On pieces of rusted metal, Lithuanian artist Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė cross-stitches symbols of hope.

Verdict: Soft and luxurious ... Plus it’s widely held to be about 30 per cent more durable than cotton. Thread counts don't really apply to linen, because the unique structure of the fibres ...

The material itself is what makes sheets more breathable, not the thread count. The loose weave of cotton helps aeration, keeping you cool but still comfortable. It is soft on the skin ...

long-staple cotton that uses a one-yarn-under, three-yarn-over weave. Translation: More exposed thread surface = luxurious, buttery-soft sheets. The sateen is tightly woven to keep you toasty warm ...