Aloha,
Just wanted to add my two cents about barkcloth since that is what
my site barkclothhawaii.com is all about. Barkcloth comes in different
weights. The original was made with twisted threads. This is commonly
known as "nubby barkcloth" It is an upholstery grade fabric and ours I
know, can be washed in cold water and line dried. It shrinks less than
5% and does not bleed. It is treated to be stain and water resistant.
We also offer a barkcloth called bark crepe. This is also an
upholstery grade fabric but since the threads are not twisted the
texture is flater than our nubby. The last grade being made these
days is a non-upholstery bark cloth. It is a much lighter weight and
can be used to make clothing, duvet covers, curtains or loose
slipcovers.
Bark cloth feels diferent from other cottons in that it is warm to
the touch and has a beautiful drape. It's not cool to the touch like
our cotton poplins or broadcloth fabrics. Even the lighter grade
barkcloth fabrics are heavier than the apparel grade fabrics we carry.
The barkcloth being made these days are usually tropical Hawaiian
floral prints, toile and some modern atomic, boomerang patterns.