Cotton flower bouquet. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
My investigation into cotton started with a cotton flower bouquet sent to my family in Singapore by my family in London, England. This bouquet arrived with the stems wrapped in what looked like a piece of brown sackcloth. I thought, 'That's strange. Not a bit like a British bouquet of flowers.'
My family in Singapore looked at it and said, "That is not real cotton. It must be dyed in those colours, lavender and pale blue."
Over a week later I look out one of the cotton stalks and inspected it to see if it was living and needed water, or plastic. Hard to tell. It looked like the top was separate from the stalk.
Then I noticed that the four balls were divided by some kind of husk or imitation husk. At this point I decided to find out what cotton really looks like when it is growing. I found lots of pictures on Google internet by mistake and then found the page I was looking for in Wikipedia, which provides an overview, not just a website selling something. Wikipedia also has several handy links to back up each point.
The major surprise for me was that the piece of sackcloth is or represents woven stiff brown linen which, like even rougher hessian, is made from the cotton plant.
Now I know why sellers of cotton clothes (such as Patra silk) sell linen clothes. Linen is related to cotton, possibly the same factory or same exporter or same country. Same supplier. Also for those in the know, linen like cotton is a natural product, unlike synthetics.
If you are not bothered about real cotton, you can buy artificial cotton flowers. Not the real thing. But needs no watering. No water to breed mosquitoes and go off fast in Singapore tropical weather.
Very interesting to learn about cotton. But, next time, in Singapore like in London, I shall ask for potted plants, a plant which is edible, such as a tomato plant, or orchids.
Looking at cotton flowers made me think of cotton clothes.
COTTON CLOTHES
Regarding buying clothes, look for cotton or a cotton mix.
You can buy online hunting for cotton, such as from Cotton Traders. You can search without giving this company your email, although you might wish to do so to take advantage of their 10% welcome sign up now offer. You get the pop up offer on signing into the site and leaving it.
Underwear
Cotton underwear is more breathable, and you may prefer it to prevent or cure thrush. If a product is 95 per cent cotton and five per cent elastane, that could be because of the elastic around the waistband and legs. Available from cottonon.
Bedding
When it comes to buying bedding you might wish to look for more expensive Egyptian cotton or a closer weave meaning smoother fabric, harder wearing and less inclined to fray. With sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases as with clothes, you might want to consider whether you want non-iron (roughly half cotton and half synthetics provides a non-iron fabric - check the label. I find many cotton items can be pulled straight and don't need ironing (when worn under a jacket or coat), unless you want them to look crisp.
When searching online for clothes, either put the word cotton in the search box or scroll down until you see fabrics and click on cotton.
The advantage of cotton is that, if you don't like the colour or pattern, you can dye the fabric and it absorbs the colour well.
For cheap cotton t-shirts and other garments, go to the markets.
Or pick cheap shops.
DIY
Mercerised Cotton Sewing thread
Mercerised cotton is named after the man who invented the process. It is cotton thread with a shiny outside or covering.
For example,
Singapore:
Flowers:
https://floralgaragesg.com/product/joy/
ARTIFICIAL COTTON PLANT
https://www.jjshouse.com/Simple-Classic-Nice-Beautiful-Flower-Cotton-Artificial-Flowers-
Clothes
Mustapha's 24 hour department store.
Toa Payoh near Toa Payoh MRT station - lots of small shops and kiosks. Check labels for cotton.
UK
Primark.
Many supermarkets sell clothes with different and larger collections in summer and at sale time. They also sell online.
Marks & Spencers online sells cotton full brief and bras.
If you are not bothered about real cotton, you can buy artificial cotton flowers. Not the real thing. But needs no watering. No water to breed mosquitoes and go off fast in Singapore tropical weather.
Very interesting to learn about cotton. But, next time, in Singapore like in London, I shall ask for potted plants, a plant which is edible, such as a tomato plant, or orchids.
Looking at cotton flowers made me think of cotton clothes.
COTTON CLOTHES
Regarding buying clothes, look for cotton or a cotton mix.
You can buy online hunting for cotton, such as from Cotton Traders. You can search without giving this company your email, although you might wish to do so to take advantage of their 10% welcome sign up now offer. You get the pop up offer on signing into the site and leaving it.
Underwear
Cotton underwear is more breathable, and you may prefer it to prevent or cure thrush. If a product is 95 per cent cotton and five per cent elastane, that could be because of the elastic around the waistband and legs. Available from cottonon.
Bedding
When it comes to buying bedding you might wish to look for more expensive Egyptian cotton or a closer weave meaning smoother fabric, harder wearing and less inclined to fray. With sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases as with clothes, you might want to consider whether you want non-iron (roughly half cotton and half synthetics provides a non-iron fabric - check the label. I find many cotton items can be pulled straight and don't need ironing (when worn under a jacket or coat), unless you want them to look crisp.
When searching online for clothes, either put the word cotton in the search box or scroll down until you see fabrics and click on cotton.
The advantage of cotton is that, if you don't like the colour or pattern, you can dye the fabric and it absorbs the colour well.
For cheap cotton t-shirts and other garments, go to the markets.
Or pick cheap shops.
DIY
Mercerised Cotton Sewing thread
Mercerised cotton is named after the man who invented the process. It is cotton thread with a shiny outside or covering.
Does it matter whether you sew with cotton or synthetics? Thread type should match the material, otherwise you risk the thread and garment shrinking different amounts in the washing machine.
If you are sewing on a button and want a matching colour thread, and matching fabric to look right and avoid shrinkage, sometimes it is possible to pull a suitable length strand from the seam of the garment, or a piece cut off the hem when shortening.
For example,
Singapore:
Flowers:
https://floralgaragesg.com/product/joy/
ARTIFICIAL COTTON PLANT
https://www.jjshouse.com/Simple-Classic-Nice-Beautiful-Flower-Cotton-Artificial-Flowers-
Clothes
Mustapha's 24 hour department store.
Toa Payoh near Toa Payoh MRT station - lots of small shops and kiosks. Check labels for cotton.
UK
Primark.
Many supermarkets sell clothes with different and larger collections in summer and at sale time. They also sell online.
Marks & Spencers online sells cotton full brief and bras.
Useful Websites
Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturally_colored_cotton
For information on satin-look mercerized thread, see
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerised_cotton
Britannica
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturally_colored_cotton
For information on satin-look mercerized thread, see
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerised_cotton
Britannica
Clothes:
About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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