ANSWER:Percale is a closely woven plain-weave fabric often used for bed linens. The term describes the weave of the fabric, not its content, so percale can be a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fabrics in any ratio. A percale weave has a thread count of about 200 or higher, and is noticeably tighter than the standard type of weave used for bed-sheets. It has a medium weight, is firm and smooth with no gloss, and warps and washes very well. It is made from both carded and combed yarns. The finish of the fabric is independent of its weave, so it can have "hard" (crisp)or a "soft" (slightly looser) finish.