Cotton Terry Cloth

• Open toe terry slippers
  
  The majority of terry cloth is made with cotton. Manufactures choose cotton because, unlike other materials that get weaker in water, cotton's absorbent fiber gets stronger when wet. Cotton can also be sanitized in hot water, using both bleach and detergent, without harm. Loop pile not only acts like sponges, but also can withstand rubbing, pulling, twisting and tugging. Another bonus to using cotton is that it can absorb 27 times its own weight in water.
  
  

History of Terry Cloth

• Terry cloth towel set
  
  The very first terry cloth was made in 1841 in France, out of silk. By 1845 in England, John Bright had begun making worsted terry cloth. In 1848 the first terry cloth was made out of cotton in England by Samuel Holt. Holt then patented the process in England and the United States. In 1864, Holt left London and came to the United States, where he opened a plant in New Jersey to manufacture the cotton terry cloth. Within two years, the company had sold the patents to the cotton terry cloth for $250,000.
  
  

How Terry Cloth Is Produced

• Terry cloth has to first be made into a fabric, and is done through warping and weaving. Longitudinal threads are warped across a beam while at the same time latitudinal threads are woven over and under them. Manufactures use coatings of starch or wax to make the warp threads easier to weave. Terry cloth can only be woven using two warp beams; the ground warp is used to form the base of the towel while the pile warp is used to create the loops of thread that produce the texture and function.
  
  

Benefits of Terry Cloth

• The terry cloth has benefits for manufacturers and consumers. Manufacturers find that cotton gives them flexibility to dye, allowing them to offer terry cloth products in several colors. For consumers it is easy to clean, can withstand high temperatures, and does not shrink with washing. Terry cloth is light, washable, comfortable and, most importantly, absorbent.
  
  

Made From Terry Cloth

• The most common items made out of terry cloth include towels, bath robes, and beach cover ups. In recent years, terry cloth has been used in clothing and exercise wear. Many people purchase terry cloth towels and bath robes because they are more absorbent than the average towel or robe.