Frottee / Frottier
Terry fabrics are cotton fabrics fitted with small loops on both sides.
The ground warp is very taut, the pile warp loosely tensioned. Rib weave in a three- or four-pick weave is used as the ground weave. Ribs are usually cross-ribbed fabrics, more rarely length-ribbed. True ribs are created by using rib weaves.
Cross (warp) ribs have high warp and low weft densities; with length (weft) ribs it is the other way round. There are also mixed ribs and diagonal ribs (Adria).
The loops in terry cloth are created because three or four weft picks are not beaten up directly but are held at a distance corresponding to the loop height (via a swinging batten or a movable breast beam). Only after the last preliminary pick are they fully beaten up. In the process, the weft threads slide on the taut ground warp, while the loose pile warp forms loops.
In terry velour fabrics, the loops are cut on one side of the fabric.
Since terry fabrics can easily absorb and release water, they are particularly suitable for swimwear, terry towels, hand towels and similar articles (RAL 304A).