The Difference Between Cotton & Cotton Sateen

Cotton sateen sheets are silky but less durable than regular cotton sheets.

For hundreds of years, cotton has been one of the most widely used fabrics in the world. Cotton can be manipulated on several levels, using various weaves and chemical treatments, for example, to produce such versions of the material as cotton sateen. Providing different varieties of cotton allows consumers to have a wider selection when purchasing textile goods, such as sheets and clothing.

Cotton Sateen

Cotton sateen is made of cotton and constructed with a sateen weave. The sateen weave creates sleek, satiny material. The material has the shiny, silklike appearance of satin on one side and a matte, rough texture on the other.

The sateen weave is popularly used for creating luxurious sheets, apparel, linings and curtains. Varieties are also based on the weaving and chemical treatment process. Mercerized sateen is the highest quality of cotton sateen.

Cotton

Regular cotton is made using a plain or twill weave. Cotton is the most widely used type of sheet, largely because of its durability, affordability and versatility. The beauty of cotton is its simplicity. While affordable, it is also comfortable and easy to care for.

Cotton is available in many thread counts, starting at 200, and in more intricate varieties, such as Egyptian cotton, which is a softer, more lavish material.

Cotton Sateen Vs. Cotton

Cotton sateen is more luxurious than plain-weave cotton and is silky to the touch. While regular cotton is durable and comfortable, it is considered very plain, whereas cotton sateen feels softer and has a more extravagant appearance.

In some textile areas, cotton sateen has become a popular item. According to author and linen specialist Cheryl Mendelson, sateen sheets have taken over the linen department as the traditional American bed sheet, replacing the simplistic flat cotton weave.

In addition to its luxuriousness, the silky side of cotton sateen is more dust resistant than regular cotton.

Cotton Sateen Weaving

The sateen weaving method used to achieve its satinlike finish is one of the oldest weaving processes in the textile industry. According to textile author E. Grant Gilligan, “Their main feature is the single interlacing on every end and pick, distributed in such a way that they are all more or less completely hidden.”

In order to produce high quality cotton sateen, the fabric is also mercerized, a post-weaving process that incorporates sodium hydroxide as a chemical treatment applied to the material. This treatment gives sateen a velvety luster.

Disadvantages of Cotton Sateen

The weaving process utilized to produce cotton sateen is not as sturdy or long-lasting as a plain-weave cotton. While cotton sateen has a great feel, this weave has a few outstanding flaws. According to Mendelson, “They are less durable than plain or twill weaves because they use looser twists and floats in the weave, and they are very light and thin.”

References

• “Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring for Clothes and Linens"; Cheryl Mendelson; 2005
• "Woollen and Worsted Woven Fabric Design"; E. Grant Gilligan; 2004