Abstract: A single layer non-woven fabric suitable for use as a cotton bale covering that is a single layer batt formed of cross-lapped fiber, having a structure compacted by needle tacking, and being thermally bonded by thermally set low melt thermoplastic material intermixed throughout the batt, and stitch bonded throughout the batt. A process for producing this non-woven fabric that includes forming a webb of fiber, cross-lapping the web to form a batt, needle tacking and stitch bonding the batt, and providing low melt thermoplastic material that thermally bonds the fiber in the batt upon heating.