Cotton....

Sheets of course. Not the thin, high-thread-count stuff Oprah unleashed on us. The thick, old-fashioned percale that washes and wears forever getting softer every year. When the edge frays, cut a new hem! I have some from the 30's, soft and still going strong.

Can't find it these days in an affordable price range, so this summer our camper was outfitted with 1-6 pieces of cotton at a time at the Goodwill and SalArmy shops that abounded in one of the areas we visited. The turnover of stock was so fast that there were scads of new items each time I dropped in to run my hand over the pieces, find the all-cotton ones, and check the labels to be SURE. $0.59 per pillowcase, some in matched sets! King sheets for 2 bucks! Flannel sheets for travel towels, a buck each!

I accumulated two king sets, more than a dozen pillowcases for each set, and a set of travel towels and quick-drying washcloths. Many of the pillowcases were kings-- way too big for our pillows, so I'll have lots of relaxing vactional handsewing to do, to shrink them and nab a couple of travel-pillow-size ones out of each king pillowcase. The blend of fabric softener smells and perfumes.... alas, I will wash it all out in plain water. I prefer odorless sleeping linens.

Lovely colors-- shades of silvers, tan, pale blues, pale olives, and a few prints to liven up the sets. All wonderful, thick cotton, all colors that will hide camp dirt. Many pieces whose labels indicate their outrageous initial expense. "So dated, must replace!"

Mmmmm, cotton sheets!


I even found one old white percale hospital sheet to tear up into lingerie liners. Bras and undies stay comfortably dry and sweet-smelling even in high heat and humidity, if you add a square piece of cotton as a liner (folded as needed) and change liners throughout the day as they soak up sweat. Cheaper than powder.... Handwash and dry, poof! Great hat-liners on a hot day too, wet.


What cotton things do YOU love, and where do YOU find them?

~Susan