Twist refers to the rotation applied to fibres or yarns during spinning, binding them together for strength and structure.
Why Twist Matters
Twist provides: - Strength: Fibres grip each other - Structure: Yarn holds together - Durability: Resists coming apart
Twist Direction
- S-twist: Spirals like the middle of "S"
- Z-twist: Spirals like the middle of "Z"
Direction matters when plying yarns together.
Twist Level
- Low twist: Softer, less strong, more absorbent
- Medium twist: Balanced properties
- High twist: Stronger, firmer, less soft
In Towels
Towel yarn typically has: - Medium twist for ground cloth (strength) - Lower twist for pile (softness, absorbency)
Zero-Twist Towels
Zero-twist yarn has no twist - fibres held by dissolvable binder: - Extremely soft - Very absorbent - Less durable
See: Zero-twist
Twist and Absorbency
Less twist = more absorbent: - Fibres swell more freely - Water penetrates more easily - Trade-off with durability
Related Terms
- Zero-twist - No twist yarn
- Yarn - What's twisted
- Ring-spun - Spinning method