Crib Bedding Quality – It’s All About the Fabrics

"As with any textile product - be it clothing, upholstery, or bedroom furnishings – quality of a crib bedding collection is most often defined by its fabrics. There are a few relatively simple characteristics that a consumer can consider when comparing competing products. Pay close attention to the fabric descriptions found throughout Baby Supermall’s crib bedding product pages and you will be able to see the differences in quality and judge relative value for yourself."

Woven versus Printed Patterns

"Many simple fabric patterns – such as ginghams, stripes, and plaids – can be either woven or printed. Although the difference may not be readily evident at first glance, they are important.

"Woven fabrics start with differently colored threads which are then woven together to achieve the desired pattern. The colors and pattern become an integral part of the fabric itself. A woven fabric is easily identified by noting that the pattern appears on both sides of the fabric.

"Printed fabrics start with a solid colored (usually white or natural) material upon which the desired pattern is imprinted using a variety of inks and printing techniques. A printed fabric is easily identified by noting that the pattern appears on only one side of the fabric.

"Patterned fabrics that are woven are almost universally superior to those that are printed. They are far more resistant to fading from repeated washings. The pattern, being an integral part of the fabric itself, will not wear off as compared to a superficial pattern that is printed on the surface of the fabric. The durability of a printed pattern is very much dependent on the amount of ink and precise technique used to imprint the pattern, both of which are very difficult to discern from simply looking at the fabric."

Embroidered versus Printed Designs on Fabrics

"Manufacturers have become increasingly creative in incorporating complex designs into their crib bedding to communicate a desired theme. These designs can be either embroidered into the fabric or printed onto it.

"Embroidered designs use separate threads to sew the design into the fabric, oftentimes using the embroidery in combination with different colored and textured fabrics to achieve stunningly beautiful designs. While the techniques for achieving these embroidered designs have improved dramatically over the years to make them more cost-effective, it is still far more costly to embroider a design than it is to simply print it on the surface of the fabric. Not only are embroidered designs generally far more beautiful, they are also much more durable.

"Again, not that printed designs need be avoided at all costs. But the consumer should be aware of the quality differences before choosing a crib set with printed designs over a more costly set with embroidered designs."

Premium Fabrics versus Standard Grade Fabrics

"There are many factors that must be considered in determining whether a fabric is premium-grade or not. While the differences may not be apparent at first glance, they can be very important for long-term durability and overall appearance. Just some of the factors to consider are as follows:

"Thread count – Thread count measures the number of threads per inch. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable is the fabric. Higher thread count fabrics are more costly to make.

"Pre-Washed – Pre-washed fabrics are washed and dried before being incorporated into a piece, thereby minimizing subsequent shrinkage and color loss. Pre-washed fabrics are more costly to make.

"Brushed – Brushed fabrics are “sanded” before being incorporated into a piece to achieve a very soft feel to the fabric. Printed fabrics cannot generally be brushed, as the process would wear away some of the printed pattern."