Hi,

I am a weaver in Australia who is in a pickle over cotton. I want to weave some tea towels, and the only "local" cotton I can find is Bockens. Having purchased many cones and woven several sample tea towels I am really disappointed with the results. The cotton, particularly the non bleached cones, are very "fluffy" and even after being washed (in the washing machine) and pressed, they "shed" fibres on the items I am trying to dry.

My only solution is to try and find a supplier overseas and import some different cotton.

Due to the horrid exchange rate, and the international postage costs, I was hoping that someone might be able to recommend a particular supplier, or particular brand of cotton.

Any and all information would be very much appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this

Happy Weaving

Belinda

 

Comments

Sat, 06/27/2015 - 11:47

Erica J

I have nomidea who t o recommend, but I hope the titie of my reply will catch the right eyes.

Good luck,

Erica

Sat, 06/27/2015 - 13:26

Michael White

Belinda,

I sell UKI/Supreme cotton and have shipped to AU, The basic price is ok but as you know shipping to AU is a killer. Let me check with the plant to see if someone is retailing it in AU. You can read about UKI yarn here on Weavo and also about the Georgia Yarn Company. You can also see a ton of towels here: www.handweaver.us  my wifes web site

Michael

www.gayarnco.com

 

Sat, 06/27/2015 - 23:19

hopeful weaver

Hi Erica and Michael,

Thank you for your input and help. I have my fingers crossed that one day soon there will be a shipment of cotton and the result will be dozens of tea towels :0)

Many thanks and happy weaving

Belinda

Sun, 06/28/2015 - 07:55

louiseinoz

Hi Belinda

I'm in Australia too so understand your problem.  I've bought UKI 8/2 from the US and have not had any problems making tea towels with it. They improve with age and a few washes, maybe leave a bit of fluff behind at first.

Your query prompted me to look at the differences in cost once postage and the exchange rate are taken into account.  In both the US and Australia the heavier the parcel, the lower the price per kilo.  As well some suppliers give a discount for orders over a certain size and unbleached is cheaper than bleached is cheaper than dyed.

There were so many variables I was moved to put it all on a spread sheet, PM me if you would like a copy.  My conclusion is that if you buy enough to make a 5 or 10 kg parcel, the price per kg is around A$50 to A$70, depending on the size of the parcel, the colour of the yarn, the suppliers price (including discounts if the order is large enough) and the exchange rate.  At least there's no GST on it and I believe that customs are not worried by parcels that size, and if it's more than 10 kg, it's a bit hard to carry home from the post office.  It also make more sense to buy larger parcels less often

There is another way - my very generous US relatives have worked out, with a little prompting, that a gift voucher to a yarn store is a great present, and it comes in US dollars.  I have one sitting there, still trying to decide whether to buy the Texsolv that I really need or more yarn

Mon, 06/29/2015 - 12:27

Michael White

I guess you got your answer this morning. No, UKI/Supreme retailer in AU