All About Terrycloth Fabric

Terrycloth is famous for its softness and high absorbency. It is a pile fabric and often used for robes, bath towels and it may also be used to make athletic warm-ups and other accessories. It is also possible to purchase Terrycloth by the yard for the purpose of making custom robes, bath towels and other objects.

Terrycloth can be produced by knitting or weaving with weaving being the preferred commercially method. Either way, this fabric is characterized by thick, uncut loops which form a soft pile on one or both sides of the fabric. The loops increase the absorbency of the fabric by making more surface area available, but they also tend to make the fabric heavier.

Because of it high absorbency, cotton is the material of choice for terrycloth. However, it is also possible to use materials like linen, bamboo or artificial fibers which have been designed for absorbency. The level of softness varies according to the fiber used. Terrycloth can also be patterned by printing or using multicolored thread, and it can be decoratively embroidered as well.

Terrycloth is made on a special loom called a dobby loom, which allows for greater control of the tension of the threads. Industrial methods of making terrycloth have been used since the mid-1800s.