Where does cotton come from?

It’s soft and comforting. Many of our sheets, rugs, and clothes are made from it. It’s cotton, and while we are familiar with the many items it is used to create, let’s learn a little bit about where it comes from!

Cotton is a hair-like fiber that grows on shrubby, woody plants. Cotton not only describes this soft fiber, but it can also refer to the plant itself, as well as the crop! In fact, cotton is one of the leading crops in the world! 

Cotton plants grow white flowers that develop a red tone and fall off. Small green pods called bolls then replace the flowers. Inside the pods, seed hairs (also known as cotton fibers) grow. The pods eventually burst, revealing white puff balls—cotton! 

The cotton is now ready to pick. Some cotton is harvested using machines, while other cotton is picked by hand. It takes a lot of work to harvest the cotton, and even more work to spin it into yarn that can be woven into fabric. 

The fact that there is so much cotton available makes it possible for us to enjoy our favorite cotton products (like clothing and towels) at an affordable price. And the comfortable, soothing nature of cotton makes it worth every penny!

Take a cotton ball and hold it in both hands. Now squeeze it, making sure you notice its texture with your fingertips. How does it feel? Next, see if you can gently stretch the cotton ball so it gets longer. Can you stretch it slowly and carefully so it doesn’t break right away? If you feel it start to break, move your fingers closer to the middle of the cotton and continue pulling it apart from that spot. When it seems sturdier, try moving your fingers back to the ends and pulling from there once again. How long is your stretched cotton?

Now what can you do with your cotton? Can you roll it so it looks like a cinnamon roll or a rose? Can you push the ends together to create a temporary bracelet? Perhaps you want to glue it to a piece of paper to make a unique shape or picture. Enjoy your craft time with this very special fiber!