Glossary
Size Charts | Bedding Terms | Fabric Terms | Raw Materials
Size Charts
Typical North American Bed Sizes -- keep in mind that all manufacturers' specifications will vary, the following are generally agreed to be standard mattress sizes.
| Twin | 39" x 75" or 99cm x 190cm |
| Twin XL | 39" x 80" or 99cm x 203cm |
| Double | 54" x 75" or 137cm x 190cm |
| Double XL | 54" x 80" or 137cm x 203cm (uncommon) |
| Queen | 60" x 80" or 152cm x 203cm |
| King (older) | 78" x 80" or 198cm x 203 cm (occasionally up to 80" x 80" or 198cm x 203cm) |
| King (newer) | 76" x 80" or 193cm x 203cm |
| CalKing | 72" x 84" or 183cm x 213cm |
Duvet and Duvet Cover Sizes -- Duvet sizes can vary dramatically from one manufacturer to the next. The closer you can get to a match the less your duvet will shift in the cover. High Profile and Super sized duvets and covers are options for deep mattresses.
| Duvet Cover Size | To Fit | Duvet Size | |
| Twin | 66" x 86" or 168cm x 218cm | 66" x 86" or 168cm x 218cm | |
| Double | 80" x 86" or 203cm x 218cm | 80" x 86" or 203cm x 218cm | |
| Queen | 86" x 92" or 218cm x 234cm | 86" x 92" or 218cm x 234cm | |
| High Profile Queen | 94" x 94" or 238cm x 238cm | 86" x 92" or or 218cm x 234cm | |
| Super Queen | 94" x 98" or 238cm x 249cm | 94" x 98" or 238cm x 249cm | |
| King | 106" x 92" or 269cm x 234cm | 106" x 92" or 269cm x 234cm | |
| High Profile King | 114" x 94" or 289cm x 238cm | 106" x 92" or 269cm x 234cm | |
| Super King | 114" x 98" or 289cm x 249cm | 114" x 98" or 289cm x 249cm | |
| CalKing | 100" x 96" or 254cm x 244cm | 100" x 96" or 254cm x 244cm |
Sheet Sizing -- Again sheet sizing will vary dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer. The following sizes represent fairly generous sizing.
| Flat Sheets | |
| Twin | 70" x 106" or 178cm x 269cm |
| Double | 83" x 106" or 210cm x 269cm |
| Queen | 94" x 110" or 238cm x 279cm |
| High Profile Queen | 96" x 116" or 244cm x 295cm |
| King | 106" x 110" or 269cm x 279cm |
| High Profile King | 114" x 116" or 290cm x 295cm |
| CalKing | 106" x 110" or 269cm x 279cm |
Fitted Sheets -- most manufacturers use a standard depth of between 14" and 17" for fitted sheets. Knowing the depth of your mattress while shopping is very helpful in order to find the correct depth of sheet you require as some manufacturers offer more than one depth or custom sizing.
| Twin | 39" x 75" or 99cm x 190cm |
| Twin XL | 39" x 80" or 99cm x 203cm |
| Double | 54" x 75" or 137cm x 190cm |
| Double XL | 54" x 80" or 137cm x 203cm (uncommon) |
| Queen | 60" x 80" or 152cm x 203cm |
| King (older) | 78" x 80" (occasionally up to 80" x 80") or 198cm x 203 cm (occasionally up to 80" x 80" or 198cm x 203cm) |
| King (newer) | 76" x 80" or 193cm x 203cm |
| CalKing | 72" x 84" or 183cm x 213cm |
| Crib | 28" x 52" or 71cm x 132cm |
Bedskirts - are often available in two different formats: with a deck and fixed drop or as a set of three adjustable panels with pins to attach them to the boxspring. Decked bedskirts usually come with a drop of 14", panel skirts usually of 16" - 18" but most of our manufacturers will customize either style for a perfect fit.
| Twin | 39" x 75" or 99cm x 190cm |
| Twin XL | 39" x 80" or 99cm x 203cm |
| Double | 54" x 75" or 137cm x 190cm |
| Double XL | 54" x 80" or 137cm x 203cm (uncommon) |
| Queen | 60" x 80" or 152cm x 203cm |
| King (older) | 78" x 80" or 198cm x 203 cm (occasionally up to 80" x 80" or 198cm x 203cm) |
| King (newer) | 76" x 80" or 193cm x 203cm |
| CalKing | 72" x 84" or 183cm x 213cm |
| Crib | 28" x 52" or 71cm x 132cm |
Bedding Terms
Like any industry bedding manufactures have a language all their own, and unfortunately it is sometimes not always self explanatory. The following is a list of terms used to describe articles of bedding.
Boudoir Pillows - 12"x16" or 30cm x 40cm, also known as breakfast pillows.
Bed Skirt - a skirt which covers the box spring and hangs to the floor. Skirts can be ruffled, tailored, pleated, lace-trimmed, etc. Bed skirts are sometimes referred to as dust ruffles.
Bolster - a long cylindrical cushion, sized to the width of the bed. Smaller versions are generally called neck rolls. While occasionally used as supportive sleeping pillows, bolsters and neck rolls are generally decorative.
Comforter - bedding made of two layers of decorative cloth cover filled with stuffing and stitched together.
Coverlet - a bedspread. Heavier weight fabrics like matelasse, chenille or quilts are used for coverlets. Currently they tend to be sized a little smaller than older bedspreads, as they are no longer intended to hit the floor, but rather to sit on the bed in the same way as a duvet or comforter.
Drop - the word drop is used to refer to both the depth of a fitted sheet and the length of a bed skirt. To calculate the drop on a fitted sheet measure your mattress from the inside of the piping on the top of the mattress to the inside of the piping on the bottom, then add 3 inches. To calculate the correct drop of a bed skirt measure from the top of the box spring to just above the floor. Both fitted sheets and bed skirts come in fairly standard drops, however most of the manufacturers we deal with will customize drop, rounded to the nearest inch, to achieve a perfect fit.
Duvet - a soft flat bag traditionally filled with goose down (goose down also being referred to as duvet.) Duvets originated in rural Europe and were made from the down feathers of the Eider duck. Eider down is still available today and is the best insulating of all downs but global production is very limited. Contemporary duvets are currently made in a large variety of different kinds and sizes of down as well as silk, wool and synthetic fills. We consider goose down to be superior to synthetic and other substitutes as it is lighter, insulates better and breathes better, keeping sleepers comfortable in a wide range of climates.
Duvet Cover– a simple pillowcase type cover for a duvet, usually with a zip or button closure at the side or bottom. The primary function of a duvet cover is to protect the duvet. The secondary function is decorative, as part of the ensemble of the bed, to give the desired look and style. A duvet cover can be of just about any fabric imaginable from the most simple solid cotton to the a very complex damask of many different fibre types.
Feather Bed - a mattress pad of feather, down or a combination of both, cased in a down proof cotton ticking which sits on top of the mattress under the fitted sheet. A feather bed adds softness to a firm mattress, warmth for cold sleepers and breathability to latex or foam mattresses. If the feather bed is soiled it will require professional cleaning due to the size and weight. Unless it is 100% down, dry cleaning is required.
Fitted Sheet - also known as contoured or bottom sheet. Fitted sheets can be elasticized at the top or bottom ends or all the way around the sheet in order to hold the sheet tightly underneath the mattress. Fitted sheets with elastic all the way around show shower cap style construction and fit and hold better than those with elastic only at the corners. Fitted sheets are available in different depths, or drops, to accommodate varying mattress depths. See "Drop" for instructions on how to find the depth required for your mattress.
Flat Sheet - also known as top sheets, flat sheets are used underneath the top layer of bedding and provide both a comfortable layer that helps protect the outer bedding while feeling good against the sleeper. They may have decorative borders along the top edge or be simply finished.
High Profile Duvet Cover - a duvet cover intended for very deep mattresses. The cover fits a standard size duvet, be it queen or king, but has an extra flange of fabric around three sides to provide extra coverage of the mattress without necessitating the purchase of an oversize duvet. It is better to buy a high profile duvet cover rather than an over sized duvet as it keeps the duvet appropriately sized to the top of the mattress to insure the most comfortable sleep conditions.
Mattress Protector – this is an item of removable bedding that sits on top of, or encases, a mattress to provide protection to the mattress. Some mattress protectors also provide protection from allergens and irritants such as dust mites, while others padded with wool can help regulate sleeping temperature on synthetic or natural foam mattresses.
Pillow - a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed. Pillows come in a variety of sizes to fit both the bed and the sleeper. In Canada pillows are generally sized as follows:
- Regular 20" x 26" or 50cm x 66cm
- Standard 20" x 28" or 50cm x 71cm
- Queen 20" x 30" or 50cm x 76cm
- King 20" x 36" or 50cm x 92cm
- Euro 26" x 26" or 66cm x 66cm
- Grand Euro 31" x 31" or 79cm x 79cm
Regular and standard sizes are however increasingly rare and most bedding manufacturers are only producing cases sized for queen, king and euro pillows. There are also throw pillows (also called toss pillows, cushions, accent pillows) which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort.
Pillowcase - a removable covering for a pillow, usually of a fine cotton, linen or silk fabric to provide the most comfortable feel for the sleeper. Pillow cases are generally available in Swiss fold, with one decorative cuff and an inner pocket to keep the pillow in place and hide it from view, or the open or American cuff which has no inner pocket, but has decorative finishing on both sides. Pillowcases are usually sold in pairs.
Pillow Protector - a removable protective covering intended to be used under the pillowcase. The protector provides a washable layer that can help extend the life of a pillow by protecting it from oils from the sleeper's hair and skin as well as saliva and skin care products. We recommend that pillow protectors be washed in hot water every other time the pillow cases are washed.
Pillow Sham – an ornamental covering for a pillow. Shams can match, coordinate or contrast with the duvet cover or coverlet to finish the look of the bedding. While they are generally made of the same fabric as the rest of the bedding they are occasionally found in much more elaborate or luxurious fabrics such as wool and velvet. Shams are available in standard, queen, king, euro and grand euro sizes and are usually sold individually.
Throw - a small blanket used to add a decorative layer on the bed and to add a little extra warmth. Throws are usually sized at approximately 50" x 60" but can vary greatly depending on the style.
Fabric Terms
The different terms used to describe fabric can be confusing. This is a list of some of the fabric and sewing terminology that you may encounter while looking at bed, bath and table linens.
Brocade– any richly decorated, shuttle-woven fabric. The brocade technique results in a fabric which appears embroidered, but the pattern is woven directly into the fabric. The decorative threads are not a structural part of the fabric and are typically visible as loose threads on the reverse of the fabric.
Charmeuse – a silk fabric with a satin weave. See also sateen and satin.
Damask – a firm, glossy jacquard-patterned fabric, similar to brocade but flatter and reversible; it can be made from linen, cotton, rayon or silk, or a combination of fabrics.
Embroidery - the art or process of producing decorative needlework designs, either by hand or machine.
Hemstitch - a line of small decorative holes and stitching most often found along the cuff of a pillowcase or flat sheet.
Jacquard – a fabric of intricate variegated weave or pattern. Jacquards are reversible and can be made from linen, cotton, rayon or silk, or a combination of fabrics.
Matelassé – a fabric with the appearance of a quilted weave - showing a figured pattern with a raised, bubbly surface. Generally used as bedspreads, bed skirts and shams. Often made of cotton, matelassé is a durable and washable fabric.
Muslin - most typically a closely-woven unbleached or white cloth, produced from corded cotton yarn. It is frequently used for the hidden 'decking' on bed skirts and lining for bed skirts and drapery.
Organdy - a very fine transparent muslin with a stiff finish.
Organza - a sheer fabric (typically silk or nylon) resembling organdy.
Percale - a closely woven fabric with a plain and balanced weave generally used for sheets. It is firm and smooth with no gloss. Percale fabrics wear and wash very well. Luxury percale, woven from fine Egyptian cotton and with thread counts ranging from 200-400, is also available and most desirable, though some of the most comfortable sheeting fabrics are made from simple combed cotton in 200 thread count. Sometimes the term "percale" is misused to refer specifically to a blend of cotton and polyester. Percale can be a 50/50 blend, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fibres in any ratio. The word "percale" refers to the weave of the fabric, not its content.
Picot - a series of small ornamental loops forming an edging on ribbon or lace.
Piqué - a durable textured fabric of cotton, rayon or silk similar to matelassé.
Sateen – a smooth durable lustrous fabric usually made of cotton in satin weave. Sateen is the term used to describe a cotton satin weave. Satin weaves are also used for silk; in that case the fabric is called charmeuse.
Satin - a satin fabric is woven with multiple warp yarns that pass over a few single weft yarns. Recognized by its silky hand and sheen, a woven satin fabric reflects light and can be created in both heavy or light weights with a lustrous face and dull back. A cotton in satin weave drapes very well and is particularly well suited to people looking for a little extra warmth as it clings to the body. Satin fabrics are called sateen if made of cotton or charmeuse if made of silk.
Scalloped - one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border.
Thread Count - Thread count is simply the number of threads per square inch of fabric. These consist of vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft) woven together. Construction refers to how the thread count is achieved (# of warp and weft yarns, # of picks in the weft, use of 2 ply yarns etc.) To achieve higher thread counts, sometimes 2 ply yarns are used and sometimes multiple yarns (picks) are inserted into the weft. It can be argued that in weave quality terms alone, the best fabric will be made with single ply yarns and have a single pick. The highest thread count you can get with this type of construction is about 360. Above that, 2 ply yarns and/or multi-picks must be used. There is a case to be made in favour of 2-ply yarns. When done properly with very fine and long staple cotton, they can improve the durability and colourfastness of a fabric. However, it is important to distinguish between a well made 2-ply and a fabric with an unnecessarily or artificially inflated thread count. Please see our blog for a more in-depth discussion of the thread count issue
Velvet - a fabric with a short, soft, dense pile. Cotton velvets are desirable for bedding, but it is also available in mixed and synthetic fibres.
Voile - a light, plain-weave, sheer or semi-sheer fabric of cotton, rayon, silk, or wool used primarily for making curtains, decorative accents and sleep wear.
Warp - a series of yarns extended lengthwise in a loom and crossed by the weft.
Weft - a filling thread or yarn in weaving. The weft threads run perpendicular to the warp threads.
Raw Materials
Many different fibres are used to make home décor fabrics. They fall into three general categories: natural, artificial and synthetic.
Natural Fibres
Natural fibres can come from animal, vegetable or mineral sources. They are a class of strand like materials that grow in continuous elongated pieces. Natural fibres can be spun into filaments, thread, or rope and require various levels of cleaning and preparation before use. This category includes cotton, hemp, linen, silk and wool all of which are used in bed, bath and table linens and decorative accessories.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft natural vegetable fibre obtained from the seed-pods of the cotton plant. It is spun into yarn and thread and woven into fabric. Used for bedding and blankets, pure cotton has a natural structure that allows air to flow freely to and from the body keeping you cool and dry in summer and warm and comfortable in winter. Cotton is one of the most versatile of fibres. It is used in sheeting, duvet covers, bedspreads, blankets, decorative accessories, drapery, towels and robes, pajamas, table linens and many other items.
Combed Cotton - Combing is one of two ways (along with carding) of mechanically separating cotton fibres from the seed-pod of the cotton plant. Combing separates the long, desirable fibres from the short, immature fibre. Combed yarn is more even and compact, and can be spun into finer counts than carded cotton. Combing creates a stronger, smoother yarn. All cotton used in the manufacture of bedding should be combed.
Egyptian Cotton - Egyptian cotton is a specific variety of cotton originally grown on the banks of the Nile and now throughout North Africa. It produces exceptionally long fibres which produce durable, lustrous and soft fabrics. The long fibre (or long “staple”) of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more continuous fibre to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn is smaller in diameter, yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be used to create a strong fabric which is still lightweight and breathes well. At the same time, the long fibres in Egyptian cotton have more surface area and length to "grab" each other, with fewer ends to lift out of the thread. This makes the thread much stronger and the resulting fabric much smoother and more resistant to pilling. Egyptian cottons are used to create bedding of all types from sheets to pillowcases to duvet covers
Giza Egyptian Cotton - Giza is a sub-variety of Egyptian cotton. It is amongst the highest quality of all cotton varieties. Giza cotton is grown in Egypt and Turkey as well as a few other countries where conditions are ideal. Because the fibres are so long, it has to be hand harvested in order to keep the fibres intact. (Machine harvesting would damage the strands.) Giza is the Egyptian cotton of choice for very high quality cotton goods. It is found in the very best bed linens. It is also used for the highest qualities of embroidery thread.
Pima - Pima is a generic name for long staple cotton grown in the United States, Australia, Peru and a few other locations around the world. In the U.S., cotton is considered to be Pima if it is 1 3/8 inches or longer. Its strength and uniformity measurements are also considerably higher than those of upland (short staple) cotton. Pima sheets are often less expensive and have a shorter lifetime than sheets made of Egyptian cotton.
Supima - Supima is a trademark name used to promote and market textile and apparel products made with 100% American Pima cotton.
Hemp
Hemp is a coarse natural cellulose fibre from the hemp plant which is easily grown and cultivated throughout the world. The plants are cut by hand and thereafter handled like flax to extract the fibres. The fibres produced are a mix of both coarse and fine and vary in length from 2.5 cm to several centimeters. They are dark tan or brown and difficult to bleach, but may be dyed dark or bright colours. Hemp is not traditionally used in bedding textiles, but with the growing interest in environmentally low impact fabrics, it is showing up more often, usually blended with organic cotton in bedspreads and coverlets.
Linen
Linen is a sleek, long staple fibre from the flax plant noted for strength, cool hand and lustre. The first woven textile, linen has been used for more than 10,000 years. Finished linen fabrics have a silky smooth softness which becomes even softer with every washing. Due to the nature of the fibre, linen will keep you cool and dry in the hottest, most humid climates, and warm and cozy in winter and colder climates. Linen is lint-free, non-allergenic and highly recommended for those with skin concerns. Like cotton, linen is used in almost every kind of textile application from sheets and duvet covers to drapery, table cloths, robes and pajamas.
Silk
Silk is the only natural fibre that comes in a filament form. Silk is reeled from an insect cocoon. Most silk comes from cultivated mulberry silkworms, although silk can also be harvested from other cocoons, cultivated or wild. The smooth filaments are very long and fine. They are naturally off-white to cream in colour with a very high lustre. Silk is a very strong fibre when dry but it loses up to 85% of it's strength when wet. Silk was discovered by the Chinese, reportedly in 2700 BC and today most of the world's silk production is still based in China. Silk is regularity used for sheeting, duvet covers, duvets, drapery and robes.
Wools
Similar to hair or fur, certain animals like sheep and goats have coats of wool. Wool is distinct from hair because, among other features, it is crimped, it grows in clusters and it is highly elastic. Wool used for textiles comes from domesticated animals which are periodically sheared. The wool is then spun into yarn which may be woven or knitted.
Alpaca - the South American Alpaca is a smaller relative of the llama and camel. These domesticated animals have long, very soft hair which has been used in textiles for thousands of years. Alpacas are sheared just like sheep. Their wool consists of long, fine fibres. It is used in throw blankets and pillow shams and occasionally bedspreads.
Cashmere - Considered one of the most precious of wools, cashmere is a fine fibre which comes from the undercoat of the Himalayan Kashmir goat. Woven or knitted it is used in throw blankets, pillows and dressing gowns.
Merino - Merino sheep are raised mainly in Australia. Their wool is far more lustrous and the fibres are longer and softer than that of other breeds. Merino lambswool is finer still, coming from the animal's first shearing. This delicate, yet resilient lambswool yarn creates an irresistible warmth and softness for year-round comfort. Merino is often used in blankets, throws and robes.
Mohair - Mohair is made from the long silky hair of the Angora goat. Because of its high price, mohair is often blended with sheep's wool. It is used in throw blankets and toss cushions.
Artificial fibres
Artificial fibres are derived from a natural base, but are physically or chemically altered before being processed into a yarn or thread. They include rayon and it's deriviates from wood cellulose and the new bamboo fibres. While rayon in some forms can be difficult to care for, prone to shrinkage and fading, many of the newer processes have produced more durable fabrics. Modal and bamboo fibres are being made into beautiful fabrics suitable for bedding which have the feel of silk yet the washability and wear-ability of cotton.
Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured cellulose fibre. It is produced from naturally occurring polymers in plant material and therefore it is not a truly synthetic fibre, nor is it a natural fibre. It is known by the names acetate, viscose, bemberg, modal, tencel, lyocel and art silk in the textile industry.
Micro Modal
Micro Modal is a rayon type fibre processed from beech tree cellulose. It has many of the same properties as bamboo textiles: a silk like feel and a wonderfully soft drape. It does tend to be lighter and of a finer consistency than the bamboo bedding currently available. It is also more costly.
Bamboo
Bamboo textiles are currently available as bedding, towels and clothing. They are made of rayon that has been produced from bamboo. The bamboo plants are pulped using mechanical and chemical maceration and then washed, dried, puffed and spun into fibres suitable for weaving. Bamboo grows very rapidly without the need for irrigation or the use of pesticides and fungicides so the textile has been billed as an environmentally responsible choice. The process by which the bamboo plant is turned into fibre is however not always environmentally low impact. The chemicals used in the maceration process can be very harsh and are frequently washed into water systems. Additionally, because of the relative newness of the textile, strength and stability issues have occurred in some articles made of bamboo rayon. At this time Oleander is no longer stocking bamboo products. We will periodically revisit bamboo textiles as the handling of the chemical process and the quality of the finished products improves.
Synthetic fibres
Synthetic, or man made fibres are created from natural materials with chemical processes. They are often derived from petrochemical and plastic sources.
Acrylic
Acrylic fibres are synthetic fibres made from large hydrocarbon polymers (Polyacrylonitrile). To be called acrylic in the U.S the polymer must contain at least 85% acrylonitrile monomer. Acrylic is lightweight, soft, and warm, with a wool-like feel. It dyes very well and has excellent colorfastness. It is resilient, retains its shape, and resists shrinkage and wrinkles. It is quite varied in form and sometimes has an appearance similar to wool or cotton. Acrylic has recently been used in clothing as a cheaper alternative to cashmere, due to the similar feel of the materials. Acrylic textiles tend to fuzz (or pill) easily, do not insulate as well as the wools they replace and can build up excessive static charge. Acrylic is resistant to moths, oils, and chemicals, and is very resistant to deterioration from sunlight exposure. Acrylic appears blended with other fibres, natural and synthetic in blankets, throws and occasionally bedspreads.
Polyester
Chemists talk about many different kinds of polyesters, but in textiles the term "polyester" most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters are the most widely used man-made fibres in the world. Woven polyester fabrics are used in clothing and home furnishings such as bed sheets, bedspreads, curtains and draperies. Polyester fibre fills are also used to stuff pillows, comforters and as cushion padding. Polyester fabrics have a less natural feel when compared to similarly-woven fabrics made from natural fibres. Polyester fabrics exhibit certain advantages over natural fabrics such as improved wrinkle resistance and durability. As a result, polyester fibres are sometimes spun together with natural fibres to produce a cloth with blended properties. At Oleander we use polyester fibres in synthetic duvets, blended with cotton for some of our duvet covers and occasionally in throw blankets.
