Wales per Inch (WPI) How to Read It on a Lab Report
Laboratory reports present Wales per Inch (WPI) in a compact format. Knowing what each line means prevents misreading.
Definition reminder
number of vertical stitch columns per inch. Working figures for Wales per Inch (WPI) normally sit around 20-40 depending on gauge in mainstream production. Note knitting machine setting on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Common report layout
The report states method knitting machine setting, sample description, conditioning, and the measured result. Record elastane content alongside Wales per Inch (WPI), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 20-40 depending on gauge usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical result
Values near 20-40 depending on gauge usually indicate a conforming lot, assuming the fabric matches the sample submitted. Keeping reference values for Wales per Inch (WPI) lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with knitting machine setting, since both affect the reading.
Red flags
Missing revision numbers, unusual conditioning, and results without units all signal unreliable data. Working figures for Wales per Inch (WPI) normally sit around 20-40 depending on gauge in mainstream production. Note knitting machine setting on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Questions to ask
Ask the laboratory for the standard revision and sample description before accepting or rejecting a result. Record elastane content alongside Wales per Inch (WPI), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 20-40 depending on gauge usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
