Down Comforter Sets

Posts Tagged ‘Loft’

When you decide to purchase a down comforter set, there are a number of things you will want to be familiar with. The fill power is the measurement of space that one ounce of down can fill. The amount of space that a down can fill will vary based on the product. The thread count is the number of threads that will be present in a square inch, and the baffle wall construction is the wall in the fabric that will allow the down to expand. To care for the down comforter, you will want to fluff it each day. When you shake it a few times, it will loft back up again. It is also important to make sure the down comforter is consistently aired.

Comforters come in open stitch (Karo-Step and Ring Stitch) where the filling can move closed stitch (baffle box sew-thru box stitches) fixing the filling into one small box and the Baffle Channel Tri-Wall construction a channel stitch with a triangular baffle wall to prevent unwanted shifting. The channel tri-wall the ultimate couple friendly comforter style is very beneficial as it allows the filling to be adjusted on one side for truly individual comfort. This is especially useful in summer or when one person is a warmer sleeper than the other. Baffles prevent cold spots and allow premium downs to loft up to their full potential. Less filling is required in a sew-thru stitch making these comforters better for summer or very warm bedrooms.

Even though it is possible for down comforters to be cleaned, it is best to protect it with what is called a duvet cover. If you decide to wash the down comforter, you will always want to have it dry cleaned. There are some models that can be cleaned in a standard washing machine, but you will want to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Because of the cost involved with these products, down comforters will often come with warranty that may last for a number of years. A down comforter can also be purchased in a wide variety of different designs, and you can purchase a style which matches the look of your bedroom. Not only will they look beautiful on your bed, but they will be comfortable to sleep under, and they will keep you warm on cold nights.

A down comforter is a form of bedding that consists of a bag which is used to cover beds. It will often be filled with natural materials such as feathers. A down comforter could be described as a soft, thick blanket that is placed on a bed to make it more warm and comfortable. The down is the fine feathers that can be found under the harder feathers of birds. Down is an excellent insulator, and has a number of thermal attributes. The down will capture batches of air, and this air will be used as thermal cover. While it is excellent when it is kept dry, it will lose many of its properties when it becomes wet.

All down is not created equal. Goose down is better than duck down. Down from mature geese that live in cold climates produce larger down clusters that trap more body heat keeping you warmer as well as lofting up to produce a comforter that is puffy without weight. Fill-power is the measurement of a down cluster’s ability to loft up after compression. 650 fill-power and up is considered luxury quality. The higher the fill-power the greater the thermal properties and the puffier the comforter. There is also cluster count to consider. This is the percentage of whole down clusters as opposed to pieces of broken down known as “fly”. Canadian White Goose Down is  considered to be the finest in the world.  Siberian Hungarian and Polish white goose downs are premium qualities and the very rare Eiderdown the ultimate in softness and warmth without weight
is the best down in the world.

The down will keep the body warm. A single down group will be composed of thousands of fibers, and these down groups will not have a quill shaft. Lofting is the process in which air is trapped, and this will allow the body to stay warm. At the same time, moisture is released while heat is contained. Because of these properties, down comforters provide a superior level of comfort that is not seen with standard comforters. Down comforters are much more expensive than other forms of bedding, and can cost as much as $600 for a Queen sized bed. Many down comforters will also be made with silk. A number of advanced models have even been designed to fight bacteria, and are hypo-allergenic as well.

Down will eventually “leak” out of anything other than a cotton cambric downproof fabric. What makes the long staple Egyptian cotton fabric downproof is not just a high threadcount but callendering. This is a natural process of compressing the fabric between giant steel rollers to fill in spaces invisible to the eye. The best cambric cotton downproof fabric comes from Germany or Switzerland. Many of the cambrics are made with a sateen finish. They are very soft durable and breathable. Threadcounts over 300 are best and will remain downproof for 10-15 years.