Yarn Count (Ne) Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions buyers ask most often about Yarn Count (Ne).
What does it mean?
cotton count, length units per pound. Working figures for Yarn Count (Ne) normally sit around 20s to 60s in knit yarn in mainstream production. Note ASTM D1059 yarn number on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
What value should be specified?
Start from 20s to 60s in knit yarn and adjust for the end use of the garment. Record elastane content alongside Yarn Count (Ne), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 20s to 60s in knit yarn usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
How is it tested?
ASTM D1059 yarn number. Keeping reference values for Yarn Count (Ne) lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with ASTM D1059 yarn number, since both affect the reading.
Why does it change between lots?
Process variables such as finishing temperature and elastane batch cause the normal spread of results. Working figures for Yarn Count (Ne) normally sit around 20s to 60s in knit yarn in mainstream production. Note ASTM D1059 yarn number on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Can results be compared across suppliers?
Only when the same standard revision and conditioning are used; otherwise measurements are not equivalent. Record elastane content alongside Yarn Count (Ne), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 20s to 60s in knit yarn usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
