Introduction to fabrics: Terry Cloth / Towelling

It’s just so cosy, it feels soft on your skin, and babies love it: Terry cloth or towelling. The fabrics experts at myfabrics.co.uk will tell you how it manages to stay so soft and what to do in case you have problems using it for your projects:

The fabric:
Towelling is woven with a loop yarn in the pick and normal chain. There are also towelling fabrics for which the loop is formed during the weaving process. This more elaborate manufacturing process of towelling is noticeable in terms of pricing, since these are more expensive. Both types are used primarily for hand towels and bathrobes and for applications that require high absorbency. Both varieties consist mainly of cotton, but these may consist of a mixture of polyamide or other microfibres. The drying time especially can be effected by this.

Care tips:
Here’s a tip for people with hard washing water: Terry cloth forms lime scale over time, and this makes it hard and scratchy. If it is allowed to soak for a few hours (e.g. over night) in a mixture of three parts warm water and one part household vinegar, then the lime scale will dissolve. Wash the fabric normally following this.

Production tips:
Depending on the fineness of the fabric, a medium to course needle thickness (75 to 90) is recommended. If the loops on the fabric become problematic during sewing and hang on the needle or on the foot, then thin wrapping paper or baking paper helps. Simply attach this to the fabric with pushpins and sew over with a stitch length of 2 to 3. Once the seam is finished, the paper can simply be torn off. If shreds of the paper won’t remove so easily, then they will disappear in a week at the latest.

» Terry Cloth / Towelling at myfabrics.co.uk

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