Maurice Brassard Cotton Weaving Yarn (Ne 8/4) - 227g
Looking for a cotton yarn that’s strong, soft, and easy to work with? Maurice Brassard’s Ne 8/4 cotton yarn offers the perfect balance of structure and softness. Ideal for creating bold, beautiful weaves that are made to last.
If you’ve ever sat at your loom, halfway through a towel or runner, only to realise your yarn isn’t quite right, too thin, too weak, or just lacking that satisfying feel, you’re not alone. That moment of doubt can quickly zap the joy out of your project. It’s disheartening when materials don’t match your vision.
With Maurice Brassard’s Ne 8/4 cotton yarn, you can finally weave with confidence. Whether you're planning thick, absorbent towels or sturdy placemats, this yarn offers a reassuring sense of reliability. It’s the kind of fibre that responds beautifully under tension, feels balanced in your hands, and gives your finished pieces the structure they need, without sacrificing softness.
Imagine the satisfaction of pulling a finished towel off the loom that feels just right, weighty, textured, and perfectly you. The Ne 8/4 is a favourite among seasoned weavers for good reason: it supports your creative flow and meets your standards. When your materials perform exactly as expected, you feel freer to explore, refine, and enjoy the rhythm of making.
If you're unsure how this yarn compares to others, the Master Yarn Chart is a helpful resource for understanding weights and substitutions across weaving and knitting projects.
Key Features & Benefits
- Ideal for sturdy handwoven textiles – Perfect for towels, table runners, and placemats that feel weighty and durable.
- Smooth 4-ply twist – Feels substantial on the loom and gives consistent tension for confident weaving.
- Balanced structure – Enough heft to be structural, but soft enough to still drape well.
- Reliable for both warp and weft – Strong and versatile for a variety of loom types and weaving styles.
- Rich colour options – Over 80 colours available for expressive, high-impact designs.
Sourced from a trusted Canadian mill – A family-run business known for dependable, high-quality cotton yarns.
1 x Maurice Brassard Cotton Weaving Yarn (Ne 8/4) – 227g spool
- Fibre Content: 100% Unmercerised Cotton
- Yarn Count: Ne 8/4 | Nm 14/4
- Weight: 227g (1/2 lb) spool
- Length: Approx. 760m | 840 yds
- Meters per Kilo: 3380m/kg
- Ply: 4-ply with medium twist
- Yarn Delivery: Cardboard spool
Suggested Sett: Lace – 8 epi | Plain weave – 12 epi | Twill – 16 epi
Maurice Brassard 8/4 unmercerized cotton yarn is ideal for weaving towels, napkins, dishcloths, lightweight clothing, baby blankets and table linens. Its soft yet durable nature makes it great for everyday-use textiles that require good absorbency and washability.
Yes! This 8/4 cotton is strong enough for warp while remaining soft and flexible for weft, making it a versatile choice for various weaving techniques, including plain weave, twill, and more intricate structures.
Each 227g (8 oz) spool contains approximately 840 yards (760 meters) of 8/4 unmercerized cotton yarn, providing excellent yardage for weaving projects, especially when working with multiple colors or designing large warps.
This 8/4 cotton yarn is unmercerised, meaning it retains a matte finish and has excellent absorbency. This makes it ideal for towels and dishcloths, as opposed to mercerised cotton, which has a shinier surface and reduced absorbency.
The recommended sett (ends per inch - epi) varies based on the weaving structure:
10 epi for lace weave (open, airy fabric)
15 epi for plain weave (balanced fabric, best for towels and household textiles)
18 epi for twill weave (denser, slightly heavier fabric with good drape)
Maurice Brassard offers this 8/4 cotton yarn in over 80 colors, allowing weavers to create vibrant and dynamic woven textiles. The wide color selection includes pastels, neutrals, rich tones, and bright shades, perfect for designing multi-colored projects.
The 8/4 designation means the yarn is composed of four plies, making it sturdier and slightly thicker than 8/2 cotton. The additional plies add extra strength while still keeping the yarn soft and flexible for weaving.
Yes! 8/4 cotton works well on rigid heddle looms, and it can be woven using a 10-dent or 12-dent heddle. It is a great choice for beginners and experienced weavers alike, producing strong, absorbent textiles without being too heavy.
Unmercerised cotton has a soft, matte finish and is highly absorbent, making it ideal for kitchen and household textiles like towels and placemats. Mercerised cotton, in contrast, has undergone a process that leaves it with a smoother, shinier appearance with lower absorbency, making it better suited for decorative fabrics and garments. Read more about the differences and mercerisation process here.
Maurice Brassard’s 8/4 cotton yarn is produced in Canada by a family-run mill with a long tradition of crafting high-quality weaving yarns. Their expertise and commitment to sustainable fiber production make them a trusted name among handweavers.