Thread: How can you tell if fabric is 100% cotton?

I was just given a large storage container of miscellaneous fabrics:
flannel, shirtings, Christmas prints, etc.

How can I determine which are 100% cotton or not?
Marilyn

A gal at the quilt shop told me to cut a small piece off, light it with a match. If it is a soft ash, it is cotton. I haven't done it, but she claims if it is not 100% cotton the ash is harder/dense. Maybe someone else can answer it better

My 1st though is, if you can tell, does it really matter?

Originally Posted by stewyscrewy

yes the ash test is the fastest. if it has any sort of poly or rayon it will melt and leave a blackish glob, how ever large or small you test piece is. Please dont touch it till proper time has elapsed for cooling.

This is correct :XD:

Poly melts, cotton burns.. Use tweezers over the sink.. burn then extinguish with water..

What luvTooQuilt said.

Ditto.

I've never heard about the burning before.
Thanks! I will have to try it!