A sheet is a sheet, at least in terms of it’s basic construction. The fabric the sheet is made from, however, drastically seperates one sheet from another. There are many kinds of cotton fiber for sheets to be made from, from Egyptian cotton to Indian muslin. A basic way to tell one sheet from another is thread count: how many threads per square inch does the sheet contain? Simply holding it up to a light source is a quick way to discern this. If you can see the actual weave of the fabric, your sheet has a low thread count. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the sheet is.
Let’s review some different types of sheets and a few characteristics of each one:
Muslin: These are considered to be the low end of the cotton spectrum. Muslin is a “rough-and-tough” fabric and it has a thread count of 128-140.
Percale: A flat, smooth, closely woven fabric that is combed. A combed fabric has undergone a cleaning process that eliminates dirt and short, undesirable fibers. Percale can come in 100% cotton or 50% cotton/50% polyester varieties. It is also a finer fabric than muslin, with a thread count of 180-200.
Pima or Supima: A high quality cotton whose long fibers are similar to Egyptian cotton. The difference between the two is purely geographical. Both pima and supima are popular bedding fabrics because of the soft hand feel they possess. The thread count of Pima/Supima is from 200-300.
Egyptian Cotton: The queen of all cottons grown on the banks of the Nile. Egyptian cotton owe’s its superior durability, luster, and silky hand feel to its extra long fibers. The thread count of Egyptian cotton goes from 200-400.
Of the types listed above, Egyptian cotton is the most popular of them all by a wide margin. The incredible softness of the cotton is due to the fact that that rich soil and humid conditions along the Nile riverbank are perfect for growing long cotton fibers (called staple). The long length of the fibers allows the cotton to be spun into very fine yarns that are lustrous and durable, making for a quality fabric. Not surprisingly, this also makes Egyptian cotton the most expensive on the market.
When translated into sheets, Egyptian cotton sheets are the cream of the crop. The luxurious feel of the cotton fabric against your skin make for a very enjoyable sleeping experience no matter how your day has gone.
