I just picked up two Queen sets of these sheets at HomeGoods for $20 each and they are the softest silkiest sheets I have ever had.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bliss Sheets

Look at microfiber----they are very smooth and not as cold as cotton sheets in the winter.

I purchased microfiber earlier this year and the sheets pilled during the first use.

Cotton sheets come in a couple of different weaves, percale and sateen. Percale is a standard plain weave. Sateen is woven a little differently, something like 4 over 1 under. This gives a shinier, smoother surface than percale.

Another factor is the length of the cotton strands themselves. Short strands will tend to stick up a bit on the ends, and bunch up, leading to a rougher surface and possibly pilling. Extra long staple is what you want to look for - the longer strands give a smoother, slicker surface. Typically ELS cotton will come from Egypt or if American will be pima/supima cotton. Non-ELS cotton is the cursed plague by which sheets feel and look fantastically smooth and rich in the store, but feel like rough crappy sandpaper after the first wash.

When looking at thread counts you also want to make sure that higher thread counts are actual single-ply. You may also want to look for mercerized cotton, which can be softer and smoother.

If you do manage to find a high threadcount sheet (>600tc) which remains smooth, slick, shiny, and soft after washing, let me know. I have a couple of 800tc and 1000tc sets like that but subsequent sets of the same were terrible. That quality has become a unicorn I've been chasing for a few years.

For me "percale" is the magic word. Sheets of the past...our mothers and grandmothers....all were cotton percale.

I love these 'Beech' sheets. They are so smooth and cool. Love sleeping on them.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/pure-beech-trade-modal-reg-sateen-sheet-set/214673?categoryId=12019

This post was edited by mammie on Fri, Jan 30, 15 at 22:31

Thanks for the info chiefniel. It's all confusing, but It's a start to my education. I think I may have gotten ripped off on the "sateen" sheets I bought. It sounds like they should slide over each other easily and they definitely don't. And they are not at all shiny. I'm going to check out the Beech sheets, the JCP Royal Velvet and the Bliss Sheets. I'm going to see if I can actually touch these, especially percale. If I can find a "silky smooth" sheet set for the twin, I'll probably get another for my queen.