100% Cotton or Plastic?



Do you remember my previous blog post regarding my order of bedsheets from QVC?  I posted it on September 5th and titled it "On the Air with QVC."  If you haven't read it, you can find it in my blog archives at the left side of my blog page.  The bedsheets arrived a few weeks ago and here they are.  I opted to use our bear as a model rather than draping myself across the bed as originally promised.  (I'm a big talker).   



I've never had designer sheets before; can you imagine that!  (We're so backward regarding the current trends).  The first night we used them, I was tempted to stay awake all night just admiring the fine signature embroidery and bold label.  Unfortunately, another feature grabbed my attention.  Scroll down for "the rest of the story."   

Lon and I put the sheets on the bed as a couple, working together.  It's king-size so I always fetch him when it's sheet changing time.  I don't wash clothing or sheets before I use them so we opened the package and proceeded with the task at hand.  To our amazement, the sheets felt and looked like plastic.  I checked the tag.  It said 100% cotton.  Honestly, the finish and feel of them was exactly like the flannel-backed, plastic tablecloth we use on our picnic table when we're camping!  I appreciate a nice crisp feel to new sheets, but this was WAY beyond that.  The top of our mattress is 36 inches from the floor.  It crossed my mind that by going to bed between these sheets, I was taking quite a risk.  If I slipped out of bed, I'd have a rude awakening and possibly a broken bone.    

Here you can see the sheet peeking from under the blankets and comforter.  We really like the colors in the sheets and the cheerful pattern so we decided to give them a try.  I know QVC will take them back if we should decide we don't like them.  I expect that after they're washed, they'll lose that plastic feeling, although we've actually become accustomed to them, believe it or not.  As long as I stay away from the edge of the mattress, I feel safe sleeping on this slick as ice surface. 

Our bed looks quite normal when it's made.  It's only when we pull the top layers back and actually feel the sheets on our skin that we wonder if we're sleeping on fabric or plastic.  In the grocery store, I'm asked if I prefer paper or plastic.  The QVC representative didn't offer me a choice when I placed this order.  

 Perhaps I wasn't paying close attention to the product description when these sheets were presented on QVC.  Maybe these Liz Claiborne sheets are designed specifically for easy clean up for consumers who like to EAT in bed.  Or for couples who long for that oh-so-desirable wrapped in plastic freshness upon arising in the morning.  What do you think?