Egyptian Cotton

Q: What should YOU know about Egyptian Cotton?

A: As the term implies, Egyptian cotton is used to describe cotton grown in Egypt. The fertile Nile River valley of Egypt has long been considered the most desirable setting for growing the finest cotton in the world. It has the perfect climate to produce cotton with extra-long fibers; the valley is sufficiently humid and the soil is rich in nutrients. This reputation is precisely what makes the term "Egyptian cotton" so meaningful to consumers.

It is important to recognize that Egypt grows a variety of different types of cotton, which are categorized by the length of the cotton fiber (known as staple). There is Extra-Long Staple (ELS), Long-Staple (LS), and regular cotton, and there are significant differences between these varieties.

The ELS fibers allow the cotton to be spun into much finer, softer, and stronger yarns. And fabric woven with ELS cotton is more breathable, providing greater comfort. It also produces less lint and has less of a tendency to pill. And as an added bonus, it becomes softer with every laundering.

Unfortunately, most products labeled "Egyptian cotton" are not made with ELS cotton yarns. Only a small percentage of the Egyptian cotton production is ELS, and within the ELS category, the finest varietals are not being grown in any significant quantities. Therefore, it is best to be somewhat wary when "Egyptian cotton" is listed as the fiber content.

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Gingham Check Pattern

Q:  What is a gingham check pattern?

A:  Gingham is a plain weave, yarn-dyed cotton or cotton-blend fabric.  Gingham was originally woven with stripe patterns, but is also woven with checks (two colors) or plaids (three or more colors).

A gingham check pattern is created by weaving parallel horizontal and vertical stripes of equal widths, either in a white and color-dyed yarn, or two color-dyed yarns.  The crisscrossing of the two colors in the warp (lengthwise strands attached to the loom) and weft (horizontal strands that cross the warp) produces an allover pattern of solid-color, square checks.  The two colors of stripes intersect to form a third color check.  Think of a classic red picnic cloth or Dorothy's blue dress in the Wizard of Oz.

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Punto Ombra Hem

Q: What is a punto ombra hem?


A: Punto ombra is a special Italian hem treatment in which a satin stitch is embroidered on the reverse side of the fabric. This stitch creates a low-relief, or raised, borer on the front of the fabric for a subtly finished hem. A punto ombra hem is clean-lined, elegant, and resilient. It is much more subtle than the classic satin stitch, for it uses the fabric itself to create the hem, ensuring a perfect match with the color of the fabric.

Below is an example of a punto ombra hem from SFERRA called Avellina:

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