What bedding materials are there?

 

When choosing the right bed linen, you can easily lose sight of the forest for the trees. Due to the fact that the number of bedding materials on the market now is very large, consumers now have to choose between a variety of different weaves and have to take such characteristics as texture, warmth and insulating capacity into account. For example, some materials are better suited for the summer due to their smooth surface, some are particularly densely woven and keep us pleasantly warm in the winter.

For this reason, in this article we’ll give you an overview of how bedding materials differ from each other. We’ll reveal which fabrics are best for summer or winter and which fabrics feel softest on the skin.

 

What bedding materials are there?

Bedding materials are often confused with the particular weave with which they’re made, when in fact, the material refers only to the raw material from which the fabric is made. After harvesting, these raw materials are processed into yarns or threads and made into fabrics by weaving or knitting.

The most common raw materials used in bedding include: cotton, silk, polyester and linen. In addition, it’s quite possible to combine or mix the fabrics in order to enhance the advantages of each material.

Cotton

Cotton has been used in the textile industry for centuries and is one of the most important natural materials for fabrics in the world. Due to its high durability and longevity, it’s also one of the most popular bedding materials. Cotton fibres grow in capsules on the bushes of the cotton plant and are separated from the plant either by hand or by using a machine.

The price of cotton depends on the quality of the fibres, which are known as “staples.” Particularly long and fine staples are used to make high-quality fabrics such as percale or satin bedding. Short staples are used to make a type of fabric called linon, for example.

If you want to be environmentally conscious when buying cotton, organic cotton is the right choice. Organic cotton is not only the most sustainable choice, but it's also completely free of harmful substances and 100% natural. No pesticides are used to farm organic cotton and the amount of water used is much lower.

The advantages of cotton are:

• It is breathable
• Cotton can regulate the temperature and humidity well
• Soft and gentle on the skin
• Naturally renewable raw material

Silk

Silk is a very fine and soft fabric. Due to its attractive sheen, silk also has a particularly elegant appearance. Silk is produced from the cocoon of the silkworm. During this procedure, hot water is used to unwind the threads of the cocoon and process them into raw silk threads. Due to the high cost that this procedure entails, silk is only produced in small quantities and is sold at a high price.

The advantages of silk are:

• Very light fabric that nonetheless insulates quite well
• Silk is good for allergy sufferers
• The fabric is easy to dye and is not very susceptible to dirt

Linen

Linen comes from the flax plant. After the fruit capsules are harvested, they’re roasted and the fibre bundles are separated. These are then spun into yarn and processed further. Linen is often mixed with cotton, which produces a blended fabric known as half-linen. Due to its breathability, linen is often used in the summer.

The advantages of linen include: High strength Easy to clean and gentle on the skin Airy and breathable (well suited as a summer bedding material) Does not get dirty easily

Polyester

In addition to the natural materials listed above, a plethora of synthetic fibres are now on the market, one of the most popular of which is polyester. Polyester is actually made by processing petroleum; through a melting and spinning process, it's processed into fibres. Polyester is also often paired with other materials, such as cotton or viscose. Because polyester is easy to care for, it’s often used in the textile industry.

The advantages of polyester include:

• Very easy to care for and hardly wrinkles
• High tensile strength
• Cheap

 

Bed linen material differences in terms of fabric and weave

When it comes to fabrics for home and bedding, it's not only the material of the bedding that is important, but also the weaves. These determine how soft, smooth and breathable the bedding material is.

When it comes to fabrics, a distinction is made between flat fabrics and pile fabrics or weaves. In flat fabrics, the threads cross at right angles, consisting of the so-called warp and weft threads. In pile fabrics, a third thread is added, which then stands upright. Commonly used fabrics include batiste, flannelette, damask, flannel, linon, renforcé and seersucker.

The term “weave” describes how the warp and weft threads are crossed. These include the plain weave, the atlas weave, the body weave and the jacquard weave.

 

Which bedding material is suitable for winter?

For winter, we need densely-woven materials that nonetheless feel soft. Fabrics with a roughened surface, such as flannelette or terry cloth, are perfect for this.

Flannelette bedding is woven from cotton and then roughened on both sides. For this reason, it feels fluffy and keeps us very warm. Flannelette bedding can also absorb moisture and is also very easy to care for, as it's machine washable and does not need to be ironed.

Terry cloth is often used to make towels. Some terry bedding is made from cotton which has had synthetic fibres added to it, though this is not always the case. During processing, the little cables characteristic of this fabric are cut open to make the surface softer. Terry fabric is slightly coarser when compared to flannelette bedding, but still feels very soft on the skin. Terry cloth is most often used as a material for bath and hand towels or bathrobes, but can also be made into bedding.

 

Summer bedding material from Zizzz

In summer, it’s important to have breathable bedding which can help regulate your body temperature. Bedding made from natural materials is better suited to this than synthetic bedding. This is why at Zizzz we offer two different fabric types, namely satin and percale, both of which are made from organic cotton.

Satin bedding has a very smooth surface and feels extremely soft and pleasant against the skin. It wicks moisture well and can regulate temperature so that heat doesn’t build up under the covers. Thus, satin is a perfect summer bedding material. We also offer satin duvet covers for children with our classic lucky star design.

Percale bedding impresses with its high durability and also offers a high level of comfort. As is the case with our satin bedding, our percale products are made from 100% organic cotton. Our percale bedding is available in various sizes and chic colour patterns.