Did you know? Our loops are made from upcycled cotton!
From time to time, you may notice slight differences in our loop colors from one batch to the next. We wanted to take a moment to share why this happens.
How our loops are made:
Our cotton loops begin as t-shirt clippings: perfectly good material that might otherwise end up in the landfill. With an estimated 92 million tons of textiles being discarded globally each year, every material choice counts. The t-shirt clippings are repurposed by sorting, processing, and spinning them back into yarn before being knit into the loops you use to weave potholders.
Because the color is already present in these reclaimed fibers, it’s carried through the process rather than added later through dyeing. This reduces the use of excess water or harsh chemical dyes.
Working with upcycled cotton means no two batches of raw fiber will be exactly the same. Subtle variations in the original fabric carry through the spinning process and into the final yarn.
A long-standing part of textiles:
Tonal differences like these aren’t new or unique to us. They’ve historically been part of working with natural fibers and spun yarns. Even in traditional textile mills, color can shift slightly between dye lots. With upcycled materials, those variations can be a bit more noticeable, and part of what makes each batch unique.
Color shifts go both ways:
Some colors may appear softer or more muted, while others may come through brighter. Each batch reflects the specific fabric used to spin the color. We know color consistency is something our weavers value and we make every effort to keep our colors as consistent as possible.
Why we chose upcycled cotton:
Using upcycled cotton allows us to reduce waste while giving existing fibers a second life. It pays homage to traditional potholder making practices when women used fabric scraps to create loops for potholder weaving. We’ve carried that forward by using excess materials to create something useful and long lasting.
Our loops are produced in the USA, and every batch helps keep traditional textile processes and the mills behind them working and relevant today. Maintaining that kind of American supply chain isn’t always easy. It brings new challenges every day, ones we’re constantly working through. We’re grateful for your patience as we continue to do that work and remain committed to making quality American-made products.
Our priority will always be to bring you the highest quality cotton loops, made in the USA, using materials we believe in, and supporting the kind of manufacturing that has defined American textiles for generations. From the beginning, we set out to make something better. We were the first to develop custom cotton potholder loops designed specifically to fit our sturdy metal looms, built for durability, and everyday use. Today, more imported alternatives continue to enter the market. Choosing to support American-made products helps sustain the mills, makers, and processes behind them, and we deeply appreciate that support.
We know consistency matters, and we’re actively working to make our loops more consistent. In the meantime, we wanted to be transparent about why these variations occur. If you ever have questions about color or batch differences, we’re always here to help.
And as always, we can’t wait to see what you make next.
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Friendly Loom®
The American Fiber Craft Company
