I will admit I am a total sheet snob! I’m also pretty cheap so I won’t spend $$$$ for sheets. My favorite sheets are Pine Cone Hill Petite Ruffle Sheets. You can find them at the link. Of course I love the petite ruffle! They come in white and ivory and I’ve had them in both. At only 400 thread count these sheets might be overlooked because there are much beefier thread counts out there, but for me these are perfect and I’ve discovered higher thread count doesn’t mean more comfortable. These sheets are crisp cotton sheets and they snap when you shake them and oh they get so soft with age, like your favorite sweater. They remind me of the sheets I had when I was a kid. The thing I love about them is they are cool while your sleeping and they breathe.
So my beloved Petite Ruffle sheets like everything else keep going up in price. I think almost 100.00 in 6 years and I’ve been priced out of the market. As much as I love them I can’t pay 268.00 for a set of sheets. So I have been in the market for an alternative.
A couple of years ago tired of plain sheets I thought I would see if I could find something with some pattern that might work in my bedroom. While in Target one day I was looking at the Magnolia Home Hearth and Hand stuff just for giggles and I came across a set of Grey striped sheets that I new would work.
They were very affordable too. I can’t remember what I paid for them but they weren’t more than 79.00 and I don’t think they were that. I felt like I could work with them so I brought them home washed them and put them on the bed. The next time I washed them I got to thinking I could embellish them. Why should I have boring grey striped sheets when I can have less boring grey striped sheets. I got out my Bernina and embroidered the hem of the flat sheet and pillow cases, put them on the bed and said to myself well that’s better, now we’re talking.
The sheets were organic cotton and comfortable so when my last set of petite ruffle sheets wore out I went back to Target and found another pattern of sheets that would work with my now freshly painted bedroom. This time after washing I embroidered them and then put them on the bed. Yes this is better.
These sheets are almost as great as my Pine Cone Hill sheets and at a much better price point. Unfortunately both of my sets are discontinued but they have other sheet sets that are organic cotton and I’m sure equally as comfortable. The only down side to any of these cotton sheets is they wrinkle which brings me to my next point.
Do you iron your sheets? For me it depends. Wrinkles don’t bother me but curling side hems drive me nuts and hems on pillowcases that don’t cooperate also drive me nuts.
This morning I went about getting ready to change the sheets. During the holidays I had ironed sheets. With all the people we had in and out of the house over the holidays I wanted every room to look it’s best.
This morning I set about to not iron the sheets and just put them on the bed, I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t do it. Now in my defense to me there is nothing more luxurious and satisfying then hopping into a beautifully made bed, with the feel of cool crisp sheets to slide between TMI.
So I thought I would share how I iron my flat sheets. I don’t bother with the fitted.
- Fold sheet horizontally
- Using spray starch as you go start with side hems
- Work your way up to the top hem moving across the top and down the other side.
That’s it your done. You don’t have to iron the whole sheet. By the time you’ve covered your ironing board with the sheet most of it is ironed and by folding it in half you still get the steam going thru the under part.
In all honesty it takes me about 20 minutes to do 4 pillowcases and the flat sheet but laying my head down on freshly starched and ironed embroidered pillowcase is sublime indulgence and then there is the last vice.
Antique and vintage pillowcases. I’m absolutely in love with them, Embroidered, crochet, cutwork, monogramed in the wrong initials, doesn’t matter as long as it is white on white I will pick it up.
It doesn’t even need to be a pair, if it has something of interest other than a stain I will buy it. Vintage linens are so affordable. The last set I bought I paid 7.00 for the pair and I got a flat sheet too. Never been used! I have collected textiles for years and probably bought my first set of vintage cases 35 years ago for 6.00.
I will say I’m still enjoying my Arden Quilt I bought at Pottery Barn before Christmas and will leave it on until the end of February-maybe.
I did do a bit of a refresh while I was at it.
This box that has been in storage deserves a splendid home. It has a secret. Check back to find out what!
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
