I consider myself to be a bed sheet aficionado, and these have surpassed my expectations. I have washed them several times and they have not pilled. They are super soft too. I wouldn't limit these to only winter use as they are great for all seasons. Maybe sell these as a set.
These are nice sheets. They are soft but not thick. My husband and I agree that they are not as warm as other flannel sheets we have used. This is great if you get too warm with flannel, but we added a polar fleece blanket AND a down comforter to our bed. The ice blue is very pretty. It is a saturated blue, not pale at all if that is what you are looking for. I like the edging, too. The size of these sheets is generous and I have washed and dried them a few times and I did not notice too much shrinking. Still fits fine. I'm wondering if the next step down in flannel would be warmer.
I bought my first set of these sheets in 1989 and I'm still using them every winter! They have never pilled and they just keep getting softer. Over the years I have bought other brands which have only lasted 2 or 3 seasons before they started to pill and become rough. I just bought another LL Bean set which I expect to use for at least the next quarter century! Yes, they are expensive (all the better if you can get them on sale) but you shouldn't have to replace them for a lonnnng time!
I purchased a full set (Premium Supima Flannel) in April 2009 as a gift to myself. This is my only bedding set (I use flannel year round) and I wash the sheets weekly. There has been no shrinking, pilling, or overall wear that I can discern. These sheets are worth every cent. Plus, if you are not happy, LL Bean has an excellent return policy. I can't believe how well the sheets have worn for nearly 5 years of use. If you like soft, warm, long-lasting flannel sheets, buy these without hesitation.
