To begrudge buying new bed linen every few months?

[fluffysox15]

I usually spend about £25 for a duvet set, maybe £10 for a sheet. Within about 6 weeks the sheets go bobbly or the stitching comes open at the edges of the duvets and sheet.

Am I buying cheap crap?! If anybody could advise somewhere to buy decent bedding that would be great

[MediumBox]

thanks std have some inron on mending stuff so will try dh's one cover first and see if it feels right.
would be a shame as the fabric feels so lovely. soft as silk.

[OutToGetYou]

Not read whole thread so this may have been mentioned-

King of Cotton is better value than The White Co, I've had both and the former is also better quality.

Three things I have found since moving in with dp that shorten the life of bedlinen, that are related to him: 1) he is very hairy, I think this causes bobbles, 2) he has very rough skin, particularly on his feet, I think this wears at the cotton, 3) he moves around a lot, far more than me.

But the OP's issue seems to be buying horrid poly cotton and buying over embellished stuff which has too much stitching so too many possibilities for coming apart.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

MediumBox - once the fabric itself has started to fray and perish, it is harder to mend. You could support the fabric with some iron-on vilene, and then re-sew the seam, but it would be a bit of a bodge (I have mended skirts this way, but it it doesn't look that good).

[Gatekeeper]

springy I have all natural as well. Starched cotton sheets, merino blanket (56 yr old) and patchwork quilt (made by me with cotton top, cotton wadding and cotton backing)

[Bin85]

My oldest duvet cover would be 38 years old, don't ask me how I know that!

[springydaffs]

Sorry, got so caught up with raving about natural fibres/cotton missed the point!

Bedding lasts for ever, always lovely and fresh. One duvet cover is I have no idea how old, absolutely ancient. Sometimes buttons come off but never seams fall apart.

Lucky you op getting into the land of proper bedding

every night when I get into bed I squirm with pleasure and say 'thank you!' out loud for my lovely bed

[springydaffs]

Oh I do hope somebody links to a hotel bedding site!

Ewwwww re 100% poly Viler than vile.

Cotton bedding for me all the way. In fact all natural - wool blanket under cotton sheet, feather pillows and duvet, heavy cotton cover. NOTHING like natural fibres.

I get my cotton bedding anywhere and everywhere - charity shops turn up some good duvet covers sometimes. Harrods sale is worth going to London for btw.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

There was a thread similar to this a few years ago and someone linked to a hotel bedding site. They were highly recommended and I meant to buy a set but didn't get round to it.

[Shockers]

I never have, and never will use fabric softener and I wash bedding at 60.

I only ever buy 100% cotton, either at TK Maxx (last two were Hobbs and a really good set that I can't remember the make of), or IKEA. Sheets are high thread count cotton too.

Our bedding lasts until we get tired of the design, and then it goes to the charity shop... after maybe 10 years or so.

[MrsUnderwood]

I'm going to echo the 100% cotton crowd. I was overheating for years under polycotton stuff and now I won't touch it with a bargepole. IKEA is good value, and comes in loads of plain colours. We've got a couple of crocheted quilts that I chuck over them to make the bedroom look more folksy and less like a hotel.

[Coco7841]

Quick update: I've invested in a full bed set of egyptian cotton with a 300 thread count, can't wait to goto bed tonight now. Really hope it lasts!

[lurkingabit]

My mum gave me some white cotton sheets she bought when she first married. (1950s/early 1960s) They are thick heavy white cotton and amazing. They are as white as any of my new white sheets but the difference in quality is phenomenal. Bitch to iron tho. I have never come across 'modern' sheets like them, no matter the cost.

I am a total bed linen snob. 100% cotton, percale weave. Am not as keen on sateen and find it can bobble a bit. I never buy full price always in sales.

[MediumBox]

std if the fabric gets a bit thin at the corners, is there I can do?

my favourite set has holes/rips near the top corners

(have a sewing mashine but am very much a novive)

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Fluffy - polycotton mixes are far more likely to go bobbly. I buy 100% cotton bedding and it lasts for years.

When seams/stitching fail, it ought to be possible to mend them - do you have any sewing skills, or do you know anyone who could show you? If you were near me, I'd teach you how to mend.

[FireCrotch]

Gatekeeper my gran made bedding out of some white tea towels she found abandoned during the war. They were stamped with government warnings not to pawn them. :o

[Gatekeeper]

100% cotton all the way; some of my sheets date from the 1950's and one pair has the WWII utility mark on them and they are still going strong

[fluffysox15]

at how unethical Egyptian cotton is!! Won't be buying that, it's a disgrace. I'm going to wait till January, hopefully get some nice pieces in the sales.

Feel like throwing out my luxury egyptian cotton bath towels now :(

[thiskiwicanfly]

Bobbles on sheets seem to come about when socks are worn in bed (at least according to my grandmother) and I take that to mean that any clothing in bed will cause bobbles... sleep naked = no bobbles

(oh, and agree about the 100% high thread count cotton)

[Gladysandtheflathamsandwich]

"You can be assured that any Egyptian cotton you buy in Britain has been picked or processed or tilled by children, some as young as five and six. They have no opportunities to thrive or grow, or even, as children, to have dreams and ambitions."

American cotton is cheaper and ethically acceptable and frankly, unless you own a hotel, you wont notice the difference.

[Gladysandtheflathamsandwich]

Egyptian is not ethical.

It is the best organically, but from a human rights POV,.....not so much. Since it became more popular, it has driven the use of underpaid and overworked pickers/processors including children.

www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jun/08/childprotection.humanrights

[shadowfax07]

Bother, Jilted you've beaten me, my HoF Egyption cotton percale has lasted 22 years so far, mind you it's still going strong. All bar one of the sheets look like new. Washed at 60°C with fabric conditioner. The one that doesn't has a tiny tear in it, which I've mended, badly.

OP, Egyptian cotton has longer fibres, so it lasts longer. The higher the thread count, the more dense the fabric is, but always open the pack and feel them, I've noticed a huge difference, even with the same thread count.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Everything has already been covered but.....LOL at show bedding!

(as you were)

[Gladysandtheflathamsandwich]

I always get plain white, there is only one shade so if one piece gets stained or ripped you don't have to replace the lot.

YY to only buying white so you dont need to replace a whole set. The other good thing is that you can boil/bleach/Vanish it back to whiteness again, which you cant do with coloured stuff.

Also, there is something indescribably delicious about snuggling into a freshly washed, bright white 100% cotton bed.

[Witchend]

I made our duvet cover 15 years ago. We could only afford one at the time so it gets washed in the morning and goes back on on the evening.

One of the buttons came off last week. Other than that it is fine.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I've got a duvet cover (M&S) that I've had for 24 years. Do I win?