Thread count and yarn count: reading a Turkish fabric spec
Turkish bedding fabric quotes usually give two numbers: the thread count (tel) and the yarn count. Read together, they tell you how dense the fabric is and how fine the yarn is.
Thread count in Türkiye (tel)
In Türkiye, tel is the total number of warp and weft threads per square centimetre. Common values are 57 and 63 for ranforce, 70–80 for percale and 82 or more for sateen.
European and US specs use thread count (TC), which is the same count per square inch. An inch is 2.54 cm, so TC is about 2.54 times the Turkish value: 57 tel is roughly 145 TC and 83 tel roughly 210 TC.
| Tel (per cm²) | Approx. TC (per inch²) | Typical fabric |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | 145 | Ranforce |
| 63 | 160 | Ranforce / poplin |
| 70–80 | 180–200 | Percale |
| 83 | 210 | Sateen |
Yarn count
The yarn count (English count, Ne) shows how fine the yarn is: the higher the number, the finer the yarn. 30/1 means single-ply Ne 30 yarn. Fabrics with 57–63 threads usually use 30/1; dense fabrics above 80 threads use 40/1 or finer.
At the same thread count, a thicker yarn makes a heavier fabric. So read thread count together with weight in g/m². A higher thread count does not always mean a stronger fabric: a fine, dense fabric feels softer but can be lighter.
Open-end, carded and combed yarn
Open-end yarn is spun on rotor machines; it costs less and feels slightly coarser. Ring-spun yarn is either carded or combed. Combing removes short fibres, so combed yarn is smoother and shinier. At the same thread count, combed-yarn fabric usually costs more.
What to check in a quote
- Which unit is given: tel (per cm²) or TC (per inch²).
- Yarn count and yarn type: open-end, carded or combed.
- Weight (g/m²) and width (cm).
- Ask for a sample if you can; it shows the hand feel better than numbers.