When I first ordered this set, I was highly upset. After the initial wash, they weren't soft at all. My boyfriend also insured me that I just dropped a good amount of cash on pure burlap. I know that linen material takes patience because they soften up over time. I was patient and gave them another wash after about a week. This time I used a little bit of softener while washing as well as threw a couple of tennis balls in the dryer. I don't know if that small difference ended up being the answer or if they were naturally softening, but these sheets are now softer than I ever imagined! I'm obsessed with linen now and cannot wait for the next wash. The fitted sheet became a bit stretched out after the first few nights sleeping on it and because of that, it rides up in the middle of the night. Hopefully I can shrink or tighten it.