Information on Combed Cotton Jersey Sheets

Beds have been around for thousands of years.

Ever since beds were invented thousands of years ago, we have been refining what we use to put on them. Today's fabrics and blends of natural with synthetic fibers give the homemaker more choices than ever for bed linens. The latest entry into this category is combed cotton jersey sheets.

History

The invention of the cotton gin made cotton an affordable substitute for linen.

Linen was the first natural fiber to be made into sheets. It was brought to the United States by the early European settlers, and the term "linen" is still used today to describe sheets, towels, tablecloths and napkins. Linen fabric was heavy and needed to be ironed after washing. When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, cotton quickly became an abundant and affordable alternative to linen.

Characteristics

Combed cotton jersey sheets are T-shirt soft.

Combed cotton jersey sheets are a single-knit fabric that has a distinct front and back side. The act of combing the cotton removes the short fibers and debris from the cotton and produces a cleaner and more unified look. It has recently come into fashion as bedding, because it has a T-shirt-like softness that surrounds you in comfort. Colors can range from neutrals to warm tones. Most combed cotton jersey sheets have a thread count in the range of 300, and are 100 percent cotton, or in some cases, can contain 4 percent spandex.

Benefits

Jersey sheets can be used year-round.

Combed cotton jersey sheets are frequently compared to flannel because of their soft quality, but they can be used year-round, since they have a more breathable weave. They provide a crisp feel in summer, and warmth in winter. Jersey cotton has a lower thread count than other types, but because it is knitted rather than woven, it feels as soft and luxurious as other sheets with higher thread counts.

Cost

Smart shoppers can find drastic reductions on jersey sheets.

Most queen-size sheet sets, consisting of a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases, cost in the neighborhood of $80, as of 2010, but the savvy shopper can find close-outs for as little as $25 per set.

Considerations

Thread count is the number of threads horizontally and vertically per inch of fabric.

Thread count is not always an indicator of quality. Different methods are used to come up with the number, and they are wildly inaccurate. The better comparison is by type of fiber used. There are two types of cotton fibers that currently reign supreme--Egyptian cotton, which is only grown along the banks of the Nile River, and Pima cotton, which is grown in the southern United States. Both of these types of cotton have extra-long fibers, known as staples, that make for a smoother weave, greater softness and more absorbency.

References

• Dreamsoftbedware: Bedding, Sleep & Confort Essentials
• Table Kitchen Linen: Glossary of Cotton fabrics
• Flannel Sheets World: The History of Sheets