Terrycloth

Terrycloth, terry cloth, terry towelling, terry, or simply towelling is a fabric with loops that can absorb large amounts of water. It can be manufactured by weaving or knitting, with weaving on a dobby loom the predominant commercial method, having two beams of longitudinal warp through which the filler or weft is fired laterally.^[1]

There are two types of terry fabrics:

1. Towell Terry is a [woven] fabric with long loops that can absorb large amounts of water. Its content is usually 100% cotton, but may sometimes contain polyester.
2. French Terry is a [knit] fabric, used in ladies, men's and children clothes. One of its sides is flat, while the other side is with cross loops. It is either 100% cotton or contains polyester with elastaine (lycra).

It is the length of loops that determine how much fluid is absorbed by the cloth as longer loops provide more surface area to absorb and come in contact with the fluid.

Items that may be made from terrycloth include babies’ nappies (UK English) or reusable diapers (US English), towels, bathrobes, bedlinen, and sweatbands for the wrist or head. Terrycloth is also sometimes used to make sweat jackets. Terry towelling hats with a shallow brim were once popular with cricketers (like English wicketkeeper Jack Russell) but are no longer in fashion.

An alternative fabric used for towels is waffle fabric. A modern synthetic alternative is microfiber.

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