Complete Knowledge of Yarn

1. What Is Yarn

Yarn is a long, slender material with certain strength, fineness and softness, made by twisting staple fibres or assembling continuous filaments. It serves as the basic raw‑material for weaving, knitting, sewing and embroidery.

Simple distinction: ‑ Yarn: Spun from staple fibres with twist ‑ Thread: Two or more yarns plied and twisted together. The term “yarn” is commonly used as a general name for both.

2. Main Classification of Yarn

2.1 Classification by Fibre Raw‑Material

Natural‑fibre Yarn

1. Cotton Yarn (Cotton / C)‑ Raw material: Cotton staple fibres ‑ Advantages: Moisture‑absorbent, breathable, skin‑friendly, soft, good dyeability ‑ Disadvantages: Prone to shrinkage and wrinkling; moderate dry strength ‑ Applications: T‑shirts, underwear, bed linens, cotton fabrics, towels, children’s clothing

2. Linen Yarn (Linen / L)‑ Raw material: Flax, ramie ‑ Advantages: Cool, breathable, fast heat‑conduction, stiff, anti‑static ‑ Disadvantages: Relatively hard hand‑feel, easy to wrinkle ‑ Applications: Summer shirts, linen fabrics

3. Wool Yarn (Wool / W)‑ Raw material: Sheep’s wool ‑ Advantages: Warm, good elasticity, moisture‑absorbent, good drape ‑ Disadvantages: Prone to shrinkage and pilling; may irritate sensitive skin ‑ Applications: Sweaters, overcoat fabrics, scarves, knitwear

4. Silk (Silk / S)‑ Natural filament, no spinning required ‑ Advantages: Premium lustre, smooth, breathable ‑ Disadvantages: High cost, poor sunlight resistance, easy damage ‑ Applications: Silk fabrics, high‑grade underwear

   Regenerated Fibres (Semi‑synthetic)

5. Viscose Yarn (Viscose / R)‑ Produced from regenerated wood pulp or plant pulp. Cotton‑like softness, excellent drape and moisture absorption; low wet‑strength. ‑ Applications: Dresses, knitted base‑layers

6. Modal‑ Made from beech‑wood pulp. Softer than viscose, improved shrink‑resistance. ‑ Applications: Close‑fitting underwear, loungewear

7. Lyocell (Tencel / Tencel)‑ Eco‑friendly wood‑pulp fibre, smooth and breathable. Used for washed‑denim and shirts.

8. Synthetic‑fibre Yarn (Petrochemical‑based)

9. Polyester Yarn (Polyester / PES / T)‑ Advantages: High strength, wear‑resistant, shrink‑free, quick‑dry, wrinkle‑resistant, cost‑effective ‑ Disadvantages: Poor breathability, static‑prone, less air‑permeable ‑ Applications: Sportswear, outerwear, lining fabric, curtains, luggage fabrics

10. Nylon / Polyamide (Nylon / PA / N)‑ Advantages: Top‑tier abrasion resistance, excellent elasticity ‑ Disadvantages: Poor heat‑resistance, prone to yellowing ‑ Applications: Socks, stretch fabrics, swimwear, elastic tapes

11. Acrylic Yarn (Acrylic / A)‑ Known as “artificial wool”; fluffy and warm, low‑cost, easy‑to‑pill. ‑ Applications: Sweaters, blankets

12. Spandex (Elastane / SP)‑ High‑elastic filament, rarely woven alone. Usually blended with cotton or polyester to add stretch. ‑ Applications: Jeans, stretch T‑shirts, yoga‑wear

13. 2.2 Classification by Fibre Length

14. Staple‑fibre Yarn‑ Produced by twisting short staple fibres such as cotton and wool. Slightly hairy surface, fluffy hand‑feel. Example: 100% cotton yarn.

15. Filament Yarn‑ Composed of endless continuous filaments such as silk or polyester filament. Low hairiness, smooth surface and good lustre. ‑ Multifilament: Several filaments bundled together ‑ Monofilament: Single continuous filament (fishing line, transparent bra straps)

    2.3 Classification by Spinning Technology (Cotton Spinning)

    Ring‑spun Yarn‑ Traditional mainstream process. Even twist, high strength, slight hairiness. Used for high‑quality fabrics.

    Open‑end / Rotor‑spun Yarn (OE)‑ High‑output, low‑cost, relatively thick yarn, low hairiness, lower tensile strength. Mainly used for denim, heavy canvas and towels.

    Compact‑spun Yarn‑ Upgraded ring‑spinning process. Very low hairiness, high smoothness, anti‑fuzzing. Applied to premium shirts and combed fabrics.

    Siro‑spun Yarn‑ Two rovings spun simultaneously. Compact yarn structure, good anti‑pilling performance. Widely used in denim and knitwear.

    2.4 Classification by Ply Structure

    Single yarn: One single strand, e.g. 32S single yarn ‑ Plied yarn: Two or more single‑yarns twisted together, marked as 32S/2. Higher strength and smoother texture. Sewing thread and high‑grade fabrics usually adopt plied yarn.

     Common Misconceptions

    ❌ Higher yarn count = thicker fabric → False. Higher count means finer yarn; high‑count yarn can produce thin, delicate fabrics.

    ❌ 100% cotton = completely pill‑free → Staple cotton yarn may still pill slightly; high‑count combed cotton reduces pilling.

    ❌ Polyester is always low‑quality → Polyester is essential for high‑stretch, quick‑dry sportswear.