At the Houston Quilt Show I bought a set of king sized sheets from one of the vendors that was purported to be 100% Egyptian cotton. DH immediately fell in love with them because they were light and airy, like gossamer wings….. That was then. Now they have pilled so badly that we had to take them off the bed because it was like sleeping between sheets of sandpaper.
Have any of you ever heard/known of cotton to pill in this fashion? Or was I duped?
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I've never heard of or experienced pilling with 100% cotton like you describe.
I've had cotton flannel sheets pill like that, but I would not have thought something so light and airy would do the same.
Been there, done that.......I know exactly what you mean. I bought 100% Cotton Sateen sheets that were quite expensive. Both DH and I thought they were great........until the pillowcases pilled.......badly. Mine was o.k. (of course, after laundering, it was hard to make sure I got that same one back on my side) but DH beard stubble is what we think caused the pilling/shredding of the fabric. As I recall, the sheets weren't as bad but I think the fitted bottom sheet had started doing the same thing. I really think it was the weave......the sateen.....since I have had other soft cotton sheets that did not do that. The problem is that so many of the better sheets that will fit on our very thick mattress are made of the sateen weave these days. I now have some that are the percale variety.....much better!
Hope this helps solve at least part of your question.
Kay
Thank all of you for your replies. I think I will clip a piece of fabric from the hem and test it either by the burn method or with ---- oh, shoot, what is it called ----- oh! Fiber-Etch. (Forgive me, I'm old and have occasional memory lapses. If I determine this is not cotton, I plan to be at the Houston Quilt Show again this fall and will have said offending sheets with me while I look for the vendor, doncha know.
When I saw the heading for this thread - "Does cotton pill" - I immediately thought "Sheets!" I had the same thing happen with some expensive "high thread count", not sateen-weave, sheets I bought a few years ago. Just a couple of launderings caused the pilling. They were labeled as 400-thread count, 100 % cotton, and I believe they were all-cotton. But...
The manufacturers of sheets have done a good job of confusing us, I think. I remember when 200-250 thread-count was high (120 or 150 thread-count percale was about the standard), and sheets made from it were soft, oh-so-smooth, and durable. When consumers began to show a preference for all-cotton, and started paying attention to thread-count, the manufacturers messed around with the way they count threads, and started producing sheets with higher and higher numbers. These 400, 500, and 800 thread count sheets are deceiving, and thread-count alone doesn't mean so much. And the sateen weave, while it may look luxurious, is not as nice as plain percale weave - it's just a way of fudging on the thread-count.
I'm not convinced that the labels "Egyptian", "Pima", or "Supima" mean anything at all in themselves, either. Also, from my experience especially with sheets, price is not a guarantee of high quality. I bought those expensive sheets which pilled and wore out quickly. So I guess it's some mysterious combination of thread-count, fiber length, twist and gauge of thread, and weave, that makes a good smooth, durable sheet, but how to judge it before purchase, I don't know, especially since they've taken liberties with how they count threads.
Well, that's my rant! Wish I knew a way to determine, before purchase, the real quality of a sheet.
Edited 4/15/2008 10:36 am ET by Josefly
All: It is my understanding that Egyptian Cotton means long fibre. It is also my understanding that the beauty of long fibres is that they don't pull out from the weave. I believe pilling is caused by short fibres, pulling out from the weave and bunching up.
I am so glad this discussion arose, as I was trying to save the big dollars for these lovely sheets. I had tried to find the fabric to make myself. Perhaps this is the reason you can't find the fabric anymore, it really doesn't exist, with sheet manufacturers tricking us with wording into thinking long fibre cotton is still available.
I love flannel sheets, summer and winter as does my husband. We have had inexpensive flannels pill until they are like sandpaper. However the better quality soften over the years to feel like down. I love them. Maybe I will stick with the more expensive flannel from good shops.
If someone else can let me know if I am mixed up on long fibres and pilling, I am grateful.
Scrubble4
I love to wear flannel-backed satin nightgowns, (the satin is polyester.) This discussion piqued my interest because I've been wondering why the flannel was so pilled. I think, but I can't be sure, that the ones I used to buy didn't do that. I thought it had something to do with the way I was laundering them and had been thinking about posting a question on this site. From this discussion, it doesn't sound like my laundering caused the problem.
I had some of these same problems too, many years ago and my mother-in-law helped me to find some good sheets. For now I have found some good ones at Costco and the label does say to wash in cold water on the handwash/delicate cycle I have noticed that they have lasted longer and I do not get that 'ruff' feel to them. I also love flannel not matter what the season is. I did find a set in a Thrift store never opened (it was a mixmarked sizing) I guess many were afraid to buy and it was marked down again. I bought them anyway and even dyed them to match in our bedroom and it has been the best quality of sheets I have ever had. They are by DIVATEK HOME FASHIONS INC. - I have no idea the count. I have washed and dried for atleast 2years now and they are even softer. These are our summer flannel - there are very light weight and softWe do have a water softner on all the water coming into the house and I use very mild allergy-chemical free soap and fabric softner and only use cold water for washing them.Plus I dry each sheet individually. (I was told this is the best and so far so good) :~)
This may be more information than any of us ever wanted to know about sheets, but I Googled a few queries to gather some information. It appears I may have caused some of my own pilling problems by washing my sheets in hot water with towels and drying them in the drier. Nevertheless, I've never had this problem before, and I LIKE to wash my sheets in hot water with a touch of chlorine bleach. It makes me feel the sheets are really clean. A contributing factor seems to be "short" fibers and/or "twisted" threads to boost the thread count. That last website below talks about "combed" cotton, and that makes perfect sense to me. I also learned that thread count alone is misleading and has come under the scrutiney of the FTC. I may forgo Egyptian cotton for domestic Pima or Supima cotton from this point forward. I just checked my sheets for labeling, and guess what! No labels. I am sure that paper label inside the zipped outer package is long gone, too. All that said, I've never had sheets become unusable after only 5 months usage. Several websites I visited mentioned 10 to 15 years life for sheets. http://ask.yahoo.com/20020528.html
http://home.ivillage.com/decorating/bedrooms/0,,7g05,00.html
http://www.cottoninc.com/pressreleases/?articleID=364
http://www.yvesdelorme.com/page/article_beyond_thread_count/I am pleased you like this topic. I debated posting it since it really has nothing to do with sewing.
Thanks for providing the links. Now I know why the "sateen" sheets feel fuzzy instead of "satiny"! This information is very timely as I'm in the market for a new set of sheets. I'll be reading the labels! :-)
Vickie, you and scrubble4 are both very welcome for the links. I never knew all this about sheets, but I'm glad to learn, because obviously, I'm in the market for new sheets, too.
JunkQueen: Hmm so both the length of cotton fibres and their diameter are involved in high quality cotton fabric. From these articles (thanks for posting their pathways) do my conclusions seem right to you?
I have sheets given to us for wedding presents almost 40 years ago that are soft to the touch and still useable. I like Dollmarms idea of finding sheets at second hand stores and dyeing to fit your decor.
Thanks Scrubble4
scrubble4, I think your conclusions are spot on. I've had many adventures buying sheets over the years. I do not recommend those made of slinky jersey. They aren't very sexy when they won't stay put on the bed. BTW, that was many moons ago when sexy bed linens seemed important, but after 45 years of marriage it seems but a dim memory. I bought some sheets from an eBay seller, and I liked them, but DH thought he'd worked with salvage tarps that were softer -- he was in the fire service for over 30 years. I'll admit, they were a bit noisy for the first several washings. He's sort of like the Princess and the Pea. Cheap polyester sheets "scratched" him and "made him itch". Now we have these that began life well, and now feel like sleeping on the beach. Dollmarm is my hero (heroine?). I love thrift shopping and recycling. It's become a game to me. I have found really nice percale sheets in twin and full sizes at the thrift store, but estate sales are the best. Get there early.
Thanks so much for the info. Really nice sheets are truly luxurious feeling, and so once you've experienced the cool, smooth feel of them, and the long life, you really feel cheated after forking out big bucks for the fakes. I'm glad to know the FTC is getting into the thread-count claims, maybe someday we'll be able to trust labels.
OH my dear I am so so glad you did post this - plus it has been very helpful with all inputs. Thanks too for your kind words and etc... I am happy to share what I have been told, learned and it be beneficial to not only me but for others as well. My mother was one of those "I'll do it myself" - she was raised by a nanny/housekeeper. Both my grandparents worked and the housekeeper did all the work and there were many things mother had to learn on her own when she left home. Laundry skills were not one. My mom (mother-in-law) showed me very tenderly how to properly take care of clothes when washing. Her mom worked at the local laundry mat- where she took care of many expensive clothes and mom learned to Iron and Ironed for many people over the years when her hubby was at to sea and she needed extra cash. Mom also stated you never use clorox bleach for it eventually cause a yellowing in the fabric and shading if any color to to the material. You treat the stain if any and use cold water. I have 6 different holders in my Laundry for different colors and textures for how I wash. I separate according to color, lite and dk' and then all delicates are even separated by their color and with sock and etc.. TOO I have to be careful with soaps, all cleaning products and etc... due to our Autistic son. Many companys have great soaps that have no harsh chemicals and dyes and no scents. The only items I ever wash in hot is towels and or to soak a white item and I make a past with Shout and Oxypowder and keep checking it every 30 minutes or less. I totally soak the are with the shout and then sprinkle the oxypowder over the area and then spray w/ the shout again and mix w/stick and it pulls up and out the stain into that paste that will harden and you can take it off. Then I throw that away. DO NOT use on fleece and or very thin delicate material. I only use shout and just keep working w/ it and eventually get out the stain. I never use the powder in the wash. We well water with a water softner and we have a septic system, so powder are not good for them. However at time that water does have that odd smell and I add 'FEBREZE Laundry Odor Eliminator' to the wash. Another thing you can do is take the sheet and place them in the wash and add water and see if suds appear. You may be using too much soap, and or may have too much in the load and the sheets are not getting rinsed as well and you may need to double rinse. We had to do this when we had an older washer. (we were waiting to buy a place and wanted to wait until we go into the new place. ) Thanks for this posting I have enjoyed reading, learning and sharing what I have been taught. Enjoy, :~)
Well, in defence of Egyptian cotton, if it is high quality, it has a softer feel that drapes much better than others - I prefer to use it for cotton shirts.
As to sheets and thread-counts, I have heard these comments before, but my experience doesn't match the other respondents. I buy very expensive sheets only on sale in order to get cotton sheets that a soft enough for my husband's sensitive skin yet last. So far, none of them have pilled and I have sheets that range in age from 1969 to 2004.
I usually wash my sheets in cold water, but every so often I will use hot to make sure that they are clean. I always have a cold rinse and time the dryer rather than leaving it on a standard setting. None of my sheets and pillow cases have pilled - the seams may have needed to be restitched, but that's it.
Stash -- I've no doubt if this had been good quality Egyptian cotton it would not be unusable after 5 months. I'm glad you've had no problems with yours, and I, in no way, meant to denigrate Egyptian cotton. That said, I still think I'll stick to Pima or Supima in the future, since I've successfully used them in the past with no special care, which suits my life style better. Don't you just love the feel of high quality sheets when you climb into bed at night? I am going to test the fabric on these sheets in the next several days. It may prove interesting. Or not. :)
Rita Farro has written a book entitled Dress Your Dream Bed. In it she describes how she started buying sheets at auctions and came to realize that vintage sheets were much nicer than new ones. She talked to several experts, who explained that manufacturers put a tiny bit of Egyptian cotton in with inferior cotton and can still label it Egyptian cotton. Her recommendation was to only buy SUPIMA because it is the registered trademark of American PIMA growers and is 100% PIMA cotton fibers.
I haven't had a chance to test her comments because I'm still using my cotton sateen sheets that wrinkle, stick to the bed, sometimes pill, and collect cat hair. If I do find SUPIMA sheets on sale, I plan to snatch them up, and in the meantime it was nice to know why my sheets are aging the way they are.
Great information - just as anyother product sometimes - they can say it has such and such and it only have a snippet. sad hud ?
However, THANKS it does explain alot. I bought what I thought to be great towels, but............ With one wash they were horrible. I took them back - I showed the company the date and the refunded my monies. I loved the color and they so soft - till they were washed and I am very careful how I laundry everything. I will have to look up that book - sound like a great one to have. :~)
We stayed with a friend in France once who had bought some linen sheets at a flea market. It was a very hot night and those well worn sheets were the most wonderful sheets I've ever experirnced.
I have surprisingly found a linen fabric supplier within an hour's drive of my home here in Texas and am thinking seriously about buying the raw material and making my own luxurious linen sheets just for fun.
That sounds like a wonderful idea. Can you get the linen in sheet-size widths?
Josefly, yes they come as wide as 120". Not inexpensive, but they could be special. http://www.threadpro.com/
Thanks for the link. Dreamy-sounding linens. Yes, they would indeed be special sheets. I imagine it would take a few washings to get to the softness you like, but then they would be so durable, wouldn't they?
In one of those links I posted, there is mention of just that (the blending) and to make sure you are getting 100% Egyptian cotton. Also there was some mention that Supima, while comparable in quality and hand, is less expensive because of being domestic. I like to "buy American", too. The book sound really interesting. I have to be so careful, I find myself reading all this information and not getting on with my projects.
I went back and read through the links you posted. They did have a lot of the same information. I enjoyed Rita Farro's book, which I purchased through Edward R Hamilton. I buy way too many sewing books from them because they are so inexpensive. One thing I found that I think would be helpful to someone buying sheets was a link to the fieldcrest outlet. Farro suggested buying irregular sets of Charisma sheets, SUPIMA cotton with 310 threadcount. The link is:
http://www.fieldcrestcannonoutlet.com
Edited 4/16/2008 4:32 pm ET by Kathelaine
Thank you for this link. Going there now.
I'm so glad to have that info on the Egyptian, Pima, and Supima cottons. The "Egyptian Cotton" sheets I bought were no-doubt the ones with minimal actual Egyptian cotton, and even though I bought them at a discount place - Tuesday Morning, I think, but it's been a long time now - the price was still high. I'll be looking for the Supima with more confidence now.
Remember this: Cotton fades, polyester pills
Edited 4/17/2008 3:35 am ET by berniejh
That is true........but there are exceptions and one being 100% cotton SATEEN weave sheets......with a high thread count. There is no polyester hiding there anywhere but the sateen does pill from abrasion........rolling around in pajamas, mens' beard stubble, etc. It feels silky soft and wonderous but doesn't hold up to what I would call 'normal' use. Maybe if one sleeps in the nude and has a silky soft body with no roughness or stubble anywhere they would last longer. It's just sad that so many of the nicer sheets are done in sateen weave these days..............and with deep pockets for the extra thick matresses. Sheet shopping gets harder all the time!
JMHO
Kay
That was the reason for my starting this thread.... "Does Cotton Pill". My sheets were sold to me as 100% Egyptian cotton, and now five months later, they are so badly pilled -- top, bottom, and both pillow cases -- that they are unusable. It seems, from the research I've done and the input from other posters, that 100% cotton *can* pill. It seems to be related to the quality of *all* the fibers woven into the fabric. Short, uncombed fibers seemingly will pill fairly readily. Also, care practices play into the equation. So there seems to be evidence that cotton can and does pill.
Edited 4/17/2008 1:19 pm ET by JunkQueen
Again my dear, we all are so so glad that you did started this one ! We have all learned so much through this one subject. Be proud of your questions and all that we have gained from it :~) Sorrie that your sheets are no good - Is there another function you can use them? Think about how you can use the fabric for something else. I am a pack-rat and hate to throw things away esp if you can come up with some way to use it in a different way. Like maybe a backing for a picnic quilt and something that didn't matter the texture of the fabric.
IS there enough of the fabric that is good where you can use in quilt squares and pillow case? I know this is not what you wanna' do and you want your sheets back - but think outside the 'sheet' box and see what creative ideas will flow. Let me know whatcha come up with? Even if you do not like my idea let me know. I have a couple that I have already thought of just writing this idea to you. Take care my friend and allow those creative juices to flow with some neat ideas. Looking forward to hearing bcak from ya, :~)
dollmarm -- Thank you for your kind words. What I am thinking now is that I'll test the fabric so I will be satisfied in my own mind exactly what it is. Depending on the results, I may save them to take to the Quilt show later this year to show to that vendor if they are there. I can't recall their name, but I think I'll recognize them. The fabric is so light weight and soft it might do well as an interlining. I make some sweater jackets from recycled sweaters, and I usually interline them for stability. I will likely use them for that since the pilling won't be seen or felt. They can't be used for pillow cases both pillow cases are pilled. I could understand DH's but not mine, unless just the friction of my hair is causing it. I am pleased with all the responses and the conversations this topic has generated. It's been educational for me and I hope for others. Tomorrow I am going to an estate sale here in town and hope to score some nice sheets..... Meantime, the older ones are back in the rotation for now.
I hope you can find that vendor and show them what happened and they respond well. This whole posting has been a great learn for us all. Using the fabric for interlining sounds good. I recently saw an article on sweater jackets made from sweaters. Have fun at this sale and I hope you find some great deals, esp. sheets. Take care my friend, :~)
I have a new find that I just noticed with my son's sheets. He has this blanket that is normally on the top of his sheet and he will sometimes, in the middle of night wrap up like a cocoon in it and it rubs on the sheet and there are 'nubbies' I have had to take off this blanket - it was not as good as quality as the other, but he picked this for the colors. TOO I need to find a better lightweight better quality- he likes to wrap up in He could careless for the sheet (they are not as warm) We keep a fan on at night all year around so he sleeps better. It drowns out any noise - Too we have to keep his room cool, cause he will bundle up in his blankets, sheet and even spread - no matter the weather is !SO how was your find? I am going to look at Joanns next week and see what I can find for a soft lightweight fabric and make him a soft sheet to sleep up against him and his sheets will not have these nubbies. Take care my friend, & enjoy :~)
The estate sale was a dry run. No sheets or other linens at all. So for now, we are rotating the sheet sets we had before the infamous Egyptian cotton ones. :) I'm still on the hunt but I'm getting ready for a trip to my old home town for a high school reunion, so the sheets project is on hold for a couple of weeks. I love to sleep in the cold and wrap up, too. It gets very hot and humid here in this part of Texas, so we turn the A/C down at night so I can sleep like that. When I get up in the morning have to change the thermostat to a higher setting!I bought my grandson fleece for his snuggling-down-at-night. He's a New England Patriot football fan, so I bought two different patterns of fleece with their logo, and he loves it. Flannel might work well for your son. I have one sheet that is at least 30 years old that is so soft, albeit thin, at this stage of the game..... It's extremely comfortable, there is just no longer the matching fitted sheet. If you have one of those, it could work for your son.
OH how exciting to see everyone again. However I have never had the chance to do so- each time there was a gathering we were overseas. Then there was a time but all that I wanted to see again were not available. I only had one ol'flame that wanted to know where I was and I declined - he stalked me after we split-up. :~( When we bought this place there were some linens and blankets and etc.. left. There was an old hospital blanket left - that A. has loved. It is so so worn and I would love to find another one like it. There are no tags except that it was was once the property of the hospital that the lady use to work at. (she died in this house - she had cancer) He does love flannel too. I am hoping to get the fabric stores tomorrow or Wed. to look for some really soft durable fabric for him to wrap in. My hubby loves it cool to sleep but hates the cold. The extreme weather bothers him and our son. We are really struggling with where we wanna' live - we lived on a tropic island once and so so loved it but all that we knew have moved on too. All our families are in the south but there is still winter. I think we will end up there. Atleast the winters are not as harsh. Too many decisions but this is not need to be for today. Sorrie that the sell was not as you wished. I love going to sells and flee markets and etc... I love to see what others are getting rid of. This scares my hubbys he thinks I want all their junk - not all but I see too much potential in much that is thorn away. He says I need a job at the dumb, but would have to promise never bring anything home- I can not so I not work there :~) teeheehee............
I had a really wonderful time at our reunion. We have had one every 5 years since I graduated -- 50 years ago. ( I was a child prodigy -- teeheehee) I love those people as if they were my family, and we always have a lot of fun and hate to part. Wish I lived closer than 6 hours away so I could see them more often than 3 or 4 times a year. Anyway, back on topic -- It suddenly occurred to me to look at the "wrong" side of those sheets. There was absolutely no pilling on that side, so that tells me the laundering probably did not contribute substantially to the problem. I ran an experiment. The day before I went on my trip, I laundered the sheets and put them on the bed wrong side out (fitted sheet with pills toward the mattress and flat sheet with pills toward the duvet cover). When I got home 8 days later I inspected them, and on my husband's side of the bed they were beginning to pill just a bit. My side was not pilled, so it must have to do with the friction of body contact. Oh, well, lesson learned. I will continue to peruse the estate and garage sales.
so sorrie .................... I have noticed that the blankets add to it too. I am now using a thin cotton one inbetween to help this. Have you used those fabric shavers to take off the pile or is it into the fabric? Well I would say - u gotta' do somthing about that body frictions' .... but is none of our business - teeheeheeeheee :~) Hummmm................ Call Martha Stewart ............. oh me I am a silly one today ! I am so very tired we had the worse rain storm last night and it has continued to rain all day and most of our areas have flooding. I live 13 hours away from my home place and we think of moving back but...... not sure. We miss all but we so totally love our home. Time will tell this summer with new grandbaby coming and etc......
Dollmarm, I tried to reply to you yesterday, and my satellite internet connection chose that time to quit working. Just got back up and running again. The body friction was too much information, huh? I just knew after I had posted that that I'd left myself wide open. At my age, it's more of a dim memory, but one can fantasize, right??I know you can hardly contain yourself waiting for the the grandbaby -- or BabyGrand, as I call my sweethearts. I have a new Great-BabyGrand that I've seen only once. He was born in February, and in March I got to hold and cuddle him. I get to see him and the younger two Grands in a couple of weeks. They live 5 or 6 hours away, too. Texas is big, doncha know.
Teeheeeheeheeheeeheeheeheheehee...... :~) Oh yes you did leave it wide open and I just had to respond - :~) I have only seen pictures of my pregnany daughter and it is still not quite real that my baby girl is now carring a baby - about to be a mom herself soon !! HEY, I thought of you today - I found some really great deals at the GOODWILL store. MY son, A loves it. He likes to see what videos he can find, along with books WELL, they have 3 long racks full of linens and etc... - well ..... I found a Jewel in the midst of all. I found a complete sheet set - a Queen fitted sheet and a Queen flat sheet along with 2 Queen siz pillow cases. for $8.00 !!!!! I was so shocked - I looked it all over as if it was gold I was buying ! THEY are so so soft and I can not wait to wash them tomorrow and put them on the bed. There was also about 20 pieces of material from baby fabric to dress silky fabric to cottons and plaid were beautiful - I bought several ! I will share all this once I go back and look over what all I got - I can not wait to get started w baby fabric !!!! Take care my friend,Must close for now the dogs eyes look like they are floating ! :~)
berniejh -- I just read my last post to you, and in the rereading, it sounded snarky. I apologize for the tone. I'm not usually a snarky-type person. Let's see if I can restate what I meant more artfully:I always thought the same as you -- that polyester pills and cotton fades. :) So I was very surprised to see pilling -- massive amounts of pilling -- on purported 100% Egyptian cotton sheets. I thought I would get a lot of answers saying they couldn't be cotton and pill like that. Much to my surprise, that was not the case, and in querying on the internet, that was supported on various websites. I now believe they may be cotton, although not of top quality, but I will be testing the fabric in the next several days to satisfy my innate curiosity. That could prove your, and my original, hypothesis, that polyester pills and cotton fades. Either way, I'll report my findings.Friends?
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