News — weaving

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Cotton Clouds — now a mother & daughter team!  It is with great pleasure that I announce that Jodi  & Jessica Ybarra will become the new owners of Cotton Clouds, Inc.  March 1, 2021. Come Join Them! Truth be told, Jodi knows more about Cotton Clouds than I do! Over the past 35 years, Jodi Ybarra has taken over all operations of ordering, shipping, product development and a natural way of treating customers with compassion and kindness.    I am very proud of her!  If you haven’t spoken or emailed Jodi yet you’ll be in for a treat. She’s a self-taught...

Hi fellow Rigid Heddle Weavers! I’m back to let you know how my next project in the Rigid Heddle Kit-of-the-Month Club is going. This might just be the most fun I have ever had weaving on my Rigid Heddle Loom! These placemats are perfect for everyday use!  These  Everyday Placemats wove up so quick and easy with such great results! Start by winding the Rug Filler on one shuttle and then the 8/4 Rug Warp on a 2nd shuttle. You will alternate these two yarns while weaving. The Rug Warp locks the Rug Filler snuggly in place. The placemats are reversible! One side will be dark while the other side is light. I love the thick,...

We cotton lovers are really quite spoiled, compared with knitters, weavers & crocheters of the past.  The 21st century has given us such a great variety of high quality cotton yarns in a never-ending rainbow of vibrant colors!  But what to choose?  That’s the big question.  Mercerized vs unmercerized–what’s the difference? Mercerized  Cotton:The modern production method for mercerized cotton, also known as “pearl” or “pearle” cotton (that’s how we got the name Pearly Perle!) , gives cotton yarn a sodium hydroxide bath that is then neutralized with an acid bath. This treatment increases lustre, strength, affinity to dye, resistance to mildew and shrinkage. Mercerized yarns more...

Spring is finally here! Though the weather may not have gotten the message in certain areas, it’s time to start thinking of BBQs, backyard parties, and warmer weather. And of course, what goes better with an evening on the patio then some gorgeous handwoven napkins? For projects like these, we recommend 8/2 Aurora Earth: A Weaver’s Best Friend. Aurora Earth is an unmercerized cotton yarn. Unmercerized cotton’s tendency to look more like natural cotton and to be very absorbent mean that it’s perfect for weaver’s favorite project – the hand towel – as well as things like napkins, breadcloths, and similar kitchen...