Making one washcloth with each cotton and testing for washability and absorbency.

Favorites:

• Knit Picks Simply Cotton (all colors discontinued, only comes in natural) - very soft, tightly spun cotton. Quickly absorbent and very absorbent.
• Bernat Handicrafter - highest performing kitchen cotton. Quickly absorbent, very absorbent. This looks and performs very similarly to Sugar n’ Cream, Peaches and Creme, and the new Lion Cotton. The old Lion Cotton and Peaches & Creme are also very good, and more uniformly spun, if you can find them.
• Cascade Ultra Pima - favorite mercerized cotton. Very soft, smooth, quickly absorbent.
• Knit Picks Shine - best performing of the cotton blends. Very soft, quickly absorbent.
• Any chenille or spiral ply cotton is excellent for maximum softness and absorbency. Spiral ply can be a little squeaky to work with, and it tends to pill. Chenille can worm, but it holds up to washing better. Neither are as durable in the long term as less-soft yarns.

The properties that had the most effect on absorbency were fiber type and type of ply. Non-mercerized 100% cotton performed the best; and spiral ply and boucle performed the best.

For more detailed results, scroll to the bottom.

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Method:

Knitted a washcloth of about the same size. Noted feel. Washed 3 times in top-loading washer on regular cold cycle, and dried on low. Used Country Save detergent only. Noted appearance, weighed dry, tested speed of absorbency by dropping cloths flat into large bowl of cold water. Let sit in water overnight. Drained each cloth for 15 minutes and weighed wet.

Scoured: For every 4 oz dry material, I combined 1 gal water, 2 tsp washing soda, and 2 tsp dish soap. Brought up to a boil, added cloths, and simmered for 2 hours.

Ran through a regular load of laundry and tumble dried. Noted appearance, weighed dry, tested speed of absorbency as before, drained for 15 minutes and weighed wet.

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Data:

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I made these a while ago and they were washed many times before testing.

Coats Creme de la Creme: #7 tips ~ lavender

• Made in China
• Twist angle: ~33’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 49g dry, 237g wet. (4.8x) scoured - abs. in 10 sec. 48g dry, 209g wet (4.4x)

Knit Picks Dishie: #7 tips ~ yellow

• Made in India
• Twist angle: ~30’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 2 sec. 26g dry, 114g wet. (4.4x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec. 26g dry, 107g wet (4.1x)

Knit Picks Simply Cotton: #7 tips ~ grass green

• Made in Peru. Organic. Colors are discontinued.
• Twist angle: ~30’, 4 singles, non mercerized, discontinued
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - average, scoured - soft
• Durability: washed - slightly more pilling than S&C, no fading. scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 3 sec, 26g dry, 153g wet. (5.9x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 27g dry, 136g wet (5.0x)

Lily Sugar’n’Cream: #7 tips ~ green, purple, magenta

• Spun and dyed in Canada with USA grown cotton
• Twist angle: ~28’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - average, washed - average, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & fading, scoured - significant fading, worst of the lot
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 4 sec. 27g dry, 146g wet. (5.4x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec. 26g dry, 136g wet (5.2x)

Lion Cotton (old): #7 tips ~ black, blue, green

• Made in USA start to finish. Discontinued.
• Twist angle: ~25’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - avg, washed - avg, scoured - avg
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: scoured - abs. in 1 sec. 27g dry, 137g wet (5.1x)

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Newly knitted cottons - washed 3 times for testing

Aunt Lydia’s Fashion Crochet size 3: #3 tips, teal

• Made in Hungary
• Twist angle: ~35’, 2 singles, mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 22 sec, 26g dry, 74g wet. (2.8x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec. 27g dry, 109g wet (4.0x)

Bernat Cottontot: #7 tips, blue/green/brown

• Made in Canada. Discontinued.
• Twist angle: ~25’, spiral plied 2 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & no fading, scoured - significant fading
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 29g dry, 161g wet. (5.6x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 27g dry, 160g wet (5.9x)

Bernat Handicrafter: #7 tips ~ green, cyan, white

• Spun and dyed in Canada with USA grown cotton
• Twist angle: 25’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - avg
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 60 sec, 25g dry, 150g wet (6x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 25g dry, 135g wet (5.4x)

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton: #7 tips ~ tan/cream marl

• Made in Peru. Organic.
• Twist angle: ~22’, 2 singles, non-mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling & no fading, scoured - pilling, brown darkened
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 29g dry, 140g wet (4.8x) scoured - abs. in 22sec but remained floating, 29g dry, 172g wet (5.9x)

Cascade Ultra Pima: #5 tips ~ yellow

• Made in Peru
• Twist angle: ~27’, 4 singles, mercerized
• Softness: initial - soft, washed - soft, scoured - soft
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 28g dry, 119g wet (4.3x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 28g dry, 122g wet (4.3x)

Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton: #7 tips ~ pale blue

• Made in Italy. Organic, fair trade. Discontinued.
• Twist angle: ~23’, cable plied 16 2-ply strands, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - avg, washed - avg, scoured - avg
• Durability: washing - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 28g dry, 148g wet (5.3x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 27g dry, 134g wet (5.0x)

Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy: #3 tips, charcoal

• Made in Italy
• Twist angle: ~25’, cable plied 2 4-ply strands, blend
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 19g dry, 78g wet (4.1x) scoured - abs. in 60 sec, 19g dry, 76g wet (4.0x)

Henry’s Attic Aztec Boucle: #5 tips ~ natural green

• Made in Peru. Organic.
• Twist angle: ~30’, 2 cable plied strands, boucle, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling & color darkened, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 21g dry, 129g wet (6.1x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 24g dry, 118g wet (5.6x)

Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton: #7 tips ~ spring green

• Made in Turkey
• Twist angle: ~25’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 22g dry, 138g wet (6.3x) scoured - abs. in 60 sec, 23g dry, 119g wet (5.2x), 2nd scour - abs. in 15 sec, 22g dry, 131g wet (6.0x)

Knit Picks Cotlin: #5 tips, black

• Made in Peru
• Twist angle: ~23’, 4 singles, blend
• Softness: initial - soft, washed - soft, scoured - mod soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 23g dry, 129g wet (5.6x) scoured - abs. in 60 sec, 23g dry, 115g wet (5.0x)

Knit Picks Shine: #7 tips ~ dark green

• Made in Peru
• Twist angle: ~25’, 4 singles, blend
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling, no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 47 sec, 31g dry, 147g wet (4.7x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec, 31g dry, 140g wet (4.5x)

Lion Kitchen Cotton (new): #7 tips ~ sounder blue

• Dyed in USA, spun in Canada, USA grown cotton
• Twist angle: ~22’, 4 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - avg, washed - avg, scoured - avg
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 28g dry, 155g wet (5.5x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec, 29g dry, 160g wet (5.5x)

Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton: #7 tips, spring green

• Made in USA of imported fibers. Organic.
• Twist angle: ~20’, spiral ply 2 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling, no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 55 sec, 35g dry, 221g wet. (6.3x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec, 36g dry, 201g wet (5.6x)

Lunatic Fringe American Maid 3/2: #1 tips ~ natural green

• Made in USA with USA cotton. Organic.
• Twist angle: ~20’, 2 singles, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - soft, washed - soft, scoured - soft
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & color darkened, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 25g dry, 121g wet (4.8x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 24g dry, 116g wet (4.8x)

Lunatic Fringe American Maid 4 Ply: #5 tips ~ natural green

• Made in USA with USA cotton. Organic.
• Twist angle: ~10’, cable plied 4 2-ply strands, non mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling & color darkened, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 23g dry, 101g wet, (4.4x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 24g dry, 111g wet (4.6x)

Plymouth Fantasy Naturale: #7 tips ~ lime/blue

• Made in Brazil
• Twist angle: ~17’, cable plied 4 2-ply strands, mercerized
• Softness: initial - average, washed - average, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - slight fading
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 34g dry, 174g wet (5.1x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec, 35g dry, 163g wet (4.7x)

Queensland Collection Bebe Cotsoy: #5 tips ~ light blue

• Made in China. Discontinued.
• Twist angle: ~27’, 4 singles, blend
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 27g dry, 128g wet (4.7x) scoured - floated >1 min, 27g dry, 114g wet (4.2x)

Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit: #3 tips, navy blue

• Made in Norway
• Twist angle: ~20’, cable plied 7 2-ply strands, mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - somewhat soft
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 17g dry, 96g wet (5.6x) scoured - abs. in 60 sec, 18g dry, 84g wet (4.7x)

Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania Solids: #5 tips ~ black

• Made in Hungary. Rebranded but same stuff.
• Twist angle: ~30’, 4 singles, mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - avg, scoured - mod soft
• Durability: washed - slight pilling & no fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 24g dry, 108g wet (4.5x) scoured - abs. in 2 sec, 25g dry, 119g wet (4.8x)

Tahki Cotton Classic: #7 tips ~ sounders green

• Made in Greece
• Twist angle: ~22’, cable plied 4 2-ply strands, mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - avg
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - abs. in 60 sec, 32g dry, 154g wet (4.8x) scoured - abs. in 3 sec, 33g dry, 132g wet (4.0x)

Universal Yarns Cotton Supreme: #7 tips ~ dark green

• Made in Turkey
• Twist angle: ~24’, 4 singles, non-mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - very soft
• Durability: washed - some pilling & no fading, scoured - pilling, no fading
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 23g dry, 116g wet (5x) scoured - abs. in 50 sec but still floating , 23g dry, 124g wet (5.4x)

Wellington Cotton Kitchen Twine: #7 tips ~ natural

• Twist angle: ~29’, 21 singles, non-mercerized
• Softness: initial - hard, washed - hard, scoured - hard
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - same
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 57g dry, 230g wet (4x) scoured -abs. in 35 sec , 68g dry, 234g wet (3.4x)

Yarntopia Treasures Cotton Chenille: #7 tips ~ gold overdyed with indigo

• Made in USA
• Twist angle: N/A, chenille, non-mercerized
• Softness: initial - very soft, washed - very soft, scoured - soft
• Durability: washed - no pilling or fading, scoured - indigo mostly gone, original color remains
• Absorbency: washed - floated >1 min, 13g dry, 75g wet (5.8x) scoured - abs. in 1 sec, 13g dry, 82g wet (6.3x)

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Results:

The strongest correlation was between type of ply and absorbency, looking at 100% cotton yarns only. The single chenille yarn absorbed water in 1 sec and absorbed 6.3x its weight, and the single boucle yarn absorbed water in 1 sec and absorbed 5.6x its weight. On average, spiral plied yarns absorbed water in 1.5 sec and absorbed 5.75x their weight. 2-ply yarns absorbed water in 8 sec and absorbed 4.9x their weight. 4-ply yarns absorbed water in 18 sec and absorbed 4.9x their weight. The cable plied yarns absorbed water in 21 sec and absorbed 4.7x their weight. The single 21-ply yarn absorbed water in 35 sec and absorbed 3.4x its weight in water.

There was also a correlation between fiber type and absorbency. The difference between mercerized and non-mercerized cottons was non-significant, but the presence of non-cotton plant fibers decreased absorption speed significantly. On average, the non-mercerized 100% cottons absorbed water in 11 sec and absorbed 5.1x their weight in water. Mercerized 100% cotton absorbed water in 12 sec and absorbed 4.4x their weight. Blends of cotton with rayon or linen absorbed cotton in 45 sec and absorbed 4.4x their weight.

There was no correlation between twist angle and absorbency, either in speed or amount. There was no correlation between softness and absorbency.

Absorbed fastest: Knit Picks Dishie (1 sec), Knit Picks Simply Cotton (1 sec), Lily Sugar n’ Cream (1 sec), Lion Cotton (old) (1 sec), Bernat Handicrafter (1 sec), Cascade Ultra Pima (1 sec), Bernat Cottontot (1 sec), Yarntopia Cotton Chenille (1 sec), Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton (1 sec), Galler Aztec Boucle (1 sec), Lunatic Fringe American Maid 3/2 (1 sec), Lunatic Fringe American Maid 4 Ply (1 sec), Knit Picks Shine (2 sec), Lion Kitchen Cotton (new) (2 sec), Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (2 sec), Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton size 3 (2 sec), Cantania Solid (2 sec), Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (2 sec), Tahki Cotton Classic (3 sec), Coats Creme de la Creme (10 sec), Blue Sky Alpacas Cotton Worsted (22 sec), Wellington Cotton Kitchen Twine (35 sec), Universal Yarns Cotton Supreme (50 sec), Knit Picks Cotlin (60 sec or more), Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy (60 sec or more), Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton (60 sec or more), Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit (60 sec or more), Queensland Collection Bebe Cotsoy (60 sec or more)

Amount absorbed from most to least: Yarntopia Cotton Chenille (6.3x weight in water), Bernat Cottontot (5.9x), Blue Sky Alpacas Cotton Worsted (5.9x), Galler Aztec Boucle (5.6x), Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (5.6x), Lion Cotton (new) (5.5x), Bernat Handicrafter (5.4x), Universal Yarns Cotton Supreme (5.4x), Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton (5.2x), Lily Sugar n’ Cream (5.2x), Lion Cotton (old) (5.1x), Knit Picks Simply Cotton (5.0x), Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton (5.0x), Knit Picks Cotlin (5.0x), Cantania Solid (4.8x), Lunatic Fringe American Maid 3/2 (4.8x), Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit (4.7x), Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (4.7x), Lunatic Fringe American Maid 4 Ply (4.6x), KnitPicks Shine (4.5x), Coats Creme de la Creme (4.4x), Cascade Ultra Pima (4.3x), Queensland Collection Bebe Cotsoy (4.2x), Knit Picks Dishie (4.1x), Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton size 3 (4.0x), Tahki Cotton Classic (4.0x), Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy (4.0x), Wellington Cotton Kitchen Twine (3.4x)