What is the difference in the materials sheets are made?

Let me help you understand some basics about the fabrics in which they are made. 

“Cotton is by far the most-loved fabric for sheets,” says Jim Symmes, vice president at Revman International, which manufactures sheets for prominent brands such as Tommy Bahama and Laura Ashley. “It’s soft, durable, and breathes well. But improvements in the manufacturing process and finishing techniques mean that other fabrics like polyester can be a viable alternative to cotton.” Fabric that is soft to the touch is most comfortable but not always the most durable. You should want comfort and durability and you can get it. 

What is the difference between Microfiber and Cotton

Microfiber is a fabric that contains extremely fine fibers of polyester that are affordable and soft. They have a resistance to pilling. Pilling is when material forms small balls of fluff on its surface.: “synthetics can pill but otherwise wear fairly well” “no matter how carefully you wash them, some sweaters end up pilled and bobbly”. Microfiber tends to hold in the heat of your body more than cotton. 

Cotton jersey is a knit product rather than a woven process. Cotton jersey sheets are basically a t-shirt type material. Due to being knit together rather than woven they breathe more freely. This means the heat can escape more readily. 

Different Types of Cotton

In the past the highest-quality, softest sheets was cotton with extra-long fibers (called long-staple fibers) that can be spun into fine, strong yarns. The certified long-staple cottons are Egyptian, Pima, and Supima®. But fabric that is finished properly and has a high thread count that is made of non-certified cotton can still be very comfortable. Whether it is Bamboo or Microfiber. 

What is thread count? Thread count is the amount of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Typically, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet. The higher the thread count the longer the wear life and even become softer over time. A good quality sheet will have a thread from 200 to 800. You can even see thread counts 1,000 or more. Higher than 1000 doesn’t always mean better sheets. There are ways manufacturers can use tricks to show a greater thread count yet will not increase the quality of the product. 

A 200-count sheet that is manufactured properly will increase the soft feel and be softer than a sheet with a higher thread count. Bamboo and microfiber has been created and perfected to feel as soft as cotton yet more durable even though the thread count will only be in the 200-600 range.  out there that are finished very nicely and actually feel like they have a higher thread count.