Message Boards

I am extremely frustrated with trying to find decent sheets that don't cost an arm and a leg. My goodness, I used to be able to buy very nice ones from Walmart or Target. Now, at least from Walmart, their 100% 300 thread count cotton sheets have a very itchy feel to me. What happened to buying percale cotton/poly sheets (entire Beds in a Bag, too) of 180 thread count that were very smooth and washed up beautifully? (I still have a Bed in a Bag set like that that we bought when trying to sell the view house and it is still fabulous.)

I just bought a 280 TC from bed, bath, and beyond. Washed and dried, put on the bed. They are not soft and they, too, seem itchy.

I've looked online at amazon and overstock, was going to purchase a set from overstock yet the first few reviews had many "these sheets aren't soft" posts so I decided against it.

The few sheet sets I have found, like egyptian cotton, are minimally $80 and above. Do I really have to spend so much money to buy what I would think would be nice, every day sheets?

Anyway, any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I have Egyptian cotton sheets and I did spend close to $100 for them... on sale! I want new ones and looking for a sale now, I found some different sheets over the years, and this EC ones are the BEST for me, so soft and the feel is great.

Buy what you LOVE to sleep in, you spend a 1/3 of your life touching sheets (sleeping) anyway. Save your money by not buying something you don't want or won't be happy with, then when you find the sale price, buy two!

Good luck with your search!

I got some of those itchy sheets as well -- drove me crazy and this Gray Thursday at Target they had some high thread count sheets for $35 so I bought them and they are wonderful!!!! I didn't pay attention to the brand (so don't know if they carry this particular brand all the time or it was a GT special buy) but they are very soft after a month's worth of washing.

I have two bedrooms and queen beds in each. I use white bedding and so the sheets can go on either bed. Saves shelves in the linen closet for sure --

Does anyone remember the top sheet that was fitted? My mother had some when I was a teen.

Martha

try qvc - northern nights brand - I've owned several different sets for at least 7 yrs, no color fading, range of thread count, colors, flannel, cotton, etc.

I have a set of flannel sheets that I bought at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for many years now (close to 10) and they are still great. They are the only sheets during the winter.

I have a cotton set from TJMaxx or Marshall's and again, only set for the summer and they've been on for a couple years and they're still great. Those are a sateen weave and I 've never had that before. They are very soft. Didn't think they'd be very durable, but they are.

Jan is time for white sales and clearances, so keep your eyes open.

I mentioned this before...so it really is not much help...just fun! A few months back I realized that our one set of sheets in the rotation belonged to DH when I met him....40 years ago!!!! I am very slow to change

QVC has a Northern Nights Special Value today. Thought that was ironic. I might try one of those.

Funny, growing up, we never had any flat sheets. I was in high school before I knew that flat sheets came with a set and that was only because I visited my aunt and admired the sheets she had put on my bed there so she took me shopping for a set of sheets. I don't think my mom bought new sheets for us at all the whole time I was growing up.

What's with the microfiber sheets, too? The Beds in a Bag I bought for my kids have those and while they are certainly smooth (probably not itcy), I wonder if they are really comfortable to sleep in. I saw some microfiber sheets at Marshalls last night, too.

I'm with you on the cotton/percale sheets, where did they go?

I found some a year or so ago at Kohl's (on line). Think I paid $35-40 for a set of cal king sheets. They are by far my favorites. They come out of the drier wrinkle free and feel great on the bed, never scratchy, just good old fashioned comfort.

If you have a Tuesday Morning nearby, you may find some awesome sheet sets like we did. The best ever we have found in years. Top quality and designer names at bargain prices. No seconds.

I've been getting mine at Sam's Club recently.
800 thread count Egyptian Cotton, Queen set around $60.00

My advice is that yes, good sheets are expensive, but a good set of sheets will last a very long time.

There are three things I consider with sheets.

1. The fiber content.
Cotton is the best for sheets as cotton is absorbent, and it breaths, which makes it comfortable. Look for 100% cotton sheets.

(I am leaving out fibers like linen etc which are more unusual and expensive and could be talked about another time)

Not all cotton is created equal. Pima cotton and Egyptian cotton are types of cotton plants that grow long cotton fibers. Longer fibers make smoother threads that are then used to weave fabric. I tried to find an illustration of this but I couldn't, so just imagine a bunch of short little fibers being twisted into thread. Imagine all those little short ends sticking out everywhere. Threads made from short fibers are what make sheets itchy. (and recycled or reclaimed fibers are always short, as they get shopped up in the process of being reclaimed) Long fibers twisted into thread have fewer little short ends, and so the fabric woven from them feels smoother.

Another way to imagine this is to think of long hair braided into a long smooth braid, versus layered hair braided into a braid with little hairs sticking out all over. One is smooth, one is not.

So the smoothest, most comfortable cotton sheets are made from 100% Pima or Egyptian cotton.

2. Then you consider the weave.
Percale is a type of weave. It means that the fabric is tightly woven which produces a smooth crisp finish, and a long lasting, strong, higher quality fabric.

Sateen is a weave that is also strong, and it produces a luster or sheen to the finished fabric. It also produces a subtle nap that is not crisp and smooth, but is soft.

I personally prefer percale sheets as I love that old fashioned, crisp smooth feel, but either weave is good.

3. And the last thing to consider is the thread count.
Thread count means how many threads are used in one square inch. They count the horizontal threads (the weft) and also the vertical threads (the warp). So a fabric with 100 weft threads and 100 warp threads will be a thread count of 200. A good range for sheets is 200 - 400. You can go higher if you want, but I am sure you can see that because super high thread counts are still counted within the threads per square inch standard, at some point the threads are going to have to get thinner, or the weave will have to get super tight. Really thin threads can be weak, and super tight weaves can be rigid and stiff.

So when I am buying sheets I go for 100% Pima or Egyptian cotton, in a percale weave, with a 200-400 thread count. I can always find them at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but I really have to sort through the shelves. I don't think it really matters where you buy them. I always have my eye out for bargains at discount stores, and sales. Just remember to check fiber content, weave and thread count.

As far as price goes, If I can find a set for my king bed for $80.00 or under I celebrate with a happy dance. A good set of sheets should last many years, and contribute to comfortable nights of sleep, and so to me they are worth the investment.

Whew! Long post. Sorry about being so windy, but I love this topic.

cocok,
Thank you for the great description!
I am saving this for my files and resource for later!

http://www.brylanehome.com/dec...5170&ProductTypeId=2

I have had good luck with the above sheets from Brylane Home. I bought the X Deep version (last ones on the page) and they are a cotton/percale mix. I was concerned about the softness but as pleasantly surprised.

I have always been satisfied with cotton sheets at JCPenney. I hope they haven't changed anything the next time I need to buy bedding!

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but I bought some fleece sheets at Cost*co this fall and I am IN LOVE with them!! They are sooooo soft and cozy and they aren't cold when I go to bed!
For the warm months, I use the t-shirt aka jersey sheets. They are like wearing your most comfy tee shirt and they don't pill like flannel sheets or even some cotton sheets sometimes do.

Good luck on your quest.
Candy

On the microfiber sheets? I bought some expensive ones on what I thought was a good sale and really liked the feel and sheen to them, so we bought a set for DH's father too.
I gave up after a week of sleeping on them, as I found them to be too warm and not breathe like 100 percent cotton. Clincher was they started to pill after a couple of washings to we got rid of them. Would not even use them on a guest bed!

One thing I now look for on packaging is when the fitted sheet is an inch or two longer and wider than standard queen. Kind of hard to find, but the more expensive you go, the more common. They are SO much easier to put on the bottom mattress.

Wow, thank you all for your wisdom. Cocok, especially yours. I didn't know half of the things that you mentioned. I always thought percale was a cotton/poly blend, the 180 TC upgraded sheets which were always soft and comfortable and washed up so nicely, no wrinkling, etc. The lessr quality sheets were muslin at what, 118 TC, I think.

I am still somewhat devastated at the sheet thing. I don't think I ever mentioned this but I really had a linen "problem" when I was a little younger. Some women like shoes, I like linens. I think that's what's so disturbing about not being able to find sheets now that I like when every set I bought before, I really liked and they were so comfortable. $20 to $35 at Target or Walmart or Mervyns (like a Kohls), and I was just queen of the bedroom (when it came to linens). I kicked the habit a few years back (trying to cut down on clutter).

Ok, so last night I went back to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and bought an egytian cotton set, 400 TC, percale. Washed them and put them on the bed and had no problem with them. They were comfy, not as soft and smooth as some I've had in the past but they were nice enough that I wasn't botheed by them.

I guess the TC has been confusing me, too. Back in the day, when 180 TC was king, I always found the sheets to be so nice. But the last two sets of all cotton sheets I bought were 300 TC (long fibers, the package said) and I don't know if I just had some sort of allergy to the cotton or what but the first set I bought, washed, and put on the bed about drove me out of my mind. They were sort of smooth but they made my skin itch/crawl to the point where I had to get up and change the sheets back to my previous set, which I think was a 300 TC but smooth. I bought another 300 TC set at Walmart right after that and it was a similar but not quite as drastic experience. I tell you, I about cried.

So now you know all about my sheet confusion. I still don't understand why "they" thought such a change in sheet making was for the better. I totally agree about the thread count, too, with thinner threads being used for the higher count sheets. It just doesn't make very much sense to me.

I did buy QVC's special value sheets the other day, too. Gee, I just can't get over having to spend $80 for a decent set of sheets when it wasn't like that just a few years ago even taking into account inflation or whatever. But I need some new sheets as two of my four sets have tears in them.

A couple of years ago, I bought a alternative comforter from Anna's Linens because I got rid of my down comforter from QVC. It wasn't warm enough so I bought a second down alternative comforter from Anna's Linens. I think the package said it had a cotton cover (not a separate cover). WHatever it is, it's yummy, very soft and smooth and cool to the touch. I just love it. I wish I could find sheets made of that same material because it is wonderful.

Ok, enough of a book for now. Thanks for listening. :-)

another recommendation for sams club sheets. good value for the price

A very timely topic for me as I'm about to buy new sheets for our Master Bedroom. Thank you for starting this discussion. I have learned a great deal in reading the responses.

Cocok, thank you for the explanation. I am saving this to my files. I always knew that I liked 100% Cotton Sateen, but never truly understood the thread count issue. I was just told that purchasing anything above a 500 thread count was a waste of money. Now I understand because you took the time to explain.

For the past several years I've been buying my sheet sets at Sam's Club for $50 and they're wonderful. 100% cotton and no wrinkles. I need a fitted sheet that fits an 18" deep mattress and these fit great.

I just purchases some 600 thread count egyptian cotton sheets! On Sale/King for 79.00. Love the deep pockets and elastic on all sides to cover the mattress entirely. Sams Club sheets rock!