Wàmsúttâ sheets ?

[wodehouse]

Now this is weird. I bought some (expensive) Wamsutta sheets at Bed Bath and Beyond last week. I had checked them out on their [Wamsutta's] website first. Now their site has been down all weekend. Just tried again and same thing. All I can find in Google is a Spanish-language remark that Springs Industries (parent of Wamsutta) has sold the brand to Bed Bath and Beyond (apparently, earlier this month).

I do not know what this means. It just confuses me. And I wanted more of those sheets.

[wodehouse]

More on this. I bought Wamsutta "Pearl" sheets: 90% pima cotton, 10% rayon "from Pearls". 400 thread count. The sheets are very nice. I was a little disappointed in some of the sewing work (loose threads) and the fact that they were made in Pakistan (I'd thought they were made in China, which I didn't like and had resigned myself to that, but then I see Pakistan, and we're essentially at war with them ...although I did always like PM Bhutto). But I was very curious about the "rayon from pearls"; I'd even sent them a note through their website, which is now defunct. Rayon is a manmade fibre made from cellulose (plant fibers). Could be made from cotton, bamboo, etc, (in fact, I have long been amused at the advertising for "Bamboo" textiles, it's really just rayon. I now see the FTC has stepped in on misleading advertising). Pearls from oysters are a mineral. Not the same thing at all. I guess the point they are trying to make is that the rayon adds the pearlized sheen and smoothness to the fabric.

[Deleted]

You are way too invested in your bed sheets.

[Deleted]

he's obviously better acquainted with his bed sheets than you are.

[wodehouse]

;D I just wanted to get something nice for the missus. She's always shopping for deals; sometimes I think it's worth it just to go out and pay the full price to get what you want and that is nice.

[swamp]

Jun 25, 2012 13:28:09 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I'd be more focused on thread count than brand name.

We got some very soft 800 count sheets at JCP that weren't too expensive. I really don't give a flying flip about the brand of my sheets.

[wodehouse]

Now we can talk about "threads per inch"! Marketers love to boast about the threads per inch ("TPI") in their sheets, as though more is softer. Well, that ain't always the case! Some even go up to 1000 TPI. This is probably malarky and they're likely (in most cases) counting thread fibres, not actual threads. Just as important is the type of cotton; long staple cotton...pima cotton, is the best. Sold under names like Egyptian cotton, Sea Island cotton, Supima cotton, etc. The type of weave also makes a big difference on perceived softness; compare percale to sateen ("sateen", not "satin"). Google and Wikipedia will be your friends in this research.

The "Pearl" sheet set I got is 400 TPI and is pima cotton with the 10% rayon. The rayon gives the fabric a nice pearly-shiny appearance and smooth, almost "glossy" texture. The 400 TPI is not up there with the 600 TPI, etc, that you might find for $30 at Sears, but these are much better sheets. This TPI business is a bit like the "12 transistor" radios in my youth, there was a war between manufacturers to proclaim how many transistors their radio used, but oftentimes those extra transistors were used simply as resistors or diodes and did not fulfill the function of a transistor. By getting this nice Wamsutta set I wanted to show DW that there's more to it than TPI. For comparison, Wamsutta also has 750 TPI sheets, no rayon, for about 5% more.

(sorry, I see the TPI debate has already begun!)

[swamp]

JCP carries Egyptian cotton.

[Deleted]

does thread count really make a difference? I'm EXTREMELY cheap on bedding and I just usually get the cheapest thing that isn't ugly or sandpaper.

[midjd]

Jenny - thread count makes some difference but only if they're being honest about it (Wodehouse's post is spot-on). I've felt some 500+ thread-count sheets that don't feel any softer than the 200 or 250-thread count ones from Wal-Mart.

Egyptian/pima cotton is the way to go. And you should upgrade your bedding, it makes such a difference! I used to buy the cheapest ones I could stand til I nabbed a 500 thread count set from Kohl's on super sale. I could never go back to cheap sheets again. We have a couple of sets of sateen ones from BB&B and it is like sleeping in a cloud.

[wodehouse]

jenny, personally I think the thread count is a marketing blitz. Get some nice pima cotton sheets from JCP. They'll get softer as they age.

A couple years ago I bought some Martha Stewart pillowcases at Dillards or Macy's. Expensive and very disappointing. Not colorfast (and faded differently) and the fabric was not nice. Price or designer isn't everything.

[wvugurl26]

I got some 500 thread ct Sonoma ones for $50ish at Kohls. They feel so good. If you watch their sales and combine with a 20% off coupon, you can get good sheets for cheap at Kohls.

[Deleted]

$50 for sheets is too rich for my blood. I have been putting jersey sheets on our bed. It's like being wrapped up in a big comfy shirt all night.

[wvugurl26]

Jun 25, 2012 14:08:37 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

$50 for sheets is too rich for my blood. I have been putting jersey sheets on our bed. It's like being wrapped up in a big comfy shirt all night.

I have jersey sheets too but they are wearing out. I bought them in summer 2005 though. They were Hanes and Walmart quit carrying them again. None of the other jersey ones I've found seem as soft.

[cronewitch]

I get 540tc at Costco and they are good. We are using our second set and I have a new set for when these wear out.

I would buy really cheap sheets years ago and will never do that again. They used to have 180tc and they were soon pilled and harsh. I got cheap for the camper because it was only a few nights a year, I was sorry and bought better. Now no cheap sheets even for a guest bed used once every 5-6 years for one night.

[Deleted]

I buy the 600 tc sheets each year at the Black Friday sale of Belk Dept store. Any size set is around $50. They are absolutely wonderful soft and silky sheets. For those of you who have not experienced hot flashes and night sweats yet, you'll find nothing is nicer than finding a nice cool place in the bed and an even cooler pillow.