Generally speaking, yarn count refers to the thickness of a yarn. Usally, the spinning industry tends to use English cotton count. The definition is that in the condition of convention moisture regain (8.5%), the number of yarn hanks (each 840 yards long) per pound of yarn, and is notated “Ne”. Ne count is also expressed with ‘s. The larger the number the finer the yarn and vice versa.
A plied yarn is one where multiple strands of yarn — already spun yarn — are put together and twisted in the opposite direction from that in which they were first twisted. A 2-ply yarn has two strands. For example, 16s/1 means one ply 16s yarn, 21s/2 means 2-ply 21s yarn. 2-ply yarn is twisted together with 2 strands, which is more durable than single yarn, however, it is less comfortable.
Usually there are four kinds of yarn size available to make cotton
towels: 16s/1, 21s/1, 21s/2 and 32s/2.
Towels are made up of warps, wefts and loops. Generally, it is used 21s/2 as warps, to increase tear strength, and 16s/1 or 21s/1 as wefts to weave terrycloth base. Theoretically speaking, more fine yarns and less twist means more soft and delicate. However, finer yarns cannot bear stronly, which means less durable.
One ply 16s is not the finest but often used in luxurious star hotels, as it is the longest plushy spiral loops of
towels, super soft and comfortable, with excellent aborbency of water, gives more luxury touch. 32s/2 yarn loops is finer than which of 21s/2 loops, however, it is a little bit less durable than 21s/2 yarns.
Due to different spinning process, it is more complicated to make 32s/2 yarns, which cost a little bit higher than 21s. Spiral 16s/1 is similar to 32s/2.
In order to fulfill different demand on market, there are many kinds of
towels processing to meet the needs of consumer groups. Most of them are plain weave, jacquard weave, sateen, dobby and yarn-dyed weave.
Plain weave: usually used in 21s and 32s
towels, as its knitting method is simple, with many weaving point and closed warp and weft, the plain weave is the most solid and durable processing, and has most even surface.
Jacquard weave: according to different demand from customers, various beautiful shape, or hotel logo can be jacquard on the
towels.
Sateen weave: there’s bright satin in the middle of towel, which is more elegant. The hotel logo can be embroidered into two colors, which can help guests to distinguish the
towels easily.
Dobby weave: usually there’re two satins on each side of towel, when embroidered hotel logo, it brings more stereoscopic impression and more elegance. The satin
towels can help guests distinguish the difference easily.
Yarn-dyed weave: using different colors of yarns to weave the
towel, hotel logo can be weaved spatially, which brings more stereoscopic impression, and more durable and washable.
