I saw (felt) Canton cloth once and man, was that wonderful stuff. Extra-heavy flannel and flanneled on both sides, sold (as I saw it) as bandaging for horse legs. Even before it had been washed (brings up the nap like a miracle), thick and soft and creamy.

And of course my travel towels are all flannel for the reasons Rowan has described so well above, but I've written about them often before.

~Susan