What is Cotton Percale?

When it comes to luxury bedding and the choice of fabric, you might be wondering ‘what is cotton percale’? 

Luckily for you, the experts at Christy are on hand to explain the historical method of percale cotton, as well as explaining its benefits to enhance your peaceful night’s slumber. As luxury bedding specialists, we have the knowledge to transform any bedroom into the ultimate sleep sanctuary. 

Indulge in Christy’s bedding sets, where impeccable craftsmanship and a variety of colours and patterns allow you to express your unique style. No matter what you’re after, whether that’s smooth and silky, soft and relaxed, or cool and crisp, Christy bedding puts your needs first. 

What is cotton percale fabric? 

Simply put, cotton percale refers to the type of weave used to construct cotton bedding. A cotton percale weave uses a traditional criss-cross pattern, which consists of one thread under and one thread over. 

The key characteristics of percale bedding include:

• It feels crisp and fresh
• It has a matte finish which means no shine (unlike satin) 
• It is easy to care for 
• It is soft and cool to touch, ideal for both hot and cold sleepers 
• It offers a thread count between 200-400 

High quality percale sheets - made with fine yarns and long cotton fibres like those used in Christy bedding bundles - feel incredibly luxurious as they offer a thread count of 200-400. Sheets with a higher thread count or made with short staple cotton will feel slightly denser than this.

There are a diverse range of fabrics which use the percale weaving process including silk, linen, and cotton/polyester blend, but cotton percale is one of the most popular combinations of fabric. 

This is because it combines softness and strength, woven tightly to produce a firm, smooth fabric that is a popular choice for manufacturers of bedding. 

Our Cool and Crisp Lerwick Stripe Duvet Set is made from 100% cotton percale with a 200 thread count, meaning that you’ll savour every second wrapped up in bed. A refined colour palette keeps this set looking fresh and modern, as well as sporting a traditional striped print.  

Common misconceptions of cotton percale

It is a common misconception that the quality of bed sheets is determined solely by thread count, but there are many other factors to consider. These factors include things such as the quality of the cotton, yarn size, and the finishing process. 

The quality of bed sheets can be heavily determined by the standard of the fabric itself. Bedding with a higher thread count can translate to a much higher price tag so ensure that you consider but aren’t driven by the thread count of a bed sheet. 

Why is cotton percale synonymous with luxury bedding?

Due to an innovative blend of super-soft cotton fabric and a weaving process that provides long-lasting luxury, cotton percale is synonymous with luxury bedding for a number of reasons. 

The weave in cotton percale is considerably tighter than other weaves used in standard bedding collections. This tight weave produces a 200 thread-count or more, resulting in a strong, crisp, and hard-wearing fabric. 

Unlike other luxury fabrics, cotton percale is incredibly low maintenance, ensuring that you often wash your bedding and follow specific washing instructions. Its durable weave preserves the quality of fabric, no matter how many times you wash it. 

Cotton percale combines the perfect balance of medium-weight, firmness, and smoothness. This super softness, combined with an innovative weave, prevents you from overheating during the night. Because of its breathability, cotton percale is perfect during the spring and summer months to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night. 

Equally, cotton percale is comfortable during autumn and winter, providing that you have a high-tog duvet to keep you warm during the colder nights. 

What are the benefits of cotton percale?  

Percale is a fabric that you most certainly will find in most high end hotels. It is a lightweight, strong weave, making for breathable, cool, and crisp sheets, particularly good for warmer weather and sweaty sleeps. 

Some of the benefits of cotton percale include: 

• It is extremely strong and resilient, whilst feeling soft and smooth to touch. 
• It is incredibly breathable, suitable for use all year round and particularly beneficial in the summer.
• It offers a cool, crisp feel, adding a touch of luxury to your bed.
• Its durable features means that it will last longer, so you don’t have to worry about constant replacements.
• It is easy to care for, getting softer with laundering and use.

If you enjoy the luxurious feel of sheets that you find in boutique hotels, then you will love a percale weave sheet. Their cool and crisp feel, as well as breathable fabric, make them fully adaptable to hot and cold sleepers. 

With this in mind, it is worth investing in a 100% cotton percale bedding, such as our Stornaway Chambray Duvet Set & Oslo Throw Bundle. This nature-inspired collection is made from 100% cotton percale, boasting a lightweight fabric that’s breathable too. 

Get a luxury night’s sleep with Christy 

Hopefully, your query of ‘what is cotton percale’ has been answered and you can now leisurely browse Christy’s range of cotton percale bedding. 

In summary, cotton percale is a luxurious fabric made with a plain or basket weave, which is a historical method used for hundreds of years which guides one thread over and one thread under. This is what gives it its strength and durability, and a matte appearance and crisp feel. 

For a sumptuously calming night’s sleep, invest in Christy’s bedding collections. The epitome of premium comfort and timeless style, quality and elegance are met for a luxurious collection of sheets, duvet covers and sets.