People loooove stats. The Slashdot crowd has gigahertz and frame rates to discuss. Motorheads have torque and horsepower. Chocolate connoisseurs discuss cocoa content. And those of us obsessed with home decor? Thread count*. Like computational power, horsepower or cocoa content, thread count is one of those things people become obsessive about. The higher the better, at least in theory.
I recently noticed that Target is selling 800 thread count bedding...a big change from the days when 300 was the upper echelon of their selection. But I've personally found thread count is a poor guide to comfort as megapixels are to image quality when buying a digital camera. Some 300 thread count sheets are as comfortable as 600 thread count versions, all for half the price, illustrating how important origin of cotton is in regard to quality (e.g. Egyptian or Pima). But like bellybuttons, everyone has an opinion about this one. Some people are fine with the near-burlap feel of a 180 thread count sheet, while others are horrified by the idea of sleeping upon something less than 600 threads per square inch. Opinions?
Me, I've 300's on my bed, but I'm looking at getting a nice set of satin sheets since my so wants some. Any clue what and where to look for a decent set of sheets for a decent price?
The problem with most higher-thread count sheets is that they just aren't as durable as the lower-thread count predecessors. They may in general be slicker than the cotton sheets of yesteryear, but they also tend not to breathe as well and are less absorbent, which sort of defeats the purpose of cotton bedding. I find that high thread count sheets are cooler in the winter (as a result of that slicker surface) and warmer in the summer, which is sort of the opposite of what you probably want in bedding.
And they still aren't as slick as silk, which is much cheaper today than it was a generation ago.
my favorite favorite sheets are the hotel bedding line by bed bath & beyond in sateen. they wash well, getting softer each time & they're slippery soft to begin with.
200 thread count is the best
Funny, but Americans are the ONLY people who obsess about thread count. In the industry it's well known that other factors ( how long the fibers are, how the are spun, finished, and country of origin) are far more an indication of quality, hand, and durability.
Thread counts are unheard of in Europe, and are basically a very successful marketing ploy by ad agencies
I actually have those Target sheets - here's my short review:
The sheets feel yummy at first, but they are oddly thick/heavy, and do trap heat somehow. I love the color - Tiffany Blue - and the pillow covers are nice and cool when you first put your head down. We've only washed them once but my experience with high thread count sheets is that they pill faster, probably because I try to get the ones that are a "deal."
I dislike soft sheets, and I absolutely hate both satin and sateen sheets. I made the mistake many years ago of buying satin sheets, thinking that they were so luxurious......they felt horribly slippery to me. I prefer crisp-feeling cotton, in the 250-300 range. I used to be fortunate enough to have a first floor suburban apartment where I could line-dry my freshly washed sheets......ahhh.....that was luxury to me..
I really dislike sateen sheets because every set I've ever owned has pilled. I've even tried expensive pima cotton sateen. A good quality percale is my favorite and they get better with time. Although they seem to be getting harder to find so I must be in the minority.
Juli, check out the Company Store online for percale. They have duvet covers in percale also.
I like about 250-300 thread count. Soft and silky but not too tightly woven. The very high thread count sheets I have are HOT, in a flannelly kind of way, not a Paris Hilton-y way.
I fell for the high thread count marketing. But, I've finally realized I like rough, thick, crisp sheets. I find unused vintage percale cotton sheets where you can see the slubbing and weaving of the cotton.
It feels so crisp and clean when I climb in bed. Not slick and tissue-ey like the high thread sheets.
I think I'm in the minority, considering my lack of sheeting options.
Thread count is definitely a marketing technique! Here's a bit of information to help you choose your linens:
The yarn that the linen is made from must be spun of a "long staple" cotton, which means that it has long, individual fibers. Egyptian, Sea Island and Pima (and Supima) are all good ones. Starting with these will ensure a wonderfully soft, long lasting linen, even with thread counts of 200.
Many low quality manufacturers will market high thread counts to make the customer think that they are of high quality even though they were made from short staple yarns. These will become rough over time and will likely pill (short or broken fibers come to the surface).
When you feel linens, they should have a soft "hand." Meaning, they should feel very smooth. You should not feel any fibers or texture above the surface.
Another fyi, percale is a type of weave that creates a nice, crisp linen. Sateen is a type of weave, which can be super soft with a shiny surface. However, some low quality manufacturers will use a finishing technique instead of a weaving technique to make their linen appear shiny and soft like a sateen, but it will wear away over time.
Interesting comments. My preference is for sheets that have that stiff but smooth thing going on. I have only found it in quality brands and in a high thread count. Having said that I have some egyptian cotton 800 thread count sheets that are just dreadful! I will be doing more research before I next go shopping.