What, exactly, is it that makes lyocell different from modal? And more importantly, what exactly do bamboo and eucalyptus have in common that's distinct from modal and rayon to get THEM both lumped together as 'lyocell' fabrics?
More importantly... which one, possibly when combined with cotton, makes nicer sheets that are the softest, most hygroscopic, and cool?
~15 years ago, I bought two sets of sheets from Target that were 60% cotton/40% modal. They were the greatest sheets I've ever owned.
~13 years ago, I bought a set of "modal" sheets from Bed, Bath & Beyond that ultimately kind of sucked. They were too stretchy (vs the original two sets, which were not), and never quite felt either as soft or as hygroscopic as the Target sheets.
2 years ago, I bought a set of cotton-lyocell sheets from Ikea (I don't remember which of the two it was... one was 40-60, one was 60-40... I bought the set that was ~$5 cheaper), but they were another huge disappointment because they just aren't soft. At all. And the way Ikea skimped on the fold-over edge trim just feels... cheap.
For years, I've desperately tried to find new sheets that are exactly like the ones I got from Target. The problem is, aside from knowing that they were 60/40 cotton-modal and non-stretchy, I really don't know how to describe them... or what to even search for when looking online for replacements. Any ideas?