Guides
Guides appear on a fortnightly rhythm and collect here as they go up.
What is published so far?
11 pieces to date. Newest first.
A care guide goes up once its instruction has survived repeated runs, not once it reads well.
What is the difference between a flat sheet and a fitted sheet, and do you need both?
A standard American sheet set comes with one of each. Folded on a shelf, they look alike. They do different jobs, though, and each one goes wrong in its own way when you buy the wr
What size flat sheet do you need, and what makes a good one?
A flat sheet is the plain, hemmed piece of cloth that lies between you and your blanket. Most mistakes you can make when buying one come down to size, fiber and washing. This page
How do you wash linen sheets?
Linen sheets are easier to wash than their price suggests. Three settings matter most. They are water temperature, spin and dryer heat. The catch is the labels. Most linen is label
What size is a king size flat sheet?
A king flat sheet sold in the US is cut wider and longer than a standard king mattress (American Textile, sizefit.org), so fabric hangs past the edges. You tuck the spare fabric. B
Should you buy linen sheets or percale sheets?
Linen sheets and percale sheets are not opposite choices. They are not even the same label. Sorting that out does most of your shopping for you. Linen is a fiber spun from flax. Pe
What does repeated washing do to percale, sateen, and linen sheets?
Every wash takes a little out of your sheets. Lab tests show where it goes. The fiber weakens, loose ends rub up into pills, and the weave tightens so the sheet shrinks. In one stu
What are percale sheets, and how do you pick a good set?
Percale is the crisp, matte, hotel-feeling end of cotton bedding. The word gets printed on a package next to a number. That number is where buyers get lost.
Are sateen sheets worth it, and how do you pick a good set?
Sateen sheets are cotton sheets woven so that most of each yarn lies on the surface. You feel that as a smooth, slightly slippery face with a soft shine. Whether they suit you depe
Is thread count a marketing number, and what should you read instead?
The biggest number you see on a sheet listing is usually the thread count. It is the easiest to inflate. This page shows you what the count measures, how sellers stretch it, and wh
Do you need a top sheet, and what size flat sheet fits your bed?
A top sheet is the flat sheet that lies between you and your blanket. Using one is a matter of habit. The size question has a clearer answer, and it turns on how deep your mattress
What is a top sheet?
A top sheet is the flat sheet you sleep under. This page covers what it does, which size fits your mattress, and how to put one on so it stays tucked.