I have 2 different kinds of homespun. One feels like "true" homespun the other seems to be a quilters cotton homespun.
Does your cotton feel soft like cotton or a pit more ridge? If its the ladder I would be worried that washing it would just frey the heck out of it. I'll do a test wash for you, I have to throw in a load and it takes about 30 minutes. Ill let you know.