# [Choose cotton, linen and hemp](https://threadcabin.com/explore/98/choose-cotton-linen-and-hemp)

> Judge plant-fiber yarns after their intended washing and drying. Compare weight and recovery as well as initial softness.

- Canonical page: https://threadcabin.com/explore/98/choose-cotton-linen-and-hemp
- Language: en
- Published: 2026-09-25T17:26:33.1040050+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-25T17:26:38.3891772+00:00
- Primary image: [Illustration: Cotton boll, flax stems and a hemp stem beside pale spun yarn and three folded fabric samples showing distinct texture and drape.](https://threadcabin.com/images/explore/focused/plant-fibers.jpg)

Judge plant-fiber yarns after their intended washing and drying. Compare weight and recovery as well as initial softness.

## Before you start

Keep the exact labels and make two comparable samples. Change one material property at a time and use the intended finishing method on both.

## Try this example

For a bag handle, measure a finished 20 cm strip before and after carrying the intended load. Reject a comfortable yarn if the handle keeps lengthening.

## Check your result

- Compare the dry samples for recovery, surface, drape and the property needed for the project. Record observations separately from label claims.
- A fiber name or category cannot predict every finished fabric. Construction, treatment, gauge and use all affect the result.

## Sources

- [www.craftyarncouncil.com: yarn label information](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/yarn-label-information)
- [cottonworks.com: yarn spinning](https://cottonworks.com/learning-hub/yarn-manufacturing/yarn-spinning/)

[Browse editable craft templates](/crafts)

[Report a correction](/corrections).

## Sources and provenance

- [Yarn label anatomy: turn symbols and numbers into decisions](https://threadcabin.com/explore/15/yarn-label-anatomy-turn-symbols-and-numbers-into-decisions)
- [Measure blocking changes on both axes](https://threadcabin.com/explore/110/measure-blocking-changes-on-both-axes)
- [Test washing and drying first](https://threadcabin.com/explore/129/test-washing-and-drying-first)
- [Yarn twist and ply: structure before stitch](https://threadcabin.com/explore/7/yarn-twist-and-ply-structure-before-stitch)