T-shirt yarn is a yarn made from the same fabric as is used in T-shirts and other wearables. Cut-length only applies to staple fiber.įilament extrusion is sometimes referred to as 'spinning' but most people equate spinning with spun yarn production. Denier and Dtex are the most common weight to length measures. Synthetic fiber is most often measured in a weight per linear measurement basis, along with cut length.

Filament is a continuous strand consisting of anything from 1 filament to many. Tow is a continuous 'rope' of fibers consisting of many filaments loosely joined side-to-side. Staple is cut fibers, generally sold in lengths up to 120 mm. Synthetic fibers come in three basic forms: staple, tow, and filament. These strands are drawn (stretched), annealed (hardened), and cured to obtain properties desirable for later processing. Synthetic fibers are generally extruded in continuous strands of gel-state materials. Some examples of synthetic fibers that are used as yarn are nylon, acrylic fiber, rayon, and polyester. Natural fibers such as these have the advantage of being slightly elastic and very breathable while trapping a great deal of air, making for some of the warmest fabrics. More rarely, yarn may be spun from camel, yak, possum, musk ox, vicuña, cat, dog, wolf, rabbit, bison, or chinchilla hair, as well as turkey or ostrich feathers. Other animal fibers used include alpaca, angora, mohair, llama, cashmere, and silk.

Shearing sheep helps the sheep regulate their body temperature and avoid pests. The most commonly spun animal fiber is wool harvested from sheep. Other plant fibers which can be spun include bamboo, hemp, maize, nettle, and soy fiber. The linen fibers are derived from the flax plant. Linen is another natural fiber with a long history of use for yarn and textiles. Silk production is thought to have begun in China and silk thread and cloth manufacture was well-established by the Shang dynasty (1600-1050 BCE). The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by the larvae of the moth Bombyx mori. Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The most common plant fiber is cotton, which is typically spun into fine yarn for mechanical weaving or knitting into cloth.

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