Hello everyone greetings from N. Ireland. My question is which yarn is best for washcloths mercerised cotton or non mercerised? Also could anyone please suggest a shark suitable for exfoliating washcloths? I would really appreciate any suggestions as I would like to begin my Christmas gifting. Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer.
This is such an awesome community and I have just joined
Welcome to KH!
Itās usually said that plain cotton is the most absorbent, but Iāve used mercerized successfully.
Iām not sure what you mean by āshark suitable for exfoliatinngāā¦?
Sorry I meant yarn suitable forcexfoliating washcloth. After researching I think itās the type of stitch pattern that does the exfoliating. Do you feel the mercerised cotton is as good as the 100% cotton
Iāve made washcloths in both plain and mercerised, overall I preferred working with plain cotton. I think mercerised might keep its colour better but Iām not sure, Iāve just heard the plain cotton (e.g. Lily Sugar & Cream) fades over time. But Iāve never seen any of the cloths Iāve gifted since I made them!
Plain cotton is absorbent as it is, but mercerised has to be ābroken inā so to speak, before it becomes more absorbent.
Thank you Jan and Shintoga for taking time to answer my question. I decided to buy unmercerised cotton after doing a little research.
And now I have another question. Which crochet stitch is best for an exfoliating washcloth?
Jan and Shintoga do you ever crochet your washcloths?
I only do basic crochet edging on my projects, so Iām not sure what crochet would be good for exfoliating Iām afraid! If it was knitting Iād have a better idea. I can look something up if youād like suggestions though. Iām at work right now but Iāll be on again when I get home.
Shintoga you are so kind and helpful. Thank you so much
No problem! I had a look, most of the patterns I saw that described the cloth as exfoliating mentioned popcorn and bobble type stitches - which I think are also quite good looking, but I think there are many other textured stitches that could work well.
Thank you so much for your help. I know bobble stitch and that will work . Happy crochet and knitting. And again thank you for your help Iām looking forward to starting when the cotton arrives
Youāre welcome, Iād love to see pics when youāre done!
I havenāt crocheted washcloths, but crochet tends to be not be a fine a stitch so it may work? Garter is also a bit bumpy.
A long time ago I made kitchen scrubbies with mesh carried with yarn. Iām not sure if that would be too rough for skin though. Itās been so long I canāt remember. Hereās a link to my original project and notes. If you click the link in the notes itāll take you to the pattern and you can see what the mesh looked like before I cut it in half.
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JanCA/kitchen-scrubbies
Yes I will Shintoga keep safe you and yours
After 50 years of knitting/crocheting with cotton yarn, and having run across 50%-50% cotton/acrylic and making a kabunch of washcloths and matching hanging, hand towels, I stopped using 100% cotton.
This cotton/acrylic blend comes in a variety of brands and can be found anywhere, actually. Cotton doesnāt work easily IMHO but the blend is nice and stretchy + absorbent and the BO is easier, again IMHO.
And, a little elbow grease applied to either cloth material will 'āexā anythingā¦as well as easily.
Buy yourself a ball of the blend and make something, youāll see.
When crocheting, I use any short stitchā¦no taller than a HDC (half double crochet).
Look up the butterfly stitchā¦learn itā¦when making those simple knit cloths, pop in a couple of these front and back, eh? Here: Check this link:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=knit+butterfly+stitch
This stitch is made over nine rows and five stitches. I widened mine, though to seven stitches.
Have fun and be safe.
Thank you Jan for your advice I appreciate you replying. I think I will follow your lead and use crochet as it is quicker also
Regards Lorna
Thank you for taking the time to reply l shall look this up