1. Yarn Count Calculation
Dr. Jimmy Lam
Institute of Textiles & Clothing
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

2. Outlines What is yarn count? Direct system and indirect system
Single yarn and ply yarn calculation
Metric system, Tex system and Cotton system conversion
Examples

3. Formula Tex = mass (g)/ length (m) X 1000
Conversion from Tex to other systems
Tex X Count =590.5 (Cotton System)
Tex X 9 = Denier (Filament System)
Tex X Metric Count =1000 (Knitwear system)

4. Yarn Count Two Systems, namely Indirect System and Direct System
In sweater calculation, we normally converted both into Metric system (Nm)

5. Indirect System
Normally uses for cotton yarn and most of cotton blended yarns (acrylic cotton, ramie cotton yarn)
Symbol: NeC or ECC or ‘s
Definition: Number of unit length per unit mass (variable length, constant weight)
The higher the count number, the finer the yarn.
The lower the count number, the coarser the yarn.

6. Indirect System Cotton Count (NeC) = Length (yd) x 840 /weight (pound)
Metric system (Nm)=Length (km) per weight (1 kg)
Conversion 1 Nm =NeC X 1.693

7. Indirect System Example
A skein of 26,880 yards weight 1 pound, calculate its English count and Metric equivalent.
Answer:
Cotton Count=26,880/840 =32NeC
Metric (Nm) =32 x =54Nm

8. Direct System
Normally uses for continuous filament yarns such as viscose rayon, polyester, etc.
Definition: Number of mass per unit length (Variable weight and constant length)
The higher the count number, the coarser the yarn.
The lower the count number, the finer the yarn.

9. Direct System Denier (Td) = weight (g) per length (m) x 9000
Tex = weight (g) per length (m) x 1000
Conversion to Metric System (Nm)
Nm=9000 /denier (Td)
Nm=1000/Tex (Tt)
Conversion between Tex and Denier
Tex=Denier/9

10. Direct System Example
A skein of 300 meters of filaments viscose rayon yarn weights 10 grams, calculate its denier and metric equivalent.
Answer:
Denier = 10 /300 x 9000 = 300Td
Metric (Nm) = 9000/300 =30Nm

11. More Example Ex1: 20/2 NeC 55% acrylic, 45% cotton yarn
Metric System = 2/(20 x 1.693) =2/34Nm =17 Nm
Ex2: 11/2 NeC 55% ramie, 45% cotton yarn
Metric System= 2/(11 x.1693)
=2/18.6Nm

12. Resultant Count
Yarn produced by the combination of two or more single yarns is used in many textile structures in order to achieve effects which may not be readily obtained by single yarn.
In an indirect system, the resultant count is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the component yarns.
1/N = 1/N1 + 1/N2 where N is resultant count and N1 and N2 are component yarns

13. Resultant Count Example
A two fold yarn (ie yarn made by twisting two single yarn together) is found to have one 300 Td 100% viscose rayon yarn and one 20/1 NeC 100% cotton yarn. Calculate the equivalent single count in metric system.
Answer:
Metric (Nm) for rayon =9000/300=30Nm
Metric (Nm) for cotton= 20 x =33.87Nm
Resultant Count 1/N = 1/30 + 1/33.87
=1/15.9Nm

14. Yarn component calculation
A sweater is knitted with two different yarns. One end is 32/2 NeC 100% cotton yarn and the other end is of plated 84 Denier (Td) 85% nylon, 15% lycra yarn. Calculate:
A) The resultant count of the component yarn;
B) The percentage by weight of various yarn used;
C) The fibre content of the sweater

15. Yarn component calculation Answer
A) Resultant Count:
Cotton =32/2 x =17 x 1.693=27Nm
Nylon and lycra=9000/84=107Nm
Resultant Count 1/N =1/27 + 1/107
=1/21.6Nm
B) Percentage by weight of two components in every km:
Cotton=1/27Nm =1/27kg =0.037kg
Nylon and lycra =1/107Nm =1/107kg =0.009kg
Total weight of two components: =0.046kg
Percentage of Cotton: 0.037/0.046x100% =80%
Percentage of Nylon/lcyra =0.009/0.046x100%= 20%

16. Yarn component calculation Answer
c) Fibre composition of the component yarns:
Cotton =80% x 100%= 80%
Nylon = 20% x 85% = 17%
Lycra =20% x 15% =3%
The fibre content of the sweater is:
80% cotton, 17% nylon and 3% lycra