abifae
Abinormal Butterfly
Water relaxes the fiber...
When fiber is moistened, it relaxes. Then, if it is air-dried in one position, such as on a line, it holds the shape and becomes fixed in that position to some degree. That is why you get that stiff feeling: all the fibers are locked in position, whatever position they were dried in. (It's like blocking a knitting project - pinning a wet item into shape and letting it dry in that position.) If, however, it's agitated as it dries (such as being flopped around in a dryer), it doesn't dry in any one position and is more flexible.
Other google answers include a chemical reaction between the sun and the detergents can add to the stiffness.
When fiber is moistened, it relaxes. Then, if it is air-dried in one position, such as on a line, it holds the shape and becomes fixed in that position to some degree. That is why you get that stiff feeling: all the fibers are locked in position, whatever position they were dried in. (It's like blocking a knitting project - pinning a wet item into shape and letting it dry in that position.) If, however, it's agitated as it dries (such as being flopped around in a dryer), it doesn't dry in any one position and is more flexible.
Other google answers include a chemical reaction between the sun and the detergents can add to the stiffness.