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Terry cloth (left) versus microfiber fabric (right)
Terry cloth and microfiber fabric are two of the most useful fabrics around. They&#;re both similar in many regards, as each is super durable and comes in a variety of colors. But you might be asking yourself, &#;what&#;s the difference between terry cloth and microfiber fabric?&#; We hear this question all the time, and it&#;s one we never get tired of answering.
Here at Shannon Fabrics, we specialize in a type of microfiber fabric called minky fabric (Cuddle® is our brand name), and we also offer terry cloth in several different colors, textures and weights. Despite offering both types of fabric to our customers, our first priority is to give you all the information you need to decide what&#;s best for you.
And while it&#;s likely either microfiber fabric or terry cloth will fit your project in mind, we realize they&#;re not a fit for everything. We want you to feel excited about sewing, and that starts with finding the right fabric &#; no matter what you decide.
Let&#;s first give you a little more context by defining terry cloth and microfiber fabric.
Microfiber fabric, also known as plush fabric or minky (Cuddle®) fabric, is made from 100% polyester fibers that are knitted into fabrics of varying weights and pile heights. Most minky fabric is one-sided, meaning the plusher, fur-like texture is only on the top side.
READ MORE: What is Minky Fabric? (Material, Textures, & Projects)
Terry cloth, also known as terry toweling, is a fabric generally made from 100% cotton that is covered in tiny loops designed to be both highly absorbent and soft to the touch. There are three main types of terry cloth &#; terry cloth (towel terry), French terry and terry velour.
READ MORE: What is Terry Cloth? (Materials, Colors & Projects)
Despite selling each of these fabrics, we admit both terry cloth and microfiber have their own unique pros and cons. Here are a few criteria we&#;ll take a closer look at:
- Cost
- Versatility
- Durability
- Care Instructions
- Construction
- Textures/Colors
- Issues
Terry Cloth vs. Microfiber Fabric: A Side-By-Side Comparison
Microfiber Fabric vs. Terry Cloth Fabric Cost
Depending on which brand or manufacturer you purchase from, both microfiber fabric and terry cloth prices can vary dramatically. This is mostly due to the fact that both are available in a wide range of styles, and factors such as country of origin and quality are also taken into account.
To keep things easy, the most basic minky plush fabric is usually a simple solid, and this entry-level minky fabric can be priced from $10/yard at retail to $20/yard at retail.
READ MORE: 7 Must-Try Terry Cloth Sewing Tips
Terry cloth is a bit simpler to price out, and a plain option generally ranges from $8/yard at retail to $18/yard at retail and greatly depends on the weight.
Versatility
Both microfiber fabric and terry cloth are two super-versatile fabrics with many overlaps regarding best uses.
Microfiber (minky) fabrics are surprisingly durable, and their heavier weight and higher pile have quickly been adopted by quilters and sewists for their cozy, ultra-soft feel with no break-in period. Minky fabrics are suitable for anything from apparel and baby products, to quilting, home decor, pet accessories, stuffed animals and more.
READ MORE: 9 Best Sewing Projects and Uses for Minky Fabric
Softness, durability and absorption are terry cloth&#;s stand-out features, and these features lend themselves to high-use applications. Popular terry cloth projects range from burp cloths, baby bibs, beach blankets, and bath and kitchen towels, to loungewear, beachwear and robes. Terry cloth pairs well with other fabrics (including microfiber fabrics), and is popular among embroiderers as well.
Durability
Despite being made through two different techniques (knitted vs. woven), both microfiber fabric and terry cloth are about as durable as fabric gets.
Since microfiber (minky) fabric is made with 100% polyester fibers, it&#;s great for rough-and-tumble applications that will be subjected to serious wear. This includes quilt bindings and home decor pieces, as well as jackets, scarves and hats.
READ MORE: How Much Does Terry Cloth Cost? A Guide to Terry Cloth Prices
If you&#;re looking for a fabric that absorbs moisture, terry cloth edges out microfiber fabric by a wide margin. The looped pile increases its surface area, allowing the fabric to absorb over 20 times its weight in liquid. Terry cloth is actually stronger when wet, and it makes perfect sense why it&#;s used anywhere from car washes to restaurants (and don&#;t forget at home as baby bibs and bath towels, too).
Care Instructions
Microfiber fabric is made with 100% polyester fibers, so you don&#;t have to worry about it fading or shrinking when run through the wash. It&#;s just fine in the washing machine as long as you wash on gentle (and cold) with laundry soap that doesn&#;t contain bleach. Drying is a bit more complicated process, as the dryer can melt the fibers or unravel the heat-set embossed designs if the wrong settings are used. It&#;s easy to prevent &#; simply throw your microfiber fabric in the dryer on low heat for 10 minutes to tumble, then remove and hang dry.
READ MORE: Minky Fabric vs. Fleece Fabric: A Side-By-Side Comparison
Are you interested in learning more about microfiber terry stripe cloth? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Terry cloth is a bit more machine-friendly. Note that because it&#;s made with cotton, terry cloth will shrink during the first couple cycles. For everyday use, terry cloth can be washed with like colors in warm water in the washing machine, and dried on medium heat in the dryer.
Construction
This is where terry cloth and microfiber differ greatly. While each is plenty durable and supple, they&#;re made in two completely different ways.
Microfiber (minky) fabric is made from 100% polyester fibers that are knitted, and most minky fabric has the plush feel on only one side. Minky comes in several different widths, weights and pile heights depending on the collection.
READ MORE: 9 Best Sewing Projects and Uses for Terry Cloth Fabric
Unlike microfiber fabric, terry cloth is a woven fabric generally made with cotton. It&#;s woven using two warp beams, comprised of the ground warp that creates the base fabric and the pile warp that creates the uncut loop piles that stand up on the base fabric. The &#;plush&#; feel of the fabric is determined by how long and dense the loop piles are, and two-sided terry cloth is the most popular style.
Textures/Colors
Terry cloth is available in three main varieties, terry cloth (towel terry), French terry and terry velour. Terry cloth (towel terry) is the variety we&#;re all familiar with &#; it&#;s what we usually use on a daily basis as a towel or washcloth. French terry and terry velour are similar in that the looped surface is only on one side, but unlike French terry, the backside of terry velour has a luxurious velvety look and feel. Waffle terry adds an additional texture that features a grid-like pattern covering the surface.
Color-wise, white terry cloth is easily the most popular option on the market, but it also can be found in a wide range of solid colors to match any decor.
We&#;re not knocking terry cloth here &#; it has a distinct, cozy feel we all enjoy on a daily basis &#; but microfiber fabric takes the cake if you&#;re looking for a variety of textures.
Microfiber (minky) fabric is available in several different embossed options, including marble, paisley vine, arrow, dimple, and our personal favorite, rose. These embossed textures are heat-set into the minky fabric during manufacturing, and not only do they add a more stimulating feel you won&#;t be able to keep your hands off of, but they make any sewing project more visually interesting with their depth and design, too. The sky&#;s the limit as far as microfiber colors go &#; this fabric can be found from simple solids, to one-off custom digital prints.
Issues
As with any fabric, both terry cloth and microfiber fabric aren&#;t without their issues. Luckily, using the right techniques can mitigate many of these concerns.
Microfiber (minky) fabrics stretch because they&#;re knit fabrics, and this can present somewhat of a learning curve when sewing. Minky is one of our most popular collections here at Shannon Fabrics, so we&#;ve addressed this stretching issue in our post, Top 5 Minky Plush Fabric Problems, Concerns & Solutions, where we also answer other common minky questions (such as &#;does minky fabric shrink?&#; and &#;is minky baby-friendly?&#;).
Terry cloth stretches less than microfiber fabrics, but like microfiber fabrics, it&#;s notorious for shedding when cut. This is an easy fix &#; simply gather your cut pieces and throw them in the dryer with a damp washcloth for 10-or-so minutes. The lint trap will catch all your pieces, and you&#;ll won&#;t clog your sewing machine with fuzz!
READ MORE: Top 5 Terry Cloth Problems, Concerns & Solutions
As mentioned above, terry cloth also shrinks because it&#;s usually made with 100% cotton. Be sure to wash and dry your terry cloth pieces to pre-shrink them before incorporating them into your next sewing project. This is especially important if you&#;re mixing materials. Click here to read more about terry cloth problems and solutions.
Next Steps
As you can tell already, terry cloth and microfiber (minky) fabrics are two of our favorite fabrics to work with. They&#;re plenty durable, available in virtually endless color options and work well in a wide range of sewing projects.
READ MORE: The 5 Best Terry Cloth Wholesalers (Reviews/Ratings)
But before making a decision, step back and reflect on some of the criteria listed above. What terry cloth or microfiber fabric features are most important for you and your business? If you&#;re unsure, or would like to learn more, don&#;t hesitate to call our team of friendly, no-pressure customer service associates at 323.234..
We have more than a million yards of fabric in stock, and we&#;re more than happy to help educate on a one-on-one basis to make sure you find the right fit. Also, be sure to check out our extensive library of free educational resources, including tutorials and patterns for microfiber fabric and terry cloth.
Ready to get to work? Use our store locator to find terry cloth or microfiber fabric for your next sewing project near you!
Terry cloth and microfiber towels both have legitimate uses in many business applications. Terry cloth is highly absorbent, affordable and luxuriantly soft. Microfiber is hypoallergenic and can be an excellent material for use on sensitive surfaces such as glass. Both materials also come in many varieties, so a company can target the qualities it most wants in a towel.
The Basics of Terry Cloth Towels
The term terry cloth refers to a broad group of fabrics that can be made of a variety of materials at several weights, making it sometimes difficult to discuss because one type of terry cloth can have different properties than another. One universal trait of different types of terry cloth is the tiny loops that cover the material, helping make the cloth feel soft and keeping it absorbent. It is a common material for use in towels.
Benefits
Terry cloth tends to be durable. It is generally made from cotton and sometimes also infused with silk, linen or polyester fibers. This material is highly absorbent, generally able to soak up over 20 times its weight in water; therefore, it frequently serves as the primary towel material in towels for washing or drying surfaces or keeping a user dry, such as a baby&#;s bib.
Drawbacks
Terry cloth is made of cotton. Although cotton can be grown sustainably, it generally isn&#;t. Typical cotton production processes involve significant amounts of water, fertilizers and pesticides, causing major soil erosion and pollution problems worldwide. However, it&#;s possible to greatly reduce the environmental impact of cotton if it&#;s properly sourced using green practices, reducing its environmental impact.
One way a company can confirm whether a source is using green practices is to inquire as to whether the source is part of the Better Cotton Initiative. This is a program that focuses on companies producing cotton under the Better Cotton Standard, a set of guidelines that make cotton production more ethical and sustainable.
The Basics of Microfiber Towels
Microfiber towels are made of synthetic fibers. Microfibers are thin, measuring about one-fifth the width of a human hair. Typically, these fibers are made of polyester, but they may also be mixed with nylon to make them more water-repellent and strengthen the material. Less commonly, these fibers can be made from rayon, which gives them a silky quality.
Benefits
Microfiber towels can have a variety of qualities similar to terry cloth in variety of material, depending on the specific substances and methods used to create it. It can be especially strong, soft, water-absorbent or water-repellent. One major benefit of microfiber towels is that they are lint-free and tend to be effective at removing dirt from surfaces.
Microfiber towels can dry quickly and are less mildew-prone than traditional cotton towels. Microfiber is also hypoallergenic and unlikely to damage sensitive surfaces such as glass or some electronic devices.
Drawbacks
Microfiber needs to dry with some care because high temperatures can cause it to melt. If this occurs, the damage is typically permanent, locking in wrinkles and potentially making the towel unusable.
As with any material using polyester, microfiber production and use raises some significant environmental concerns, including potentially introducing microplastics into nearby water sources &#; the exact cost of which still isn&#;t understood. Polyester also involves the use of nonrenewable materials, notably petroleum. Although it&#;s possible to produce biodegradable polyester, this isn&#;t typical.
Choosing the Right Option for Your Company
Whether microfiber or terry cloth towels might best serve your company&#;s needs is a question with no single right answer. Complicating the question further is the diversity of materials. To find an option that works for your needs, you will need to identify what you&#;re looking for in your towels. Terry cloth towels are potentially highly absorbent, but so are microfiber towels. One unique advantage of microfiber towels is their hypoallergenic quality, but this is arguably offset by the significant environmental concerns regarding their production.
If you&#;re interested in this topic, we&#;ve written more broadly on the differences between microfiber and cotton towels in the past. If you&#;re debating whether to choose microfiber or terry cloth towels, our article will also help you decide whether other types of cotton towels might also serve your needs.
Both terry cloth and microfiber towels can serve a business well. Many businesses benefit from having a mix of both types of towels, allowing them to best use the benefits of both materials. At the very least, a business will want to have a hypoallergenic option available for clients or employees who cannot use cotton-based towels.
If you&#;d like help equipping your company with towels, consider using Alsco Uniforms. Through our rental services, your company can obtain towels, washcloths, napkins and more.
With over 130 years of experience, we at Alsco Uniforms deliver high-quality items to customers quickly and efficiently while staying green, with a sophisticated laundering system that cleans better with less chemical waste and water usage. We&#;re happy to discuss how we can best fulfill your company&#;s needs. Contact us today to learn more.
References
Cotton. WWF.
Our Manifesto. Better Cotton.
What Is Microfiber? (July ). The Spruce.
What is Terry Cloth? (Materials, Colors & Projects). (August ). Shannon Fabrics.
Want more information on terry cloth fabric wholesale? Feel free to contact us.