Sheeting at Its Best

Now that we've tackled that tricky subject of thread count, lets discuss the wonderful world of fabric! You've all seen those fancy words "egyptian," "percale," "sateen," "linen," but what do they mean?

Well lets start from the beginning with Egyptian cotton. Can you guess where this cotton is produced? You guessed it! Egypt. Egyptian cotton is made using long staple cotton creating very smooth, durable, and breathable fabric. These sheets are known for their softness and they can last for years (if you treat them right). This cotton has been nicknamed "the king of all cotton," but beware- some companies will say Egyptian cotton on their package, but unless there's a "100%" in front of those special words, it's probably a blend (meaning not pure Egyptian). Two common types of sheeting that use Egyptian cotton are percale and sateen.

Sheets like percale come in different variations. Some are 100% cotton, others are 50% cotton 50% polyester (also known as "easy care"), 50% cotton 50% linen, and so forth. Percale appeals to customers who like a traditional cotton feel. They are usually described as crisp and cool as opposed to satiny or silky, like sateen sheets.

Sateen sheet are woven from long fiber, combed or carded cotton. It is usually soft right away, unlike percale which becomes softer after a few washes. Also the "satin stitch" is used to create these sheets, which means the threads are mostly on one side of the fabric giving it that popular sheen. But don't be discouraged with the comparison. Sateen sheets are not nearly as heavy or hot as satin (or silk) sheets. Also, keep in mind that the name sateen does not refer to the fabric, but to the way it is woven. It is still made from cotton.

Lastly, lets talk about linen, a well known fabric. It's made from fibers of the flax plant and known for it's freshness and coolness in hot weather. For the most part, linen is used for the top of bed (i.e. duvet covers, shams, etc.), however in Europe it is very common for beds to be dressed in linen from top to bottom (fitted sheets and all). Over time and with several washes, linen becomes very soft which is hard to believe since it starts out feeling coarse. Keep in mind, like anything else made of linen, it can become very wrinkled- especially when used for sheeting.

So next time you venture into "A Touch of Lace," be sure to feel the fabrics for yourself because you'll never truly know your match until it's touching your skin. And remember, we spend one third of our lives in bed, don't you want to have the best possible fabric wrapped around you?