Bed sheet
A
bed sheet (also known as a "flat bed sheet") is a type of
beddingâ€" a large rectangular piece of
cotton or
linen cloth
bed cover. It is this sheet that one typically lies on. They were traditionally white, but now often various colors and patterns are used. They are larger than the bed, so they can be tucked under the
mattress in order to be kept in place. The quality of bed sheets is often conveyed by the
thread count - the number of threads per square inch of material. The higher the thread count, the softer the sheet.
A "fitted" bed sheet is not a simple flat cloth, but is sewn to match the shape of the mattress. The corners are fitted with
elastic so they can be stretched over the mattress, and then the edges can be tucked under the mattress. Sometimes confused with a
comforter, it is usually found
under a comforter, but over the mattress cover.
In many areas of the world a second flat bed sheet is lain on top of the sheet covering the mattress. This is known as a "top sheet." One sleeps between the two bed sheets. Comforters and other bed covers are then placed on top of the second bed sheet.
In fiction, bed sheets are often
knotted together by prisoners in order to be used as a rope, to escape by climbing out the window.
Usually a bed sheet is
overlocked around the edges to form four
seams. One of the seams is wider than the other three and helps with orienting the sheet correctly on the
mattress. The wider
seam goes at the head end of the
mattress.
