First, I must disclose that my favorite sheets are always the set that have been through the wash so many times that they are soft as down but starting to fray at the edges and approaching the time that they must be discarded. My most recent purchase of LL Bean sheets is the 3rd set and I am very pleased. The fabric is a bit lighter but so so soft right out of the package. The previous sets, which are sturdy but stiffer, have worn very well and can be matched to the new ones. Color is bright, the size is perfect for tucking in, and again, they are nice and soft and brand new!
ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, strong, soft for a percale weave
So, I'm ridiculously obsessed with having super, super, super soft sheets. I've been buying pima cotton for years, because-even at a "lower" thread count-it quickly starts to feel, literally, like silk.
Knowing that, I probably shouldn't have followed the Consumer Reports recommendation to these sheets, because that recommendation was based on sheets that are well-rounded (strong as well as being soft).
I do not find these sheets to be as soft as I had hopedt. In fact, they felt quite prickly to me at first, the way peach fuzz feels a bit prickly in your mouth. I have figured out this is probably because they are of a percale weave; a sateen weave gives a silk-like feel, but is not very strong. My beloved silk-like sumpima-fiber, sateen-weave sheets do, I admit, get holes very easily from cat claws or whatnot ... and a tiny hole becomes a big tear very easily.
Over a few months, the sheets have softened enough that I finally am not bothered by them, and sometimes even smile at the feel when I roll over in the middle of the night. However, knowing how extremely I prefer silkiness, I would probably choose sateen sheets next time, over the percale.
As to the other qualities ... I have these on a very thick King-sized mattress, and they don't stay put at all. I can't tell whether they are too big or too small - the corners stay put but the edges let go so the sheet fits too loosely. They do come out of the wash very wrinkled, compared to sheets with a sateen weave. They are of a moderate thickness, typical of this thread count. The flat sheets are very generous - my budget really didn't support high-end sheets so I got a king fitted and queen flat sheets on clearance; the queen flats are big enough to sew a duvet cover for an LL Bean king sized down comforter.
I've been searching for years for sheets to fit our deep mattress and finally found them in these LL Bean sheets (the solid color ones; not the floral). I bought the sheets over a year ago and have kept them on the bed continuously since; just washing and putting them back on. I wanted to see how well they would hold up and if they would shrink like my other fitted sheets have. They have not! They are cut generously in both the fitted and flat sheet and have retained their soft satiny feel and slight crispness. I've been very pleased with these sheets and am ordering another set today. They are a bit pricey, but I think they will be worth it.
ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, even my hubby approves
I LOVE these sheets! I don't think they are scratchy at all. They are like the sheets I remember as a kid. The colors on the flowers are so vivid and pretty. I love that the sheets are cut very generous - lots of room to tuck. How I know they are GREAT sheets: Even my husband said he liked them! This from a man who hates it when I buy anything new. Good job LLBean.
