There’s a lot to consider when shopping for high thread-count sheets. Widely available, reasonably priced, and 100 percent cotton, the Fieldcrest Supima Classic Hemstitch Sheet Set offers a three-factor combination we couldn’t resist trying out. Do these sheets keep their promise? Keep reading to find out.
Material: High-quality American cotton
Not only are these sheets comprised of 100 percent cotton, the term “Supima” here actually refers to a specific type of cotton. Supima cotton is grown in the United States, primarily in the South and Southwest regions of the country. You can find it growing in states like California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. It’s relatively rare—Supima represents less than 1 percent of cotton grown in the world. Compared to the other types of cotton, this American strain has extra-long fibers. Experts claim that these fibers make the resulting fabric stronger, softer, and better at retaining color from fabric dyes. This Fieldcrest set is available in 12 different styles, but the options are all very similar. The colors are all solid, and they’re all very muted and neutral—think white, beige, and for the brave, a very soft blue. If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your room or to play around with a bold pattern, there’s not much for you here. Online, the “Sea Salt” looked light a light tan color, but in person, it looked almost white. The color provided a hint of warmth, and the sheets themselves have a light sheen. Each of the pillowcases and the flat sheet feature a simple hemstitch at the border. The hems are subtle, but the simple finish adds a little elegance to a made-up bed.
Thread Count: Strong but soft
For a 700 thread-count sheet set, these are slightly on the thin side, but they’re still soft, strong, and substantial. The fabric doesn’t have much give, or feel like it could tear easily.
Texture: A slippery shine
According to the highlights section of the products page, this sheet set “features softener, sanforizing and mercerized finish.” Sanforizing and mercerizing are both cotton treatments that are intended to enhance the durability of the finished product. Sanforizing refers to a mechanical method of manipulating cotton fabrics before they’re finished. During sanforization, the woven cotton fibers are fed through a machine that steams and compresses them. This process is completed before the fabric is cut and sewn into its final form. Sheets that have been through sanforization are less likely to shrink in the wash. Mercerizing describes a chemical enhancing process sometimes applied to cotton. During mercerization, the fabric is soaked in a basic chemical solution containing lye and then soaked in an acidic bath. This process essentially acts as a sealant on the individual cotton fibers. It makes the woven fabric denser and more durable, and also gives the finished product its shine. When compared to untreated cotton, mercerized sheets have a slippery smooth feeling.
Fit: A little baggy
On a 10-inch mattress, these sheets had quite a bit of spare room. The fitted sheet had enough extra fabric that it was tough to get it to look taught and smooth. When it wasn’t tucked in, the flat sheet hung low passed the edge of the duvet. These would fit well on a thicker mattress but feel a little unwieldy on a thinner model.
Key Features: Certified safe, user-friendly
This sheet set boasts an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, which declares they’ve been tested for more than 100 chemicals and substances known to be harmful to humans and found to be pollutant-free and safe for use. That should help you sleep easy. One other nice feature? Have you ever held up a fitted sheet in confusion, unable to tell the long side until you’ve tried stretching it over your mattress in every direction? Say goodbye to this mundane struggle. The Fieldcrest fitted sheet comes with small labels sewn on the ends that indicate the top and bottom sides of the sheets. This simple tag could save you a lot of frustration, at least when it comes to making the bed.
Washing: Increase the cozy
The combination of both of these treatments implies these sheets are built for the long haul. The manufacturers went the extra mile to make sure they won’t shrink or fray in the wash. On top of that, Supima cotton experts claim that products made with their cotton actually just get softer and better the more you wash and use them. We put those claims to the test by running these through a couple of cycles on cold. When the sheets dried they felt soft, cozy, and a bit less slippery. There was no noticeable pilling, thinning, or fading.
Price: Plenty of bang for the buck
Around $80 gets you a full-size flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. If you’re a four pillow person, you can get a set of two extra pillowcases for $23 dollars. When you consider that these sheets are designed to last, just over $100 dollars feels like a fair price for the whole package.
Competition: Smack dab in the middle
Pottery Barn 700-Thread-Count Sateen Sheet Set: If you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury, these 700 thread-count sheets from Pottery Barn (view on Pottery Barn), that we tested are the way to go—but they’re also more than double the price of the Fieldcrest set. The Supima set feels like the sheets Goldilocks would choose. When compared to the two other high thread-count options we tested, these sheets offered an excellent combination of quality and value. Between the Fieldcrest Supima Classic Hemstitch, The Sweet Home Collection 1500 thread count sheets, and the 700-Thread-Count Sateen Sheet Set from Pottery Barn, we’d most likely suggest the Fieldcrest set to our friends. Maybe they’re not quite as hearty and luxurious as Pottery Barn’s sateen version, but at less than half the price, they’re plenty luxe. Interested in reading more reviews? Check out our roundup of the best high thread-count sheets. The Fieldcrest Supima Classic Hemstitch Sheet Set cotton sheets look and feel more expensive than they are. The high-quality cotton will keep you cool in the summer and cozy in the winter, and with the extra mechanical treatments that have been applied to the Supima cotton, they might just last long enough to get you through both seasons a few times.
