Finding the right fabric

Shopping for bedding can be a daunting task. There are so many different factors to consider, one being fabric. There are many options when it comes to fabric, but how do you know which one is the best? Cotton? Tencel? Pima? And what exactly are those fabrics, anyway? While picking your favorite color is simple, choosing the right fabric to suit your preferences is a bit more complicated. Let’s take a closer look…

Cotton

Cotton is the most widely used fabric for bedding and for good reason, too. This material is durable, breathable, soft, easy to care for, and generally inexpensive. However, even when it comes to cotton, you’re presented with many choices:

• Egyptian Cotton is the most luxurious variety, created by extra-long fibers for a soft and smooth feel. Because of this, they are considered the most high-quality of bed sheets.
• Pima Cotton is another superior, slightly more affordable, option. It is made with medium extra-long fibers, making this fabric very soft and comfortable.
• Upland Cotton is the most commonly grown in the world. Its fibers are not as long as Egyptian and pima so they’re not as soft, however are more reasonably priced.
• Percale Cotton is a lightweight and breathable material, making it perfect for warmer weather. It is woven with a 100% cotton or 50/50 cotton/polyester blend.
• Organic Cotton is untreated and woven from cotton raised without pesticides. This is a great choice for people who have allergies or chemical sensitives.

Flannel

Ah, flannel…the staple fabric for cold winter nights. Flannel is woven from cotton or wool that has been combed to fluff up the fibers. It does a great job at trapping body heat, resulting in a very soft and snuggly-warm material. Unlike other types of bedding fabrics, flannel’s quality is measured in ounces per square yard, rather than thread count.

Tencel

Tencel is created from eucalyptus tree pulp and makes for a soft and durable material. It is considered an environmentally friendly fabric, as its production requires less water, energy, and chemicals than cotton generally does.

Silk

Silk is a luxurious, soft fiber produced by silkworms. The cost for silk can be pricey, and they can be harder to maintain, but they do make for cool, sumptuous, and smooth sheets. Silk is also a hypoallergenic material so it’s a great option for those that suffer from allergies.

Linen

Linen is made from a thicker fiber than most cotton, making this fabric strong and durable. It is also very breathable and absorbs moisture to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Bamboo

When shopping for bamboo bedding, be sure to look at what it’s made from. Most bamboo sheets are actually rayon and are made from a chemically treated material created from bamboo. When produced correctly, bamboo sheets can be silky smooth and very strong. They’re hypoallergenic and are good at wicking away moisture instead of soaking up sweat, which can lead to discoloration in other fabric types.

Blends

When shopping for bedding, you will find many sheets are made from blended fabrics, most including some form of cotton. Cotton/polyester is the most common, but you’ll also find other varieties. Blended fabrics are usually inexpensive, durable and wrinkle-resistant.