What kind of bed sheets do I want?
February 28, 2019 12:57 PM Subscribe
I like really, thick stiff sheets. No drape at all. What kind of sheets am I looking for?
About ten years ago I bought a 1000 thread count sheet from King of Cotton and it was my very favourite sheet. It was so thick! Unfortunately I ordered more recently, and they were not the same. They were nice, but not noticeably thicker than a standard decent quality sheet.
So, what should I look for to find my dream sheets? More expensive high thread count cotton? Something else? I'm currently sleeping on vintage linen sheets, which are fairly close, but still a bit too soft and prone to rumpling. I want no rumpling.
I am in the UK so available here would be ideal, and I only use flat sheets because fitted sheets annoy me.
About ten years ago I bought a 1000 thread count sheet from King of Cotton and it was my very favourite sheet. It was so thick! Unfortunately I ordered more recently, and they were not the same. They were nice, but not noticeably thicker than a standard decent quality sheet.
So, what should I look for to find my dream sheets? More expensive high thread count cotton? Something else? I'm currently sleeping on vintage linen sheets, which are fairly close, but still a bit too soft and prone to rumpling. I want no rumpling.
I am in the UK so available here would be ideal, and I only use flat sheets because fitted sheets annoy me.
Hotel and hospital sheets can be heavy and smooth, but sometimes finding ones you like is trial and error.
posted by glitter at 1:23 PM on February 28, 2019
posted by glitter at 1:23 PM on February 28, 2019
Thread count is not the number you're looking to ask about. In the US, fabric weight is expressed in ounces per square yard. Not sure it would be the same in the UK (maybe gram per square meter?)
For reference, a man's dressy shirt is generally a 4 - 6 oz per sq yard fabric, most regular sheets are about an 8 oz, and denim jeans are about a 12 - 14 oz per square yard fabric.
You'll also want to look at the actual weave of the fabric, and the fiber itself. A plain weave is going to generally have less body than a twill weave. Linen will generally have more body than plain cotton, and plain cotton more body than Pima.
posted by anastasiav at 1:24 PM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
For reference, a man's dressy shirt is generally a 4 - 6 oz per sq yard fabric, most regular sheets are about an 8 oz, and denim jeans are about a 12 - 14 oz per square yard fabric.
You'll also want to look at the actual weave of the fabric, and the fiber itself. A plain weave is going to generally have less body than a twill weave. Linen will generally have more body than plain cotton, and plain cotton more body than Pima.
posted by anastasiav at 1:24 PM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
ounces per square yard - QFT
Also, anything you get will be stiffer if you line dry it rather than tumble. They will last longer too. I'd stick with linen, personally. That's the classic stiff fabric for sheets and of course why we call cotton sheets "linens". It's kind of a niche/high-end market these days though, and they get pricey but they are out there. Brand new good stuff should be much less rumply than the older stuff, and doubly so if you can get it in heavier weight. Cotton/linen blends are also worth looking at.
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:32 PM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
Also, anything you get will be stiffer if you line dry it rather than tumble. They will last longer too. I'd stick with linen, personally. That's the classic stiff fabric for sheets and of course why we call cotton sheets "linens". It's kind of a niche/high-end market these days though, and they get pricey but they are out there. Brand new good stuff should be much less rumply than the older stuff, and doubly so if you can get it in heavier weight. Cotton/linen blends are also worth looking at.
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:32 PM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
You're right about high thread count pure cotton. You want cotton hotel sheets if you can find them. I find that the laundry detergent makes a difference, also. I love Kirkland (Costco) Ultra Clean premium laundry detergent. It has no perfume, and makes sheets, T-shirts, etc. feel thick yet soft, just as you describe. It's noticeably different from other detergents I have used over the years. I avoid fabric softeners, also. Hate them.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:36 PM on February 28, 2019
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:36 PM on February 28, 2019
Response by poster: Unfortunately, I've never seen sheets with a fabric weight attached, that definitely would have made this process easier! I think my last sheet probably WAS in the 12 - 14 oz range though(I wish I could even get woman's jeans in that weight these days, sigh).
For what it's worth I do line dry (no dryer) don't use fabric softener, and am currently using real linen sheets.
posted by stillnocturnal at 1:45 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
For what it's worth I do line dry (no dryer) don't use fabric softener, and am currently using real linen sheets.
posted by stillnocturnal at 1:45 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Most better retailers should be able to give you a fabric weight on their sheets if you ask.
posted by anastasiav at 1:52 PM on February 28, 2019
posted by anastasiav at 1:52 PM on February 28, 2019
My favorite sheet is a mix of cotton and linen, very densely woven. I bought the fabric by the meter and finished it myself. The fabric was from Lithuania. I wish I had made 10 of them. It has gotten softer with wear, which is probably why your vintage sheets aren't perfect for you. What really helps is ironing them. You can use a little starch, but that isn't really necessary. The best is to have a machine with rollers, but for cold ironing. This compresses the fibres so you get that dense, slightly stiff feel. Maybe your original sheet had been very tightly compressed during manufacturing, so the effect kept over a long while. I know I don't need to iron my sheets every time I wash them.
posted by mumimor at 3:03 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 3:03 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Seconding percale. The climate where I live is horribly humid in the summer and percale sheets are fairly cool due to the weave. They are also the most stiff sheets I have ever had.
I have linen clothing and I feel like linen is definitely more flexible with more of a soft rumple quality than my percale sheets which I would more describe as a fabric that wrinkles or crinkles in the manner that paper does.
If you like your sheets looking perfectly ironed at all times, percale won't work for you. But if you're looking for stiff sheets with no drape percale is your best bet.
posted by donut_princess at 5:17 PM on February 28, 2019
I have linen clothing and I feel like linen is definitely more flexible with more of a soft rumple quality than my percale sheets which I would more describe as a fabric that wrinkles or crinkles in the manner that paper does.
If you like your sheets looking perfectly ironed at all times, percale won't work for you. But if you're looking for stiff sheets with no drape percale is your best bet.
posted by donut_princess at 5:17 PM on February 28, 2019
Buy some French linen or cotton bedsheets. Almost every sheet I sued in frances was like you’re describing
posted by raccoon409 at 5:28 PM on February 28, 2019
posted by raccoon409 at 5:28 PM on February 28, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stillmoving at 1:05 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]