Silky stockings and satiny-soft cotton bedsheets have one thing in common: The fabrics can be rated for softness and strength based on the fibers used to produce the fabric. But the two measurements are not the same; denier works for knits, such as stockings, and thread count works best for wovens, such as sheets. And sometimes they work together. Unravelling these twisted-together measurements will give you an understanding of how fabric is rated, and will help you find the right fabric for your needs.
