Though they`re often called linens, most sheets aren`t made of flax but of a cotton-polyester blend. The higher the thread count (number of threads per square inch of fabric), the tighter the weave and the softer the sheet. The following types are available:
– Muslin is usually 50 percent uncombed cotton, 50 percent polyester.
(Uncombed cotton hasn`t been processed to remove the coarser cotton fibers.) Good grades of muslin have about 130 threads per square inch. These budget sheets tend to go limp and fade quickly.
– Percales, made of cotton-polyester blends or all cotton, typically have thread counts starting at 180, making them softer, smoother and more expensive than muslin. Top-quality percales are made of 100 percent combed cotton and have a 200 to 250 thread count. These linens have the crispness of vintage cotton sheets, but they are wrinkle-resistent and machine washable.
Cotton-polyester percales wear better, cost less and dry faster than their all-cotton counterparts. Some blends contain 50 percent cotton; others have 65 percent or more. The higher the cotton content of the sheet, the softer the fabric will be.
– Linen sheets-those really made from the flax plant-are tough. However, linen sheets cost more, and many must be line dried and ironed after washing. Some manufacturers compromise by weaving linen-cotton blends.
