bags. Down is an excellent insulator originating from waterfowl such as ducks or geese. The soft, fluffy tufts of down grow under the breast feathers of waterfowl keeping them insulated all year long.
Down Comforter - A shell filled with the small insulating down feathers of either geese or ducks.
Duvet – A type of bedding traditionally filled with down, feathers, or other natural or synthetic fibers and used on a bed as a blanket.
Duvet Cover - A plain or decorative shell to cover and protect your Comforters and Duvets. Duvet Covers are available in an endless variety of colors, patterns and fabrics. Beddington’s recommends that you protect ALL down, wool and feather filled Duvets and Comforters with a Duvet Cover.
Egyptian Cotton - The long staple or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be used to create stronger fabrics which are lighter in weight yet breathe well. Egyptian cotton is used to make products, which are soft, durable and superior.
Feather Bed - Feathers contained within a fabric shell and lay on top of a mattress as a mattress topper. The featherbed will normally have elastic straps or even have a fitted sheet on it so that it fits over your mattress and stays in place.
Feather Bed Cover - Similar to a pillow protector, these large coverings for a feather bed help to protect it from dirt and body oils.
Fill Power - The measurement in cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill when placed in a glass tube and allowed to loft for up to 3 days.
Fitted Sheet - This is the bottom sheet used to fit tightly over your mattress. Most basic fitted sheets will have elastic sewn around the corner edges while some higher end fitted sheets will feature elastic all the way around the bottom edge, which is more ideal. Fitted sheets are available in a variety of pocket depths, which refers to the thickness of your 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 - A term used to describe fabrics in their raw or unfinished state that are unbleached and have not been dyed.
Hand - Refers to the feel or perception of touch qualities of fabric, i.e., softness, fineness, firmness, elasticity, etc.
Hemstitch - A special method of embroidery commonly used on sheets and pillowcases.
Jacquard – Created using a jacquard loom, this term refers to the weaving process and the cloth produced by such weaving. Jacquard weaving allows for intricate designs and textures to be woven and is used in items such as bedding, towels and other textiles.
Muslin – Lightweight, and breathable, muslin is a plain-weave fabric made of cotton or poly/cotton blends not less than 128 threads per square inch.
Open Construction - Term used to describe comforter construction where the filling is allowed to move around. The top and bottom layers of the shell may be stitched, but only in certain spots which does allow the fill to shift around and bunch up, therefore requiring more fluffing.
Percale - A closely woven plain-weave fabric often used for bed linens. Percale refers only to the weave of the fabric and not the fiber content. Percale generally consists of 180 thread count or higher.
Pilling - The tendency of fibers like those of bed sheets, to eventually work loose from the sheet surface and form little balls that remain attached to the surface of the fabric. You'll typically find that pilling can occur in bedding with lower thread counts, however it can still occur in higher quality bedding perhaps on certain areas of the fabric where there is excessive friction or by improper laundering of the fabric.
Pillow Protector - A zippered casing, used underneath a pillowcase, which protects your pillow from dirt and oils.
Pillow Sham – A decorative covering for a pillow, typically with a trim, either tailored or ruffled. A fancy pillowcase.
Pillowcase - A functional pillow covering to protect your pillow from body oils and soiling; which generally matches the bed sheets.
Plied Yarns – This term refers to yarns that are twisted together after spinning to create a new yarn. Plied yarns don't increase the durability or strength of the fabric and will exhibit a different feel, or hand than a cloth woven with single yarns. Plied yarns are generally counted as only one yarn when determining thread count.
Polyester - A man made synthetic fiber that is durable, wrinkle and shrinkage resistant, non-breathable. Polyester fibers are often blended with cotton or other fibers to produce a blended cloth.
Pre-Shrinking - Most pre-shrinking of cotton cloth is done on a compressive shrinkage range which is a mechanical process that allows cotton cloth to shrink naturally in its length. This process minimizes further shrinkage in laundering or dry cleaning of the finished product.
Print - Print refers to the image, illustration or pattern applied or transferred to the cloth.
Resin Finish - When resin is applied to fabric for stiffening or to give wrinkle resistance or permanent-press characteristics. Resin finishes also reduce residual shrinkage, but weakens the cloth in the process
Sanforizing - A patented pre-shrinking process where by the fabric is run through a sanforizer; a machine that has drums filled with hot steam. This process is done to control the shrinkage of the fabric. See also: Pre-Shrinking.
Sateen Weave - A 4 x 1 weave (one of the three basic weaves) that has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more lustrous look. Also, cloth made with combed yarns that are usually mercerized and have a very smooth, lustrous surface effect.
Supima® Cotton - A brand name applied to articles made from 100% Pima cotton grown by members of the Supima® Association of America. (100% American grown Pima cotton).
Thread Count - The actual number of threads going in either direction within one square inch of cloth.
Twill Weave - A basic fabric weave identified by diagonal lines in the woven cloth.
Warp Yarns - The yarns that run the length of the woven fabric.
Bedskirt – A Bedskirt (or Dust Ruffle) covers your box spring and touches (or nearly touches) the floor. Bedskirts are often coordinated with Bedding Collections or sets and provide a finished and tidy look to your bedroom décor. The standard drop on a bed skirt is 14”.
Binding - This is the finished stitching on sewn items, also often referred to as edging or piping. Binding can also be decorative trim detailing on the hem portion of a flat sheet, pillowcase or pillow sham. Binding can also be used in contrast to bed linens allowing the detailing to stand out.
Blend - A combination of two or more different types of fibers woven together to make a distinct cloth. An example would be a blend of polyester and cotton fibers used in a sheet set, which allows the sheets to be warmer and less wrinkle prone than cotton fiber alone.
Brushing - A mechanical fabric finishing process that raises the nap of the fabric, similar to combing, which gives the fabric a softer feel. An example of a brushed fabric would be Flannel.
Cambric – A lightweight, closely woven white linen or fabric with a slight glossy surface created by calendaring.
Carding - A yarn preparation where raw cotton is separated, opened, cleaned, and made into sliver (a continuous ropelike strand of loosely assembled fibers). All cotton yarns are carded, not all cotton yarns are combed. See also: Combing.
Chamber - Term used in pillow, comforter, and feather bed construction that indicates walls of fabric sewn inside the basic shell that contains down or feather separate from other filled portions, enabling various support characteristics. See the definition of baffle box above for more details on this.
Combing - A yarn preparation for removing all short fibers and impurities from cotton. Combed yarn is superior to carded yarn in that it is more compact and has fewer projecting fibers. The finest cotton fabrics are made from combed yarns.
Comforter Cover - See: Duvet Cover.
Cotton – Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile. The length of the fiber is the major determining factor in the relative quality of the cotton. The best quality cotton is Egyptian, Supima and Pima cotton.
Damask- Is a glossy jacquard-patterned fabric. Gorgeously detailed intricate patterns can be found in damask bedding. Damask is similar to brocade but flatter and reversible. In general, any piece of dyed (single color) cloth with a woven pattern is called damask.
Down - Down is a fine thermal insulator and padding, used in goods such as jackets, bedding, pillows and sleeping bags. Down is an excellent insulator originating from waterfowl such as ducks or geese. The soft, fluffy tufts of down grow under the breast feathers of waterfowl keeping them insulated all year long.
Down Comforter - A shell filled with the small insulating down feathers of either geese or ducks.
Duvet – A type of bedding traditionally filled with down, feathers, or other natural or synthetic fibers and used on a bed as a blanket.
Duvet Cover - A plain or decorative shell to cover and protect your Comforters and Duvets. Duvet Covers are available in an endless variety of colors, patterns and fabrics. Beddington’s recommends that you protect ALL down, wool and feather filled Duvets and Comforters with a Duvet Cover.
Egyptian Cotton - The long staple or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be used to create stronger fabrics which are lighter in weight yet breathe well. Egyptian cotton is used to make products, which are soft, durable and superior.
Feather Bed - Feathers contained within a fabric shell and lay on top of a mattress as a mattress topper. The featherbed will normally have elastic straps or even have a fitted sheet on it so that it fits over your mattress and stays in place.
Feather Bed Cover - Similar to a pillow protector, these large coverings for a feather bed help to protect it from dirt and body oils.
Fill Power - The measurement in cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill when placed in a glass tube and allowed to loft for up to 3 days.
Fitted Sheet - This is the bottom sheet used to fit tightly over your mattress. Most basic fitted sheets will have elastic sewn around the corner edges while some higher end fitted sheets will feature elastic all the way around the bottom edge, which is more ideal. Fitted sheets are available in a variety of pocket depths, which refers to the thickness of your 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 - A term used to describe fabrics in their raw or unfinished state that are unbleached and have not been dyed.
Hand - Refers to the feel or perception of touch qualities of fabric, i.e., softness, fineness, firmness, elasticity, etc.
Hemstitch - A special method of embroidery commonly used on sheets and pillowcases.
Jacquard – Created using a jacquard loom, this term refers to the weaving process and the cloth produced by such weaving. Jacquard weaving allows for intricate designs and textures to be woven and is used in items such as bedding, towels and other textiles.
Muslin – Lightweight, and breathable, muslin is a plain-weave fabric made of cotton or poly/cotton blends not less than 128 threads per square inch.
Open Construction - Term used to describe comforter construction where the filling is allowed to move around. The top and bottom layers of the shell may be stitched, but only in certain spots which does allow the fill to shift around and bunch up, therefore requiring more fluffing.
Percale - A closely woven plain-weave fabric often used for bed linens. Percale refers only to the weave of the fabric and not the fiber content. Percale generally consists of 180 thread count or higher.
Pilling - The tendency of fibers like those of bed sheets, to eventually work loose from the sheet surface and form little balls that remain attached to the surface of the fabric. You'll typically find that pilling can occur in bedding with lower thread counts, however it can still occur in higher quality bedding perhaps on certain areas of the fabric where there is excessive friction or by improper laundering of the fabric.
Pillow Protector - A zippered casing, used underneath a pillowcase, which protects your pillow from dirt and oils.
Pillow Sham – A decorative covering for a pillow, typically with a trim, either tailored or ruffled. A fancy pillowcase.
Pillowcase - A functional pillow covering to protect your pillow from body oils and soiling; which generally matches the bed sheets.
Plied Yarns – This term refers to yarns that are twisted together after spinning to create a new yarn. Plied yarns don't increase the durability or strength of the fabric and will exhibit a different feel, or hand than a cloth woven with single yarns. Plied yarns are generally counted as only one yarn when determining thread count.
Polyester - A man made synthetic fiber that is durable, wrinkle and shrinkage resistant, non-breathable. Polyester fibers are often blended with cotton or other fibers to produce a blended cloth.
Pre-Shrinking - Most pre-shrinking of cotton cloth is done on a compressive shrinkage range which is a mechanical process that allows cotton cloth to shrink naturally in its length. This process minimizes further shrinkage in laundering or dry cleaning of the finished product.
Print - Print refers to the image, illustration or pattern applied or transferred to the cloth.
Resin Finish - When resin is applied to fabric for stiffening or to give wrinkle resistance or permanent-press characteristics. Resin finishes also reduce residual shrinkage, but weakens the cloth in the process
Sanforizing - A patented pre-shrinking process where by the fabric is run through a sanforizer; a machine that has drums filled with hot steam. This process is done to control the shrinkage of the fabric. See also: Pre-Shrinking.
Sateen Weave - A 4 x 1 weave (one of the three basic weaves) that has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more lustrous look. Also, cloth made with combed yarns that are usually mercerized and have a very smooth, lustrous surface effect.
Supima® Cotton - A brand name applied to articles made from 100% Pima cotton grown by members of the Supima® Association of America. (100% American grown Pima cotton).
Thread Count - The actual number of threads going in either direction within one square inch of cloth.
Twill Weave - A basic fabric weave identified by diagonal lines in the woven cloth.
Warp Yarns - The yarns that run the length of the woven fabric.
