The word sounds almost frightening, we know… However, we often read it on our clothes: “pure, mercerized cotton”. What does it mean exactly? And why keen stitchers should also be interested in it? The reason is very simple: because mercerization is a process giving the natural fibers composed by cellulose, such as those of cotton and flax, increased shine, hydroscopic capability (i.e. the ability to absorb humidity and disperse it, in short), as well as more dye affinity, that means the capability of a fabric of getting a certain color. On the whole, mercerization ensures better resistance to the final fabric. Developed in the mid 1800s by the English chemist…