The weave in bedding and what you can feel
Short answer: The weave decides whether the bedding feels smooth, matte or stretchy. Percale is matte and firm, sateen is smooth and shiny, and jersey is stretchy like a t-shirt.
Percale
A dense, simple weave that feels firm and matte. It is cool to the touch and creases more than the others.
Sateen
Woven so that several threads lie on top of each other. The surface becomes smooth and slightly shiny.
Jersey
Knitted rather than woven. That makes the fabric stretchy and soft like a t-shirt.
What you should choose
If you like a firm and cool layer, choose percale. If you want it soft and yielding, choose jersey. See bamboo bedding.
Creasing
Jersey creases least, percale most. That is why some people iron bedding and others do not.
The fibre matters too
Bamboo viscose feels smoother than cotton in the same weave. See bamboo bedding versus cotton percale.
See also
More on the types in percale, jersey and sateen.
Frequently asked questions
Which weave is coolest?
Percale feels coolest to the touch, because the surface is firm and matte.
Which creases least?
Jersey. It is knitted and straightens itself out.
Is sateen the same as silk?
No. Sateen is a weave and can be made in many fibres.
