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Since little information is provided to consumers, regarding the quality of fabrics used, in the hundreds of crib bedding collections that are available, do you know what to look for?

As with any textile product - be it clothing, upholstery, or bedroom furnishings – quality of a crib bedding collection is most often defined by the fabrics used in constructing the quilts, bumpers, and other articles that comprise the crib set.

Unfortunately, little information is provided to consumers regarding the quality of fabrics used in the hundreds of crib bedding collections that are available.

There are a few relatively simple characteristics that a consumer can consider when comparing competing products.

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.

But we all can surely recall the look that results as the pattern on a printed fabric wears off unevenly.

Of course, complex, nonlinear patterns cannot generally be woven. But a manufacturer who chooses to use printed fabrics for simple patterns is sacrificing quality in favor of cost.

This is not to say that a printed pattern should be avoided. But the higher price of a crib bedding set made with a true woven gingham or striped fabric is usually more than justified by the higher quality.

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.

Patchwork – Real or Printed

A patchwork appearance is frequently seen in crib bedding quilts or comforters. Generally this effect is achieved by using different fabrics that are sewn together into the desired patchwork.

In an effort to reduce cost, some “patchwork” bedding is really one piece of fabric with a “patchwork” design printed on it – the piece is then sewn over at the borders of the different patterns to achieve a patchwork appearance.

True patchwork is far superior to printed patchwork designs and is always more expensive. True patchwork shows different textures as well as different colors and patterns.

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.

Price versus Value

Unfortunately, some crib bedding manufacturers are increasingly choosing to move towards lower quality fabrics to decrease their costs without passing all of these savings on to the consumer.

Consumers must be very alert to discover these differences. It can mean the difference between a crib bedding collection that will last for one baby, or one that will last for generations.

Robert Meier is President of Baby Supermall, an internet retailer of Crib Bedding, Baby Bedding Sets, and Baby Nursery Decor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Meier

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