Buy Crisp Sheets

Okay, I've finally gathered together a few sources for crisp, cotton sheets, grandma-style. It wasn't easy - it's amazing how much sateen there is around these days, and also brushed cotton.

Frankly, I much prefer a percale fabric. Sometimes people report that percale sheets wrinkle in the dryer. Although they mean it as a criticism, for me, that is a hallmark of old-fashioned percale.

Be aware that I am improving this list regularly, so it's worth it to check back often. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases - buying through these links helps make this blog possible. I'm also participating in the American Blossom Linens affiliate program. I chose them among the many offers I get since I've tried their sheets personally, and am an avid fan. See below for more on their offerings.

Peru Pima Sets
For mid-priced value, these classy basics are my top choice. I've tracked their quality reports for years. Impressively, they seem to have kept their quality over time. Peru Pima sheets come in a 285-thread-count(paid link). They also have a higher-thread-count option (paid link). Also nice, they've increased their offerings to include twin sizes. Note that these do wrinkle - and if you've been reading my articles, you'll remember for those of us seeking airy, crisp sheets, that is a good thing!


Royal's Crispy Percale Bedding
In my assessment, these sheets have a bit of a rocky history. Sometimes sheet-hunters love them, and other reports indicate a lack of consistency in the product. They are still a relatively affordable option and they might be a good place to start your search if you are on a budget. Royal's Percale Cotton Sheet Set (paid link) is as of the time of this writing a 250 thread count 100% cotton. This set of crisp cotton percale sheets comes in sizes twinXL, full, queen, and king (both regular and California), with pillowcases available a la carte, and in many different color combinations, including ivory and tan.

AMERICAN BLOSSOM LINENS
UPDATE JANUARY 2024: Okay, I saved the best for last. These sheets and pillowcases (paid link) by American Blossom Linens are personally my most-used set in the past four years. Basically, I love them. I nearly always have their pillowcases and fitted king size sheet on my bed. Despite my ragged toenails and fingernails scraping them, despite my attempt to "wreck" them with 140 degree hot water washes and heat-blasting dryer cycles, and the occasional use of chlorine bleach, these sheets are sturdy and have held up. They are seriously as good as new, the most durable sheets I've ever owned. They still don't have one single tear or fray, no pilling, and they remain crisp.

I can't tell you how much I love the pillowcases in particular. They are perfect. I am extremely finicky about the pillow fabric that goes by my face and between my knees for side-lying, since I get overheated easily, and these just work for keeping me cool.

So yeah, I haven't seen cotton products this good in years. I'm still very happy with my other cotton percale that I own, but I have to admit these are my preferred linens. They just tick all the boxes. They work for me in both summer and winter, and that's saying something as we get extreme cold and extreme heat here.

Okay, that's the end of this update. Here's my original (edited for reading ease) review of American Blossom Linens from two years ago: 

So here's my newest review and latest discovery as of August 2020. American Blossom Linens demonstrated strong interest in having me test their sheets and when I decided to give them a try, they were kind enough to send me a complementary set of their king size cotton sheets (paid link). I've been using the sheets and pillowcases consistently for several months now. I like them a lot. They're crisp sheets that seem like they will hold up well.

These didn't lose too much dimension in shrinkage. I've washed them in very hot water with detergent, also throwing in chlorine bleach (which they advise against, but sorry, it's my thing, I have to bleach my sheets and use super hot temperatures to get rid of dust mites and smells.)

They've held up without any wear, holes, or pilling. I thought they were a bit too thin until I washed and dried them; then they thickened up to a good thickness, which means not too thick. The texture I'd call halfway between velvety and silky - so, not slippery smooth like some sheets, but not rough or coarse. They feel good on my skin. They seem strong. They've held up to my fingernails, which can snag and catch in less sturdy sheets.

The sheets have a thread count of 180 and are percale. Personally? They feel to me like a cross between muslin and percale. They have warmth and weight but are also airy and cool.

Now the bad - these are pricey, at least for my pocketbook. They make a mild, crackling sound, which I actually prefer - it means they're just stiff enough to leave cool air pockets between the sheets and the sleeper's skin - but those of you who want silent sheets, and I know some of you do, these are definitely not it. I also don't iron them, and they are wrinkly.

Oh, and one more thing, since I have supply chain fears with anything cotton - I asked the company if they are going through any sourcing problems, and they said not at all. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some of you will get to try these, assuming your budgets can stand the heat. Check out all their sheets (paid link). I'll also try to get a picture up soon of our set - we took photos, but I still have to transfer them from my camera (I'm not the most technologically adept, ha).

A FEW OTHER THOUGHTS

A lot of people reading this blog ask about other sheet brands claiming to fit the bill. I did research the "clothesline crisp sheets" at the Vermont Country Store and the results were inconclusive to me. Based on what I saw of reviews, customers had mixed reviews. I do check back periodically and you might find it useful to do so, too.

I used to find crisp percale on eBay. Like the pillowcases I bought in a lot of 6.  The lots can be inconsistent. I was pleased with the ones that were wonderfully white, crinkly and crackly...but then there were the ones that didn't seem to be made of percale but felt more like soft combed cotton. 

I do updates here as I find more available sheets that my grandma would have approved of.

Update September 2014:  I've been hunting down sheets and pillowcases on eBay with great success because I have a new paradigm - going vintage!  Check out my new obsession!

Update January 2017: Since a reader alerted me to some outdated links, I've just updated links to match what's currently available in quality percale, so if you checked out sheets here before, you may find some new ones you like. :)

Update January 2020: Made a few more updates. Hope the new suggestions help!

Update August 2020: I reviewed a new set of king sized sheets by American Blossom Linens that I've been trying out for a few months.

 Update May 2022: I updated my review from August 2020. 

Update January 2024: I removed some products from this short list that I determined were outdated.

162 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Has any body had any luck with the Dan River vintage sheets that are out on ebay?

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  2. Thanks so much for this great information. I, too, have looked and looked for the old-fashioned *crisp* sheets. I think Wamsuta Percale was the most "recent" available- back in the 70s or 80s.(Some store clerks today don't even know what "crisp" means!) I had a look at the Vermont Country Store, and it was a JOY to read their remarks -- they have HEARD us! I've not yet bought their sheets, but it is where I'll shop when I need more sheets. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to do all this great detective work! ~~ From Arizona

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    1. Just got my first set of Vermont Country Store sheets. They are the real thing! Wrinkled right up in the wash just as they should. Great, crisp, cool hand. And I was even able to choose the "slender" size to fit my 10" Sleep Number bed! No more loose fitted sheets. And the top sheet is generous. I am beyond pleased. I am ordering two more sets right now.

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    2. Thanks for the good info here. I too, am looking for the cool, crisp sheets and people look at me crazy! With the info you guys have placed here I know now what name to look for more than just Percale that my mom had and felt so wonderful!

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    3. I still have some Wamsutta flat sheets from the 1970's. They are so wonderful! I wish I could have bought a boatload if I'd known how terrible sheets would become. Pilling is the worst! Then, they are just not cool anymore.

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  3. Thank you for 'getting' this! I just had to do away with the last of my grandmother's old pillowcases. They were probably 40 years old and that PERFECT mix of crisp, cool, thick. . . ahhhh. . .and was wondering where to begin looking for replacements. My friend was telling me yesterday about some jersey sheets she found on sale. . . .shudder!!

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    1. I was considering jersey sheets. I love the toughness of my flannel sheets but they’ll soon be too hot.

      I think I could sleep on burlap sheets if they made them.

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  4. Lands End's 200 count percale was nice and crisp until a few months ago. I wash my sheets weekly (have two sets) and I think they're getting too soft now. But they were great for a couple of years. Inexpensive,too, when you buy on sale.

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  5. i was so pleased to find this site! i too have been searching for crisp sheets w/ no luck. flannel, microfiber, sateen...NO! i'll try ur suggestions & let u know what i find out.

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  6. I just found out from Vermont Country store that their Clothesline Crisp sheets have been discontinued. :(

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    1. I think that they re back, just found them on the site, but possibly different manufacturer.... why???

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  7. Yes, Vt Count Store has percale sheets, with monkeys or snoopy!!!!I will try the Walmart Tribeca Percale, or order direct from WayFair.com the supplier for walmart, crzypopmac

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  8. Thank you for your effort.. Sheet buying has been driving me crazy...

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  9. Does anyone know who the manufacturer and or supplier was for the Vermont Country Store Clothesline Crisp sheets? We don't know if Vermont Country Store discontinued them or if the manufacturer just isn't making them anymore. I love my crisp sheets but am panicking that they aren't available anymore. I would have order many more sets if I had know they'd be discontinued.

    I don't care if I have to order them from Timbuktu!

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  10. After much searching I found Blissfulbed, a seller on EBay. She sells 200 TC Percale sheets made from organic cotton grown in the Southwestern U.S. and then manufactured in South Carolina. I ordered a King size set and they are absolutely wonderful, crisp, comfortable, just right. They do wrinkle out of the drier but that is to be expected and does not bother me. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

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  11. IKEA has Emmie Spets (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90217608/#/20227328), which is supposedly very nice. I have to check it out when I drop by my local store.

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  12. Outside of hitting every old lady estate sale in my city, I am happiest with the Simply Shabby Chic at Target. I find that they wear well over time at a fraction of the cost of the sheets from the Vermont Country Store. My only issue is that their patterns are all so so girly. I would like to buy sets for my son, but he's not too keen on rosebuds.

    My mother always told me that most sheets these days contained resin to keep them from wrinkling. I have no idea if that's actually true or not, but I took it as gospel.

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    1. I love shabby Chic feel but the bottom sheets have all (I've had several) ripped as they wore thin over a couple of years of use.

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  13. Just tried The Big One from Kohl's. Pima cotton blend percale, 275 thread count and it almost felt like my grandma's sheets. 4th sheet set I bought in a month, the others are going to my kids!

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  14. Blissfulbed seems to no longer be at e-bay. And some suggested sheets on Amazon are no longer available...Yes, I also love those cool, crisp, heavier sheets! That kind on a hot summer night feels so good! I always buy the white kind. We don't have a Kohl's in our area so I will keep looking! I'm so thankful I'm not the only one who likes these kind of sheets.

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    1. Blissfulbed is still on EBay.. To find her, go to Advanced Search, choose to search by Seller, then enter Blissfulbed in the box asking for Sellers User ID.

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  15. I am so happy to find like-minded people like me! I grew up with cheap muslin sheets...they were the unpleasant pilly kind but my parents just didn't know there was another option out there. Then I came across a miss-matched set of 100% cotton sheets that were so smooth, so cool, and yes--wrinkly out of the drier! I have spent my adult life trying to find a similar set of sheets and also discovered the magic word "percale" in my search as well. :) However I was disheartened to find that none of the sales people in the department store bedding departments knew what percale was or where I could find it, and I kept ending up with limp, worn-out feeling sheets from the get-go. Thanks for validating my memories and I am on the quest once again.

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  16. Have you checked out The Company Store?

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    1. The Company Store used to have excellent percale sheets. I bought 2 or 3 sets about 10 years ago & loved them. In the last year or so they are all starting to fall apart. So I ordered a fitted sheet last may & they are not the same at all. So disappointed.

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    2. The company store "good" percale was imported from Israel. The new sheets the fabric is imported from Pakistan. I wish they would go back to the good fabric.

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  17. The review said those sage greens are sateen, and they only come in Queen

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  18. I'm another pilgrim on the quest - cripes, the Holy Grail was easier to find!

    In response to the commenter on 17MAY14 who suggested The Company Store: I purchased their percale sheets last year and was not satisfied. They weren't the crisp, substantial sheets for which I think we all are searching.
    I need sheets for our guest bed; this is my second summer searching. (Full disclosure: I sometimes seek refuge there when DH is snoring.)

    After reading all of the comments here and reviews on the website, I just purchased 200ct percale from Overstock dot com. I'm hoping for the best because I paid a pretty penny for shipping; O-stock won't mail to APO addresses (US military overseas) so I had to have them sent to a forwarding company.

    Because I have an LL Bean credit card (thus receive free shipping) I also ordered Bean's Sunwashed Percale sheets. I have a set of king-sized sheets that I bought about five years ago. They are fabulous. Unfortunately, the quality changed the following year and I sent the queen sheets back. I'm trying again in hopes that the chorus of complaints caused Bean to make improvements.

    I'll report back after both brands arrive.

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    1. Just curious if you love or hate the sheets?

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    2. HATED them! Expensive mistake since I had to mail them back to Overstock without a pre-paid label.

      Two years later, I'm still hunting - and am using the comments on this blog for guidance.

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    3. I too am a crisp percale freak, and I have been paying a fortune for high end but divine sheets. But we have a ski cabin and I don't want to spend a lot of $ there. I have one remaining set of Wamsutta 'supercale' sheets from the 80s that are 60/40 cotton poly and I've decided they do the trick - feel like crisp cotton percale but don't wrinkle too badly. And I've found that Thomaston manufactures an excellent 200 count sheet. It's a wholesaler but you can probably find a way to get them; I have to buy a dozen sets from my distributor, but I will use 6 and sell the rest to friends. They are VERY inexpensive.

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  19. I might as well jump on the band wagon. This sheet deal has been nagging at me for years. I am afraid I drank the cool aid, when it comes to the pricey high thread count sheets. Those TV shopping networks sure can reel us in like little fishies! I have a pile of high count, sateen sheets and my Hubby and I are not happy with them. My hot flash days are well passed but I still wake up, hot and damp. Even with the AC on, or a fan blowing right on us. I love the sheets I had on my bed as a kid in the 50s and 60s. Us baby boomers are in the millions and I cannot understand why a company has not latched on to the fact that we are screaming for nostalgia and days gone by. That is why so many of us are on Ebay, trying to find our youth. Good luck trying to find anything made in the USA the old fashioned way. That time has come and gone. We were stunned to learn, after purshase, that our bedroom set was made in Vietnam! Not a big deal for many, but the set came from the JC Penney factory in Trang Bang Vietnam. This is the area, Cu Chi, where my retired Army Husband spent a year in combat. My lengthy point is this. If old established stores like JC Penney and others are outsourcing like this, I see little hope in ever finding sheets that we loved and now ache to find. We might find something close, but as we all know, it can never be the same. Someone prove me wrong! Find the sheets of our youth. PLEASE!

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    1. My Vietnam Vet husband was incensed when he saw the Made in Vietnam labels on our new bedroom set...........................!

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  20. A friend of mine whom I visit every year has just what all of us want CRISP COOL sheets. It amazes me what some people consider crisp and cool! They aren't cheap and only come in white or off white and I have only found them online. They are Thomas Lee sheets. I too can't believe they don't make sheets like they used to!

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    1. I ordered Thomas Lee for my sons double bed they didn't make them at first but from the high demand they started and they are wonderful, I paid 200.00 but will do for a great grandma sheet.

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  21. That's interesting about your experience with Thomas Lee sheets, because I ordered some Thomas Lee samples last year and found them to be thin, silky, and more like sateen than percale, not really cool, crisp, thick, or rustly like I like them. I was pretty disappointed. Maybe their quality is inconsistent?

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    1. I got some from there and they're wonderful and get very wrinkled (I like that).

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    2. More like sateen, you say? Sure you didn't recive a sample of Thomas Lee's bamboo sheets instead?

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    3. Nope, they said cotton, not bamboo.

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    4. Me too. Got a swatch from Thomas Lee and they were not at all crisp and crunchy, but rather silky. Not for me!

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  22. Let's dream that we've found the perfect sheets and the perfect quilt, and we are sleeping pretty comfortably. Except that that darned (!) poly-fill mattress pad. I have been on the hunt for an all-cotton mattress pad that I don't have to 1. mortgage the house to buy and 2. doesn't fall apart or lump the first time I wash it. Suggestions? The most promising candidate is from The Vermont Country Store but what else have you found?

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    1. I wrap my poly mattress in 2 to 3 100% linen sheets under my fitted percale.
      I am also in need of a natural mattress. (And real cotton clothing too)

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  23. OMG! OMG! OMG!!! Arghhhhh, making my bed today with the last of my good old sheets and snapped it over the bed and went a bit too high and it caught the ceiling fan blade and put a rip in it. The most sickening feeling EVER. I have known for years about not being able to find a good sheet.

    I agree with those that didn't care for the Thomas Lee sheets, yeah, they are heavy, but not "crisp". I got some of the Shabby Chic from Target and they are close, but the threads are resin covered for that crisp feeling and we don't need anything toxic to sleep on. So now what. I even checked the fabric stores for muslin and considered making my own sheets.

    My grandma used to work in the Wamsutta Mills in Massachusetts around 1915-1930 and said the difference in a good sheet fabric is a long fiber in the threads of cotton. They are stronger,stay wound longer, and don't pill as much. She was a "speeder tender" and changed the big spools of thread while the fabric was being woven. She wouldn't even discuss anything with polyester in it. She died in 1993 so I can't ask her any more questions about sheets.

    The sheets I have just wrecked are from Stix Baer and Fuller, now Dillards. But from at least the early 1990's. They are Nobility Excellence, made in India. I bleached the hell out of them, nearly boil them in 145-degree hot water and my own laundry soap concoction on laundry day, and yep, they are wrinkled but if I put them on the bed ever so slightly damp and snap them on tight, there's barely any wrinkling. I am now trolling Ebay because I will seriously stoop to buy stinking used sheets rather than the crap they sell now and try to save them.

    Has anyone had any luck with organic cotton sheets?? Pretty expensive but if they are like the old ones and last 20 years, then I'll spend away.

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  24. I am in agreement with you all. I hate these sateen and egyptian cotton sheets too. I was in kmart yesterday and they carry Cannon percale sheets but were out of king size. I'm going to try to order on line.

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    1. Percale is a type of weave versus Sateen. Percale comes in Eqyptian Cotton long stape and/or Pima, cotton long stape, and that is what is recommended, wand not to buy percale sheets over 400 thread count, 200 to 400 thread count.

      People misunderstand thinking Egyptian Cotton is not Percale.

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  25. Has anyone done a search for manufacturing mills in the states? I'm going to try that and see if I can find any that still make linens.

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  26. Garnett Hill makes wonderful 300 count percale sheets that stay crisp with washing, love them! Also The Company Store has really good classic percale sheets with a 210 thread count.

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    1. Not any more! They are advertised as the same sheets with long staple cotton from the south in U,S, They were fantastic. I recently bought a new set and I sent them back, something went terribly wrong. They are now slimy feeling. Although, the price remains the same.

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  27. Bought the Blissful Bed sheets on Ebay (yikes - organic costs a ton!). They do have that nice crunchy, crisp feeling and lots of wrinkles. They are the closest thing to old fashioned sheets I can find. The only drawback, beside the price, is that the material is a little too thin.

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  28. I too am in the same predicament. My last set of Wamsutta Supercal sheets tore a few days ago and I have searched and searched. I want to try the organic cotton, but I've never paid that much for a set of sheets before! Can anyone report how long they last?

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  29. I bought a set of Frette sheets, very old fashioned cotton, about three years ago and need another set. I know they are expensive, but I'm going for them. I just love them too much!!
    http://www.frette.com/sale/online-outlet-1/lux-percalle-bed-set

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    1. Holy cow! $1000 for a sheet set! Glad you can afford them.

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  30. several years ago now,I picked up pkg. of king size sheets for $49.00, 400count white. Wamsutta brand and they were made especially for Sam's Wallmart warehouse. I opened them before I bought them to feel the thickness and to see if they felt crisp and not smooth. They were PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT. The store was in Columbia, SOUTHCAROLINA!!! So maybe someone Could find out if Wamsutta is still making these sheets for Sams. I live in Va. now...BUT SOMEONE WROTE REGD. WAMSUTTA AND A S. C. TEXTTILE MILL PROBABLY JUST OUTSIDE OFTHE NORTH CAROLINA/SOUTHCAROLINA LINE.

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    1. I live in Columbia, SC about 10 minutes from Sam's. I can't wait to go there and see if they still have the Wamsutta sheets like you found. Thank you

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    2. I tried to reply to your comment on sheets at Sam's. Maybe I'm not doing something right. I've never been on this blog before now, however very grateful to have found it. I live in Columbia, SC about 10 minutes from Sam's. Thank you for the info.

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  31. Been trolling thrift stores for ever so long, got lucky a couple of times...found a still new unwashed, with folded in pkg lines still present....real percale flat sheet, heavy - crisp - wrinkles in the dryer! Tag says Hotel Luxury Linen Collection (Macy's). But nothing I have read on Macy's site indicates that what they are selling is identical with this sheet. It cost me $8, a real find.

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  32. I picked up some Ralph Lauren sheets at Marshall's that are great. Crisp! Cool! Not transparent! Also, they make that crinkly sound--you know the one. I don't believe they said "percale" anywhere on the package. I enjoy these sheets very much but now want plain, white ones. Most of the solid colors are the dreaded sateen weave. Yuck! Ralphlauren.com does have white percale but they are too rich for my blood--on sale for eighty dollars per sheet! Yipes! The paisleys and polka dotted ones are around sixty for a set at Marshall's.

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    1. Yes, I troll the Marshall's or Winners in Canada for Ralph Lauren sheets. They are the only ones that have that crisp old fashioned percale feel that we all remember and love and find almost impossible to find anymore!

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    2. Me too. I have two print Ralph Lauren Queen Sets..love them..but we just bought a Sleep number bed..Twin Xl and I cannot find the right sheets...I never knew this would be so hard. I still use my Ralph sheets in the guest bedroom..and will sleep in there some nights just to feel the crisp sheets. Will try some of the suggestions I have read here.

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    3. OMG! Just came across this site... trying desperately in 2024 to find the 300tc Ralph Lauren 100% cotton sheets I used to find over 30+ years ago. I sooo miss that super CRISP feel against my super sensitive skin (cheap percale literally scratch my face all up) & I so despise that slick sateen sheets everyone else seem to love for some unknown reason - they give me the same feeling as nails scratching across a school chalkboard! I have found some 300tc at Target (at least several years ago) that came somewhat close, buy missing that same thickness/ quality that gave me a (maybe weird) sense of security while I slept - Though that could also just be a leftover from when I was a kid being tucked into those oh so fabulous sheets straight off the clothes line on a perfect spring day!
      Even though I'm a bit late posting, THANK YOU for having this greatly appreciated page that I wish I had found sooner!

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  33. I have slept on Lands End percale sheets at my sister's house and they are great. I just ordered a set newly offered among their fall products. You have to order sheets fast at Lands End or you'll miss out. Okay, another problem that's dogged my life for years! I want a percale cotton bed cover for summer. Absolutely no fill and no quilting. Back in the 60's there was such a thing for the hippies I guess. Kind of a Kantha-ish cover but not an India print please. Could I just get some pretty flowers??? Why oh why can't I find pretty. percale. floral. sheets? I'm thinking we could convince Lands End to make them so please start writing and letting them know what you want.

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  34. Wamsutta were the best. I bought Frette, which are great, Sferra Bros. also wonderful, but Peacock Alley are even better. Trouble is they are bloody expensive. PLUS - and I hate to say this - after 8 years of wonderful WRINKLY cotton percale, I would kill for some of the Supercale sheets that were 60/40. I found a company that makes them called Thomaston, but they seem to be for the hotel business. I'm going to keep looking.

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  35. I'm SO glad I found you group of sheet seekers! I was at Target and like I do at EVERY store that sells sheets, I cruised the aisle trying to fondle the sheets that have the potential to be my bed partner. Lo and behold what did I find? Threshold Brand, "Classic Percale" 300 thread count,100% cotton and it says, "Cool and Crisp" fits mattresses 9" to 18" deep. $45.00 for queen size set. Comes in all sizes and there were several solid colors besides white and beige and two prints. crisp.

    The sheet did have a chemical smell when I opened the package but it went away after washing. I pulled the sheets out of the dryer and they were full of crinkly goodness! Bonus, The sheets also have built-in placement labels (Top, Bottom, side) that help with making the bed. I sleep on them last night and so far so good!!! They get very good reviews from people like "us" who understand Percale. http://www.target.com/p/threshold-percale-sheet-set/-/A-14678544

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  36. Hi StaciSavzsea,
    Thanks for your comment. I've now added this one above as by now a number of folks have recommended these sheets. Caution: When buying Threshold sheets at Target, be sure to pay attention to whether they are the 100% cotton version or a blend, or if they are the percale or the sateen. Some I landed on were sateen.

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    1. Thank you for setting up this blog! If you read the many 5 star reviews these particular sheets get at Target, they all sound like us here. "I'm disillusioned with today's sheets. I remember the sheets my mom and grandmas always used at their houses. They were cotton and always clean, crisp, cool, and lasted forever." They go on to say, "And these are the next best thing, I'm finally happy, cool and crisp!" Of course all the 1 and 2 stars hate the sheets for all the same things we look for in sheets!

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    2. I don't really find the Target Threshold percale sheets crisp. They're thick, but not soft like satine, nor are they smooth and cool. Anyone else experience this?

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    3. From what I've seen there are two types of Threshold Percale. Once is Classic the other is Vintage. You have to get the Classic percale if you want cool and crisp. The Vintage wash percale is soft and warm.

      I bought two sets last year on sale for $27 for a queen set. Now I'm getting a king bed, and they are all out of stock in every size. I haven't checked the stores yet, but I hope they continue to sell them.

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  37. Thank you thank you thank you. Now I know where to go to start trying to find sheets that I want to sleep with. It has been years. I have one old set from the late 70's that I have been very careful with, those cool sheets without pilling. I will be checking back as long as this page is updated and if I find anything will add it.

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  38. target item no longer available. where can you find thick cotton crisp sheets...please help!!!

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    1. The sheets I wrote about from Target, "Threshold Brand, "Classic Percale" 300 thread count,100% cotton" at this time are not being sold on line. But they are in the stores. When I saw they weren't listed on line I freaked! I ran out to see if they were being clearance out but they were in the regular stock and there were lots of them, all size and colors, plentiful at the three stores I check.

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  39. Oh my gosh, I cannot believe I found a site where people are choosy about their sheets as I am. I've had the same sheets for years on my bed and have bought many sets of the years and put them in the closet after one use. I like cool and crisp; don't like sweating at night which I do a lot :-) I just this past week purchased Wamsutta cool and crisp sheets and are testing them now....so far two nights and I am pleased, I'll have to let you know if they end up in the closet with the rest of them over time. They were pricey though.....I think a set cost me about $130 at Bed Bath and Beyond (had to buy them all separate...no sets).

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  40. Best crisp sheets EVER. Bought a king set at TJ Maxx 10-12 years ago and have washed them many many many times, still crisp and cool. Found them again today on Amazon and ordered a new king set $70: Malouf 200 Thread Count Percale Hotel Bed Sheet Set (sold by Linen Spa). You won't be disappointed (read the reviews).

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    Replies
    1. I fell in love with those but they are discontinued and I have been searching for months to find something the same I cant find anything and its making me crazy if I had known I would have bought several sets

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  41. If I never find "The sheets" reading this blog was worth it just for the humor. My mother and friends don't understand my NEED for crisp sheets, and I have become very defensive about it. I have had offers of sheets from well meaning friends but my idea of crisp and theirs are very different. Years ago I bought a set from VT Country Store and they were exactly what I was looking for. When you flip them in the air to spread on the bed they made a crinkling sound.... Ahhhh. Then I found that Targets' Shabby Chic Collection, while not perfect was an ok substitute. My only solace is that the down comforter on my bed is very crinkly so it sort of makes up for the quieter sheets. I am sharing this because I have found a place that understands my situation and gives me hope that one day I will be able to find the perfect sheets again. Thank You.

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    Replies
    1. Why did you not purchase again from the vt country store if you liked so much? Just wondering.

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  42. I tried Rachel Ashwell simply shabby sheets and loved them so much I now own 7 sets.cool,crisp,crinkly just like grandmas! To get the full effect of crispness I'm looking for I line dry starch and iron.If I don't have time to iron I use Argo laundry starch in with the final rinse and dry in the dryer.They come out nice and crisp. I tried ll bean sheets as well as many others and they are not what I'm looking for.I am going to try some of the brands mentioned in this blog.Simply shabby chic sheets are a vintage remake line from Rachel Ashwell you can purchase at target priced right for any budget 60.00 and under.many beautiful colors as well.someone mentioned above that she only has girly styles,you can go to her site and order plain white poplin sheets www.shabbychic.com.Thy are higher quality and priced higher than the line she offers at target but oh so worth it!!

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  43. When I found this thread and was relieved that I found what to search for,,,CRISPY Sheets. I was always searching for hard sheets
    I actually went to get the Ultimate Percale Sheet Set 400 count at BB&B .But feeling every sheet in the place I ended up walking out with some no name (literally there's no name ) 220 count 100% cotton sheets that were made in pakistan.
    The only reason I got them is they felt, by hand ,like the hardest sheet in the place. I did not care what the price I just wanted crisp. Turns out they were cheaper then most,,,go figure

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  44. One reason we call them "grandmas clothesline" type sheets is that the DRYER ruins the crispness. I have 300tc 100%cotton and I hang them, even in an empty room if weather is bad) instead of putting them in the dryer and VOILA!! You will have crispy sheets just like grandmas. Had hubby put up a clothesline specifically for my sheets...and take them down before the wind beats them all day too, cuz that will also make them soft.

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  45. I too have tried just about everything in my never-ending quest for cool sheets. Costco sells some "supima" sheet sets that are divinely crisp (but not crunchy), smooth, and cool. I can't overstate how smooth these sheets are and I think that is why they are so VERY cool. For a while they stopped selling them but maybe due to customer outcry they brought them back. These are NOT the "Charisma" ones they sell, nor any of the prints. They are always solid colored. I have several sets but wish I could buy standard pillow case alone so I am following this blog with great interest!

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  46. I can't believe I am not the only one out there who is obsessed with clothesline crisp sheets! I do dry mine on the clothesline. I spent a small fortune on two sets Ralph Lauren lace sheets, which I loved, but can't find anymore. Also Supima is horrible, and I can't even sleep with them. I will try your suggestions.

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    Replies
    1. Supima is the american version of Pima Egyptian cotton and refers to the length of the fiber. You mot likely purchased Supima Cotton with a sateen weave.... silky when new, but they pill and are HOT and usually thin and not durable.

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  47. I haven't read through ALL of these posts, but the Vermont Country Store sells "resin free sheets. Idk, but I'm thinking.... I too remember crisp sheets from my childhood.

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  48. I love this blog. So much good info and it is very nice to be amongst other like minded folks.
    I'm aiming to get a shikibuton in autumn, which is something mentioned in another article here. Any experience with them?

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  49. I too have been on the same search....for crisp, smooth, cool sheets. I have found a few that come close, but not exact. What I found that does help is drying the sheets (I have no where to hang them) in the dryer for about 1 & 1/2 hours (king size)...with NO HEAT. Using no heat at all is as close as I can get to line dryed! and it does help.

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  50. Any pet lovers out there? It seems like the inexpensive cotton fabrics they make now have a rough texture that pet hair sticks to like velcro. My older t shirts and sheets are much more smooth but the last sheets I bought were covered with cat hair after just a day. The hair doesn't even completely come off after washing and drying.
    Does anyone else have this problem? I need lovely percale sheets like my old ones that are made with finer textured cotton but still affordable. Advice?

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  51. Has anyone found Bellissimo sheets any good? I found a single set packaged by Serena and Lily in a TJMaxx and they have been the best for me. Very dense and crunchy. Can't find any more though.

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  52. I also had been looking for percale crip sheets. Target used to sell Thomas O'brien and I loved them, I found a couple of sets on ebay since I discovered them aftr they stop selling them at Target. I also have a set I purchased many years ago, I think from Costco, the Brand is SPRINGS, they are heavier but coll and crisp. I had tried a few different Percale ones from Walmart and target and they are OK but nothing like the Thomas O'Brien ones, so sad they don't make those anymore, Percale 325CT. They said cool to the touch.

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  53. After reading and net-surfing the brands listed above I am trying to make a decision between the Frette Lux Percale, Peacock Alleys Simply, or Blissful 100% Organic on EBay. I want crisp, cool and not too thin. I'm tired of my bamboo bunching up and stretching underneath me and my temperpedic mattress combined with the bamboo sheets are burning us up at night! Any further advice to offer before I finalize a purchase?

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  54. Reading this thread from time to time since I have it book marked. I stumbled across sheets at Walmart - named Hotel Style 600 thread count. They do have a sateen weave, but are thick and "crunchy". They are the closest thing I have found to what I remember from the 70s. Limited colors but available in stores. Loved the first set so much I went back and bought 2 more. A queen set cost around $65. Yes they wrinkle. Just the way I like it.

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  55. i know this was a while ago, but are u no longer updating this blog? 2 out of 3 of the sheets are no longer carried by amazon and im dying to find some good crisp sheets!

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    Replies
    1. Chelsea, thanks for pointing out the old links on this page. I've just updated the links with some new sheets that should fit the bill! :)

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  56. My rescue dog tore my old but wonderful last set of percale sheets up. Grrrr...So I went looking for some online and found this blog. Thanks for all the good advice and links. I love crisp, cold sheets. So glad others like percale too. I remember hanging ours on the line as a kid and then getting in a cool bed with wonderful fresh smells!

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  57. Tried the Blissful bed sheets. I wanted organic which they are, but in my opinion, not cool, crisp or heavy. Still looking. Thanks for all the great info.

    Pat

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  58. Pottery barn! Not cheap but worth it for the crisp, cool crinkly sheets

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  59. The Westin hotel has the best sheets/bed I've ever slept in.

    You can buy their sheets directly from their online store. They are very pricey but so wonderful.

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  60. Phew! Westin sheets cost as much as a car! LOL! I am only on disability, but long for that (affordable) crisp sheet again! Plus, my 80 year old Mom will be visiting, and I would love to surprise her! She loves them too! I know they won't be cheap, but any out there more reasonable?

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    1. I'm on disability too and can't touch most of these. I really need an affordable set as well.

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  61. I have been searching for something thats as thick and durable as the Thomas O'Brien vintage modern sheets, but to no avail. I've purchased very expensive sheets from hsn and with dogs sleeping in the bed and washing only a few times they are so pilled up they look over 10 years old, like something that needs thrown away really. But I keep a sheet on my couch, due to the dogs, and with the digging, scratching and rolling around the sheet there though very old with a hole in the corner looks brand new. So I looked at the tag, thats when I found the name Thomas Obrien vintage modern, I have had this sheet for so many years I have moved twice and lost the fitted sheet, and had even forgotten where I bought until I began looking for a set. Only to find they quit making them. So, does anyone know of a replacement thats even close to the thickness and durability of this brand of sheet? Please help!

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    1. Hi Terri,
      Thanks for your comment and reading my blog! Yes, there are so many great old brands that no longer seem to be in production anymore. Here are some pillowcases by Thomas O'Brien - http://amzn.to/2oxVaeY

      And I updated my page on tips for buying on eBay to add on a link you may be interested in. Hint - search the page for Thomas O'Brien. ;) http://grandmothershome.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-tips-for-buying-vintage-cotton.html

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  62. Hi Chris,
    I, like so many others am THRILLED to have found your blog and hope to learn as much as possible about this ever changing industry and how to find what I am looking for with minimal aggravation.
    One thing that I haven't seen mentioned (though I've read hundreds of comments, I may have missed it). In addition to the sheets we all seek, I'd like to find a duvet made of the same quality that we all love in our beloved sheets. I have plenty of critters and desperately want one that is crisp, and soft yet doesn't require the use of a lint brush every time I turn around. I'd also like it to be thick enough to hold in any straying feathers, yet cool enough for hot Georgia summers (I find my feather comforter to be very cooling in the summer). Any help with my quest for that "perfect duvet" would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks for providing an obvious much needed service for those of us on the "great quest for our childhood bliss".

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    Replies
    1. Hi Wendelyn, thanks for your question. Based on it, I've updated my quilts page, changing the title to "Bedspreads." What I found wasn't a duvet, but a duvet cover. Royal, a popular seller of percale bedding, does have a duvet cover in all cotton. http://amzn.to/2oh8Q1f. If you try it, please let us know how it works out. And if anybody else knows of an actual duvet, complete with cotton fill (I assume that's what you're looking for, Wendelyn?) then please do let us know. Otherwise, there are the quilts I found on that page. Hope this helps!

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  63. And the keyword is 'crisp'. Orders in, thanks!

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  64. Hello, I like crisp percale. After coming out of the dryer they crease and the creases cannot be ironed out as in the "olden days". I do not like the severe creasing and want a sheet that I can iron and will be smooth and crisp. I like to get king-sized extra deep with the flat sheet and king sized pillow cases. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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  65. How do the new IKEA SÖMNTUTA 400-thread-count sheets stack up in texture and weight on the cool and crisp scale, in your estimation? I just purchased them to replace CK combed cotton and Frette sheets (which were ideal for me) acquired more than a decade ago. I too have been searching for an affordable crisp but not rough, weighty but not stifling, smooth but NOT sateen sheet and pillowcase option for a long, long time. The IKEA sheets felt more pleasant at the store than the other options but still does not compare to what I had.

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  66. Wamsutta Supercale cotton sheets were the greatest ever......still hanging on to my last set I bought 20 years ago. I have been searching ever since and always disappointed untiI I purchased "Garment Dyed Percale" sheet sets made by Matteo of California from Restoration Hardware. They are the closest thing. I bought on sale and hope they offer again.

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  67. Thanks! I love crisp wrinkled percale sheets! Looking for some for a split king bed!

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  68. So excited to find your blog!! Looking (for years) for a replacement of my Wamsutta Soft Cotton sheet set I received from my bridal registry in 1998. Just ordered the Royal sheets from Amazon. Fingers crossed- thanks for your blog!! Will update thoughts when I receive them.

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  69. Threshold Vintage Washed Percale at Target! Only 200 thread count, but thick and soft at the same time. 100% cotton and wrinkly. Advertised as having a "lived in look and feel"! So in love...

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  70. Thomaston Sheets on Amazon are crisp and heavy weight. Love them

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  71. I purchased the PINZON sheets from Amazon last May. They were so disappointing. Very, very soft. I ended up using them for my dog's bed ( yes, she has a bed, in her own bedroom). I will keep searching.

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  72. Has anyone tried IKEA Somntuta? 400 thread count all cotton and claims to be crisp and soft against skin. Seems to only come in white and the white is not very white but that may be for good reason, possibly not using so much bleach in the manufacturing process? I bought a set but haven't opened ityet. I would prefer something other than white.



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    Replies
    1. Yes, I love these! No flat sheets though -- only fitted. (They don't use top sheets in Scandinavia, only fitted sheet + duvet.)

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  73. Can anyone help I'm in the UK I need soft but very soft and very cool sheets that are not wrinkly and that are crisp desperate as bebbound and rough hurts my muscles pls help anyone??

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  74. FINALLY, FINALLY. Myquest for clothesline crisp sheets ended today. Have been searching for nearly 7 years. Someone on here mentioned Vermont Country Store so thought I would try. I have purchased 3 sets of sheets in the past 6 months, all with the promise to be crisp and cool. All 3 sets are now rotated on my dog's full-sized bed. Crisp and cool they were not. The Vermont Country Store sheets were a bit expensive as I had to deal with foreign exchange, shipping to a foreign country and customs duty. Worth every penny. When I opened them they were as crisp as one could want. I will be ordering another pair this week. Now I just have to keep my dog from chewing holes in the new sheets. All my other much loved sheets are "air conditioned" as a result of her chewing. Dogs, ya either love em or hate em. I love mine but think I love my sheets more.

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    Replies
    1. Which VCS sheets? Clothesline, slender percale, Egyptian? Thank you for all of your efforts.

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  75. Update on my comment of 5/5 my quest ended. The sheets are lovely and crisp but felt like turning it up a notch. I got the idea to add starch to the rinse water of my machine as I can recall 30 or 40 years ago that one could buy powdered starch. Times have changed and I now live on a tropical island where most have never heard of starch and they certainly do not buy spray tins of starch. OK, no powdered or liquid starch in shops but Google is my friend, I mixed about 1 cup CORNSTARCH to 1 c cold water and found I could not stir so added more cold water. I then added 4 cups hot water, stirred and at final rinse of sheets, added 1 cup of liquid starch to machine. After sheets dried,-- hung them on the line-- I put them back on bed and immediately jumped in -- housework be damned. Pure heaven. Homemade starch better than chemical laden products and I forego fabric softener due to the vast chemicals one inhales from pillow covers. Not good for anyone but very hard on asthma or COPD patients.

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  76. Try Clothesline Crisp Egyptian Cotton Sheets from Vermont Country Store. I've spent decades and a small fortune trying to find these sheets and they are awesome. They come out of the packaging frighteningly stiff but 2 washes in hot water (no fabric softer please) and they are perfect. The price for a queen sized set is very good. I find it interesting that so many of us search for crisp, cool sheets of our youth and all of the overpriced sheets in the world are such a failure.

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  77. I thought in order to have really crisp sheets they had to be ironed (and possibly starched). Kinda like those fancy hotels used to do.

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  78. I purchased the Threshold Percale Sheets and I actually thought they were too cold and stiff. Now, after several washes, they are perfect. You have to purchase the Classic percale though. The vintage wash are the flimsy warm type.

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  79. Thank you so much for this informative blog. Like others, I thought I was the only one not wanting soft, but instead, crisp, crinkly 100% cotton. After reading all of the info here, I decided on the Pinzon from Amazon. I washed them once before using. They came out of the dryer unwrinkled, which kind of worried me... but they are wonderful. They have that slight crinkle noise quality of 5-star hotel sheets. Just the right crispness. I ordered the pewter color, a brownish grey. I plan on ordering more colors. The king size fits our mattress and topper generously. Am so glad I read this before almost ordering highly advertised $250 SOFT sheets.

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  80. I was so pleased to find this site! I had two sets of Kohls "Luxury Collection" sheets that I liked very much. They're thick, crisp, smooth and cool percale. After many years, one of them split dramatically this week and I discovered that Kohls discontinued its Luxury Collection. I'm on the hunt for a replacement. Did anyone here ever have the Kohls sheets I mentioned and find a similar replacement?

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  81. Hi everyone,

    I have asked for three sets of the Vermont Country Store percale sheets and am looking forward to receiving them at Christmas. Since like everyone here I prefer crispness, and in my case even stiff crackling if I could get it, I am looking for thoughts on the following:

    Starching the sheets: Does start really attract bugs or ants?

    Line drying: Is this the best way to keep sheets crisp?

    I am open to any and all ideas. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. How are the VCS sheets? I called them but did not feel confident they had what I seek.

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  82. I am also a crisp sheet “ junkie”. I took advice on someone here and I have started adding starch to rinse cycle, I air dry on drying rack. I purchased sheets at Costco about 10-15 years ago and loved then the quit selling. Then found some of overstock them then they quit selling them so,I have been searching. I purchased the ones from Vermont store and they had some of the qualities but thin. I just ordered the ones from amazon
    (Pinzon?) and when I opened I could tell they were also too thin for me so now I’m adding to my search “thick”. So my request is cotton, crisp, starch feel, and thick. Any suggestions? I also iron my sheets

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  83. Got the Thomas Lee sheets, washed, starched, and ironed and not what I’m wanting. Beginning to,think it’s not out there. Has anyone ever had sheets made? Maybe from Etsy or somewhere? Have a king bed so vintage is probably out. I’m wasting way too much time on this.

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    1. You have no idea. I have done so much research to try to find these sheets. Got a swatch from Thomas Lee after reading rave reviews. Not at all what I like. It's ridiculous!! I spend hours online and in the second hand stores looking for the good stuff. I have found a few vintage top sheets that way, but never the fitted. Chatted with a guy from Brooklinen tonight and he didn't know what I was talking about. Will call them tomorrow. Thinking of trying Pottery Barn or Garnet Hill. Why the --- is this such an ordeal? In my opinion the target stuff is thin and not what I want, although I did have one set from them I liked from 20 years ago. They make men's shirts in the cotton I like, why not sheets?

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    2. I feel like you and I feel exactly the same. I have ordered a swatch of material from an Etsy vendor who says she makes bed sheets. 100% Cotton. Hopefully I will be able to tell about it. I will update when I get the swatch. Another idea I have is I might take my sheets to dry cleaners where my husband gets his shirts starched. Let everyone know about both.

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    3. I ordered the Brooklinen percale which I found to be cool and crisp but thin and rough. They say to wash them several times and they get more smooth so I am going to try that.

      Also, I found a Cuddledown top sheet at Goodwill that feels good but is on the thinner side, a Pine Cone Hill (in the wrong size for my bed) that's OK but not as good but also thin. These sheets in sets are in the $200-$400 range and still not exactly what I like.

      I also ordered the Garnet Hill 300 count unembelished fitted sheet. It arrived yesterday and it seems awful, but they advised me to wash it before sending it back. They think their 200 count may be more what I want, and they also have a 300 count Supima to try.

      I have a few items at home, old Eddie Bauer stuff made in USA, old Springmaid from USA, old Linensource made in India, and old Ralph Lauren fabric from Italy that are smooth, thick, crisp, and cool. So it seems like the stuff I like should be out there somewhere.

      Has anyone tried Snowe?

      Does anyone know which is closer the optimal old fashioned feel, the Pottery Barn Basic 200, or the Classic 400? Can not believe this is such an ordeal.

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  84. I'm on the hunt also. I'll add my comments after I try a few. I really want to keep this thread current! I keep telling my husband that these are the kind of sheets we ned but he's obsessed with them being "soft". Do you consider these crisp and cool sheets "Scratchy"? To me they are comfortable but he wants "soft". Keep the comments coming!

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  85. Fabric geeks, please help me! My mother (a baby boomer) has a couple of flat sheets handed down from at least her parents' generation, possibly the one before. They're unlike any other fabric I've felt and I'm eager to figure out what this type of sheet is called so I can hopefully find more on eBay, etc. When you move them around, they're "crispy" and noisy, but the handfeel is incredibly soft, almost powdery. It reminds me of a butterfly's wing, or someone's skin who has on baby powder. They're medium thickness but feel very dense and smooth, and are cool to sleep under. Does anyone have any guesses about what to call this make of fabric? I'd be delighted with any leads!

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  86. im suspicious that some of the factors maki g the fabric ‘crisp’ is the combo of cotton with poly blend in a percale weave. I know everyone is all about the cotton, but the old time sheets were made with cotton poly blend fabrics to reduce the need for ironing... 😉I’ve noticed that hospital sheets have this smooth cool non drapy feel. And they are cotton poly blend too.

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    1. No, my dear. We are all on here looking for a very different animal than a cotton poly blend.
      The “old time” fabrics we seek existed before poly did.
      The problem is, the sheets we want and can’t find were american cotton milled and woven in american factories. Those all went away in the early 2000s. Sadly, I think the sheets we yearn for might never be made again. :-(

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  87. Wow.. Finally, I don't feel isolated. I was lucky enough once to have my Dream Sheets. Crisp, cool, crunchy. I spent a small fortune.. worth every penny. Went to buy more (seasonal warehouse sale) and they said they don't make anymore. Since then it has been a quest. I patch and sewed those sheets until finally had to let them go. (cats claws helped the demise). I will check back with the kindred spirts here!

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  88. Oh my goodness!! I had found the perfect set of sheets at, of all places, Walmart!! They were their Better Homes and Gardens line, Percale and I think they were 300 thread count. I had bought two sets, one queen and later a king set. They are crispy and crunchy and heavy and wrinkly and cool, all at the same time. (They make so much noise in bed that I worry about waking up my husband when I turn over. That's the key!) And the fitted sheet has an excellent elastic all the way around that keeps them nice and snug, even on the sides where others tend to loosen. I love them and have looked for more, to no avail.

    Guess why? Walmart doesn't have the BHG line anymore! I bought a set of 200 thread count Mainstays "Percale" sheets there recently hoping to get the same, but was really disappointed. Nice and cool and wrinkly, but not crunchy and way too thin. Not enough weight to them.

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    1. AnnieDrews, I tried Better Homes & Gardens Hygro Percale and Egyptian Cotton and Superior Percale as well, all from Walmart. None of them were to my standards, to be honest, or even what I'd call adequate. They weren't cool or crispy, and they were either thin or rough. Some of them are getting holes after two years. I think the quality of so many cotton sheets produced now is erratic and suppliers are changed frequently.

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  89. I am now on this quest, have returned two sets of Heartland and Wamsutta to BB&B, both sateen. I love one set I already have which are Royal and saw them mentioned here, so happy to know I can get them on Amazon. But will first check out the Threshold at TJMaxx and Hotel brands. HATE Sateen!!! Knew I wasn't crazy, ha. My instinct told me to look at lower thread counts and was true. Thanks for the validation!

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  90. Chris, Thank you so so much! I've been looking for these old crisp sheets for years! Purchased the Royal's Percale on Amazon and my husband and I LOVE them! You are doing a great service here. Thank you!

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  91. You're so welcome, Debbie! Glad you liked them!

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  92. I am on the quest as well! I inherited some old sheets from my grandmother and have been on the hunt ever since. These might be homemade and found this site while googling for the type of fabric it might be—thick, crisp but soft, and cool. I will be buying the Royal’s, but was wondering if anyone has information about the type of fabric people used for sheets in the 40s-60s. I am that desperate that I would drag out the machine to replicate those crisp cool thick sheets!

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    1. Chris (your author)October 3, 2019 at 2:06 PM

      Hi, Alice! Very likely it was (cotton) muslin. The old-fashioned muslin was super strong and similar to the percale that was to follow, except thicker. Kind of a cool, crisp sheet for winter. I write about vintage muslin sheets on this blog here.

      Delete
  93. Thank you for the information. Finally found others that remember and love those crisp, smooth cotton sheets that we had as children. My mother ironed all of our sheets!

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  94. I just saw a FB ad for Redland Cotton sheets. They claim that they are crisp and cool like Grandma's, but they're not calling them percale. They're pricey ($195 for a king set), so I'm going to order a pillowcase to see what the fabric feels like. I wish we could find the real deal for less $$ :-(

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    Replies
    1. Redlands are lovely and beautifully made sheets, however, they are way too thick and heavy for me. The quality is excellent and if you are looking for a more weighted sheet then Redland's might be for you.

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  95. I have a set of Pinzon sheets from Amazon. I love them. I iron the pillowcases. The sheets don't bother me if they are a bit wrinkled. I also have a flat sheet that's Amazon Basics in brushed percale. Really different, like percale and flannel had a baby. My hubby isn't impressed with it, but I love the elastic on it. It never wrinkles or slips, ever.
    I'm currently looking for a reasonable set of flax linen. I think Belgian Flax is the sought after fiber. Linen is supposed to be cooler than cotton percale.
    I suspect linen is what Grandma really had. After all bedding is CALLED linen. Probably all there was available at one time.
    Curious about some newer fabrics, like Tencel & bamboo. I think they are probably for people who want soft & silky.
    For people on a budget, I've had some poly/cotton percale sheets that were quite cool and smooth. (also light and wrinkle free) As long as they are more cotton than polyester, and around 300tc percale. Sateen just wears out too fast and it's hot IMHO.
    Microfiber is an abomination. It's every bit as comfortable as the polyester uniform from my first job.

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    Replies
    1. Heads-Up: I had the Amazon Pinzon set purchased in March 2019 and loved the hand and old-fashionedness of them. Bought a replacement, listed as exact same pPinzon produce last week and just opened the package to wash. NOT AT ALL the same characteristics—thinner and almost a sateen feel. Sigh....

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  96. Thank you so much for the tip about ebay!

    I have been looking for pretty, printed percale sheets like the ones I had back in the 80's. I just ordered three sets from sellers on ebay. Problem solved :)

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  97. THANK YOU for this website. I have wasted so much money and time on so many sheet sets trying to find that comfort and feel of 100% cotton sheets that I remember. I do not like the feel and crinkles of the various new sheet set options after a half night of sleep. After one night the sheets begin to slip off the mattress and form crinkle as if they have been on the bed for at least three weeks. Waking me mId-sleep and resulting in me remaking the bed in the middle of the night before falling back asleep. Although old fashion 100 percent cotton sheets wrinkle after each wash, they retain their crispness and are taut for at least a week. They are so crisp and taut that the wrinkles are only visible and not felt. Allowing me to sleep through the night. This site ended my relentless search for the right sheet set.

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  98. My favorite sheets are JCPenny percale, purchased about 18 years ago. Still look great but wearing thin. Want to replace but not made anymore? Anyone know where to find sheets equal to JCP?

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  99. I have stumbled upon your blog by googling 'what type of sheets did grandma use back in the day?' I've been so frustrated looking for those crisp linens that lasted. I have just recently made rags of the sheets I bought 25 years ago. The sheets I bought three years ago went first! I'm 59, and I still have pillowcases my grandmother embroidered for me as a young woman. In my youth, we bought sheets. We didn't look around five hundred different weaves and thread counts and fabrics and feels to find a good set of sheets. Percale, wrinkly or ironed, dried on the line or in the dryer. Not to hot, not too cold. Thank you for explaining the new-fangled words I need to buy good old sheets.

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  100. I tried the Pima Peru 285TC on Amazon - I didn't like them at all. Thinner side, wrinkled terribly and feel was akin to broadcloth. I have my doubts the 415TC version would make a difference.

    Good find - Wayfair 300TC percale. I consider them lighter weight and a softer hand but they are percale. They are not "crisp" due to the weight? but very nice cool feel. Expected wrinkle but make the bed with slightly damp and they look pressed when they finish drying.
    We are only using those sheets this summer. King size top sheet could be a bit wider but just makes it and bottom sheet very nice with nice elastic.
    Unexpected finds - percale duvet covers. Ignore the 1000 cnt - these are percale and very good quality. I only wish this fabric came as sheets. I knew what it was the moment I touched it and the family LOVES them and I have to rotate them so everyone has one on their bed.
    Sleepbella brand- 2 I tried, other prints may or may not be the same material.
    - Medallion Damask Duvet Cover Set-1000-Thread-Count
    - Yellow & Blue Flowers Printed on Off-White with Goldenrod Embroidered Flange
    Hope this helps and someone else posts good finds.
    Amy

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  101. I love crisp cotton sheets and i've found that ralph lauren 100% cotton sheets are great! they are heavy, crisp, fit the mattress well and are pretty cheap if you buy them at home goods, tj maxx or home goods.

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  102. Hi all, just found this blog and hope others still read/contribute to these comments. I just searched and found some vintage percale sheets on eBay. Also found some vintage cotton-muslin blend. Are the muslin inferior and scratchy? Hope I didn’t make a mistake!

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    1. True vintage all-cotton muslin sheets are NOT scratchy, in my experience. They have a lower thread count than percale and are thick, soft, toasty, and crisp and back in the day were made with quality cotton. If you're talking about some newer "vintage" muslin poly/cotton blend, I don't know what they would be like.

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  103. When I read the comment from the woman who said she has to get up in the middle of the night to remake the bed sometimes when the sheets get too bunched up I knew I had found some kindred spirits. I shop almost exclusively at Home Goods or TJ Max. Also, my husband and I have stopped buying anything made in China anymore. That adds another level to the sheet buying problem. I would like new sheets but the ones I have are still in good condition, luckily. I have Ralph Lauren 100% cotton made in Pakistan. They have lasted maybe 8 years. I launder them after 1 week on the bed. For me, the trick to not getting hot when I sleep is to only buy WHITE sheets. It's the colored sheets that make me hot. I don't know why that is, maybe it's psychological but since I have stopped buying colored sheets I sleep much better. Before I bought this particular brand of sheets the fitted corners used to tear after a few years but that has not happened with these in all this time. I don't remember the thread count anymore but it might be 450. I thought higher was better back in the day when I bought these. They are very soft but thick and they absolutely have not pilled. Others have also mentioned the Ralph Lauren brand and I would agree they are good but then I am not familiar with most of the other brands mentioned. I would like to try another brand just to get that crispy feel you are all talking about but I would have to take into consideration what country they are made in.

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  104. I have found the best and most crisp sheet set. As others have mentioned, Ralph Luaren. Yes, but the problem is that they have multiple factories. So here it is guys and girls. Look for Ralph Lauren made in Bahrain. End of discussion!!! They are so crisp they make noise when you rub them together. They are so tightly woven that it takes 15 seconds or more for them to fall to the bed after a fluff. They are so cold that in the summer it gives me chill bumps laying down, and so cold I sometimes wonder if I can take laying down or not in winter. My wife ask me to warm her side up. These are so amazing I cannot live without them. Only place is Tj maxx for 59 or 69. Otherwise they are 125 to 150 online. They do not say percale. Says nothing. Make sure it says Bahrain. I hope Author sees this. I'm telling everyone on here don't buy these if cold, wrinkly, loud sheets bother you.

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  105. I love all the info here, since I also have a hard time finding crisp sheets. My problem is that I feel the bedding industry has not kept up with current mattress trends. I have a Tempur-pedic mattress that is only 12" deep. With all the mattresses that come in boxes, etc. I feel like we are getting away from all the really thick mattresses, yet the bedding companies still are making more "deep pocket" sheets. I simply cannot find sheets that are not too deep. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be forever grateful. I am tired of the sheets being all bunched up because there is simply too much fabric.

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    1. Although a hassle, there are suspender-type devices that are connected to elastic that you hook up to the corners to pull in the fabric. Try looking at fabric stores.I had some years ago and if you didn’t connect the jaws to the fabric just so, they would snap off, You might try hiring someone to sew them to a perfect fit.

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