Bedsheet thread count

[Tanzigrrl]

Hi, All, I've never really thought about thread count before, but decided it's time to shop for new sheets. What is the thread count that you prefer for your bed sheets?

 

[Enerchi]

I love egyptian cotton sheets in the 400 + range. I have a set that are 800 TC and they are TDF! Like polished heaven when you sleep at night!

 

[ame]

I have no idea...we have Beech Sheets now. They're like Butta.

 

[zoebartlett]

I think most of our sheets are in the 400-500 thread count range. We have a couple sets of Wamsutta damask sheets (500 thread count) that we really like.

 

[decodelighted]

We just got some new bamboo sheets from Cariloha that are amazing. Have no idea what the thread count is though .... usually we like 400 & up ... but had some plush microfiber sheets this winter that weren't thread-count compliant either. So, I'm starting to question my old buying logic & just getting what feels amazing.

 

[monarch64]

I only like crisp, cotton 250 TC percale sheets. Only. I've slept on everything from 400-800, sateen, etc. and hate them. I'm a weirdo, though, so my data perhaps isn't the best to use when looking to make decisions such as these.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I like around 400. I read somewhere when I was shopping for sheets that really high thread count can make you hot! Don't ask me why, but I stick with under 500 for that reason whatever it was!

 

[monarch64]

I like around 400. I read somewhere when I was shopping for sheets that really high thread count can make you hot! Don't ask me why, but I stick with under 500 for that reason whatever it was!

Probably because the weave is tighter and obviously there are more threads per square inch or whatever. The sheet wouldn't "breathe" as much as a lower TC.

 

[LJL]

My understanding is that anything above 400 is considered nice and my personal experience is that around 400 TC is a good balance... My sheets are around 400-500 - because my mom is super freaked out about my allergies and apparently the higher thread count, the less likely the sheets are to hold onto allergens in the air? I dont know, something like that. But 400TC can still breathe and everything...

 

[bright ice]

I prefer 600-800 count, very soft and silky. I have a set of 800 count and I love them. They have very durable too!

 

[Jennifer W]

I would be more interested in yarn fibre and fabric construction quality than actual thread count - I actually think that's a bit of a marketing person's red herring. Also, over a certain point, the thread count causes a problem in that sheets will 'snap' in a domestic washing machine, with the force of the water and not enough give or porosity in the fabric, so you get tears. Well constructed, carefully woven fabric of a fairly low thread count will feel and wear much better than poorly made fabric with a high thread count.

This article explains it better than I am doing, because although I grew up near a famous mill town, the mills have long gone and nobody talks about linen weaving here anymore.
http://www.linenplace.com/product_guide/truth_about_thread_count.html

I hope you find something lovely, and if you're looking for a hugely indulgent and spendy splurge on sheets that will last for the rest of your life and then some, you will not find anything finer than here:
http://www.fergusonsirishlinen.com/ Well, now that you can no longer buy Dunfermline linen, anyway. That really was the best.

 

[iLander]

I gave up on thread count---after sleeping on 1000 thread sheets, and not really perceiving a difference.

So now I just get sateen finish, they're soft and slightly slick which I prefer. Around 400 threads, I think, but sateen.

 

[decodelighted]

I like around 400. I read somewhere when I was shopping for sheets that really high thread count can make you hot! Don't ask me why, but I stick with under 500 for that reason whatever it was!

The Cariloha sheets are bamboo and supposedly stay cooler than cotton. It might be all marketing hype but after sleeping on them for a few months now -- I think it's legit!

 

[ame]

DH just reminded me that we never were able to buy the Royal Hawaiian pink sheets we slept on at the hotel. Im pissed I didn't buy them then and there. Because they've never had them available to buy again

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Beware the thread count wars: vanity sizing isn't just in women's clothing anymore!

"Thread count" as a measure of fineness became an unreliable metric about 15 years ago, when manufacturing changes allowed double and triple-twining of threads before they are woven into a unified piece of fabric. Thus, the old measurement (take a square inch of fabric under magnification, count the number of threads in that square inch, resulting in a thread count, with the cheapest/roughest of sheets as low as 150TPI, and luxury textiles at around 450TPI) can be legally manipulated (and technically accurate) to be 1000 thread count and above. BUT, more importantly, there can now exist very low quality sheets (a triple-twined 150 count) which would now be advertised as a 450 thread count-- and would be a VERY different beast than the old school, long eqyptian cotton, non-double twined 450 luxury sateen.







To answer your Q, as you may have guessed I'm a bit of an aesthete when it comes to bed linens, so:
-- during the cold months, we use long-thread egyptian cotton sateen, which are unbelievably soft and high thread count (450 if single-twined, 800 or higher if double-twined, but never triple-twined);
-- by summer however, we drop down to cotton percale, whose crisp, cool feeling results in a greater breathability (and as a percale has a thread count probably in the 200s, but the best manufacturers use a higher quality of threads in the textile resulting in smooth, soft sheets).

 

[VRBeauty]

I only like crisp, cotton 250 TC percale sheets. Only. I've slept on everything from 400-800, sateen, etc. and hate them. I'm a weirdo, though, so my data perhaps isn't the best to use when looking to make decisions such as these.

Monarch - where do you find them? I was shopping sheets just yesterday and I just gave up because all I could find was sateen sheets. I like that crisp feel, particularly on a hot summer night. If you have any favorite outlets for 100% cotton percale sheets, I'm all ears!

 

[MustangGal]

I used to do 400-500 TC, but just got a set of Beech ones that are amazing (really similar to bamboo ones).

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I also don't like sateen sheets - I prefer the crisp feeling. But I love a good quality sheet. Ooooo....

ETA - Those sheets look dreamy, Jennifer, but I am much too cheap to pay 200 pounds for a sheet (not including pillowcases). Why do I have champagne tastes and an aversion to spending money?

 

[monarch64]

I only like crisp, cotton 250 TC percale sheets. Only. I've slept on everything from 400-800, sateen, etc. and hate them. I'm a weirdo, though, so my data perhaps isn't the best to use when looking to make decisions such as these.

Monarch - where do you find them? I was shopping sheets just yesterday and I just gave up because all I could find was sateen sheets. I like that crisp feel, particularly on a hot summer night. If you have any favorite outlets for 100% cotton percale sheets, I'm all ears!

I like Pottery Barn's the best. Theirs are actually 200 TC. What I really love about them is how well they are constructed--the elastic never wears out, they're deep enough for my mattress, the pillowcases have the pocket inside, etc. I've rotated two sets for about 5 years now and they're still going strong and showing barely any signs of wear besides a tiny bit of fading.

 

[rainwood]

I blame Oprah for the thread count obsession. To me, what's more important is the material the sheets are made out of. Egyptian cotton is the best, sateen weave is softer than percale, and then thread count. A 400-count Egyptian cotton sateen sheet is my personal favorite. They are soft from the beginning and just continue to get better. Guests always comment on how nice they are.

I think bamboo would also be great. I have some bamboo socks that are terrifically soft and comfy.

 

[Gypsy]

I don't go by thread count. It's not indicative of quality or durability, though it is supposed to be. I have learned through much expensive experimenting that my go to sheets are Wamsutta 300-600 TC (not comparable with any other brand) and these two from Cuddledown (which really has the loveliest linens and towels).



http://www.cuddledown.com/product/bedding/sateen/400-thread-count-flat-sheet.do?sortby=newArrivals&page=2

http://www.cuddledown.com/product/bedding/percale/500-thread-count-italian-percale-flat-sheet.do?sortby=newArrivals&page=3

I would also try bamboo. I have bamboo towels and they are fabulous (of course I bought them because the Wall Street Journal recommended them, not because of the bamboo. They are also from Cuddledown).

 

[Gypsy]

I only like crisp, cotton 250 TC percale sheets. Only. I've slept on everything from 400-800, sateen, etc. and hate them. I'm a weirdo, though, so my data perhaps isn't the best to use when looking to make decisions such as these.

Monarch - where do you find them? I was shopping sheets just yesterday and I just gave up because all I could find was sateen sheets. I like that crisp feel, particularly on a hot summer night. If you have any favorite outlets for 100% cotton percale sheets, I'm all ears!

Percale:

http://www.cuddledown.com/product/bedding/percale/500-thread-count-italian-percale-flat-sheet.do?sortby=newArrivals&page=3 (I own these are they are wonderful, I just wish they came in 21 inch deep-- still they do have an 18 inch pocket).

http://www.cuddledown.com/product/bedding/percale/300-thread-count-organic-percale-flat-sheet.do?sortby=newArrivals&page=3 (haven't tried these yet, I need deep sheets for my mattress)

http://www.garnethill.com/fiesta-percale-bedding/117600?listIndex=4 (my duvet in our guest bedroom is from this line, it's nice but not as soft as I like personally and doesn't compare to my other percales, but it IS very good quality)

http://www.garnethill.com/hemstitched-supima-26-23174-3b-percale-bedding/221425?listIndex=5

http://www.thecompanystore.com/400-thread-count-Supima%C2%AE-Percale-Bedding/E1U6x_02,default,pd.html?start=44&q=percale&prefn1=size&prefv1=Queen|King

http://www.thecompanystore.com/Green-Earth%C2%AE-Percale-Bedding/E3W5X,default,pd.html?start=68&q=percale&prefn1=size&prefv1=Queen|King

http://www.thecompanystore.com/400-Thread-Count-Percale-Deep-Sheets/e1u8-ps,default,pd.html?start=144&q=percale&prefn1=size&prefv1=Queen|King

 

[VRBeauty]

Thanks, Gypsy - I'll look into those. I'm fine with a lower thread-count, so the Garnet Hill option is looking pretty good to me!

 

[monarch64]

Thanks, Gypsy - I'll look into those. I'm fine with a lower thread-count, so the Garnet Hill option is looking pretty good to me!

Don't know if you saw my response above, but I mentioned Pottery Barn as well. Similar pricing to Garnet Hill.

 

[LAJennifer]

This might be an option, for those that love percale, from The Vermont Country Store. I haven't tried them, but I'm thinking of ordering a set for my guest bedroom. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/...Bath/Sheets/Clothesline_Crisp_Sheet_Set/49249

 

[VRBeauty]

Thanks, Gypsy - I'll look into those. I'm fine with a lower thread-count, so the Garnet Hill option is looking pretty good to me!

Don't know if you saw my response above, but I mentioned Pottery Barn as well. Similar pricing to Garnet Hill.

Sorry Monny - I had overlooked your response. Thank you! This sounds promising, and I can actually check them out in person first! (What a concept, huh?)

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

I like around 400. I read somewhere when I was shopping for sheets that really high thread count can make you hot! Don't ask me why, but I stick with under 500 for that reason whatever it was!

Thsi is true! I have 1,000 TC sheets and while they're great when you're sleeping alone, if FI is in bed with me, we will over-heat! I like the 400+ range. The 1,000 TC sheets are fabulous during the winter though!

 

[canuk-gal]

I blame Oprah for the thread count obsession. To me, what's more important is the material the sheets are made out of. Egyptian cotton is the best, sateen weave is softer than percale, and then thread count. A 400-count Egyptian cotton sateen sheet is my personal favorite. They are soft from the beginning and just continue to get better. Guests always comment on how nice they are.

I think bamboo would also be great. I have some bamboo socks that are terrifically soft and comfy.

As are the undies....


High thread count + ironed/pressed = heaven.

cheers--Sharon

 

[monarch64]

I blame Oprah for the thread count obsession. To me, what's more important is the material the sheets are made out of. Egyptian cotton is the best, sateen weave is softer than percale, and then thread count. A 400-count Egyptian cotton sateen sheet is my personal favorite. They are soft from the beginning and just continue to get better. Guests always comment on how nice they are.

I think bamboo would also be great. I have some bamboo socks that are terrifically soft and comfy.

As are the undies....


High thread count + ironed/pressed = heaven.

cheers--Sharon

Ha, I've been wondering if you were going to chime in about ironing! I glanced through a couple of those old threads last night, they are SO IN-DEPTH, it's hilarious!

 

[Jennifer W]

I also don't like sateen sheets - I prefer the crisp feeling. But I love a good quality sheet. Ooooo....

ETA - Those sheets look dreamy, Jennifer, but I am much too cheap to pay 200 pounds for a sheet (not including pillowcases). Why do I have champagne tastes and an aversion to spending money?

I don't know. Are you Scottish, perhaps? We're famous for being...careful with money I mean, I do have an exquisite set of Dunfermline linen sheets, and pillowcases, but well, I did not buy them. My great grandmother did.