Wondering what we mean when we say a yarn is a 3/2, 5/2, 10/2, or 20/2?

There are two numbers.  The second number  /2  applies to the number of plies (yarns twisted together). Therefore, this is a two ply yarn.

The first number, is the size of the yarn. It is determined (in cotton) on how many 840 yard skeins will equal a pound.

The larger the number, the finer the yarn.  So a 20/2 is your finest yarn, more like sewing thread; while a 3/2 is closer to a thin sportweight.  5/2 is more like bedspread weight; 10/2 a fine yarn.  Most of these yarns are used for weaving, machine knitting and some crochet. Click here to see all our yarns.

After cotton is picked, separated from the seed, and cleaned, the raw fiber -- which is referred to as "lint" at this stage -- is compressed into bales and sold to textile mills.

The mill produces the "sliver," a continuous, untwisted, rope-like strand. The sliver proceeds to a combing machine that removes the shorter fibers and impurities, thus making the sliver smoother which

Before yarn is made, the sliver is drawn out into thinner strands and given a bit of twist and wound on bobbins. It is now referred to as "roving" and ready for spinning, either on a hand spindle, spinning wheel, or by a manufacturing mill.

Our SuPima Sliver comes to us from a mill right before it is spun into a top-quality yarn for men's fine dress shirts. Click here to learn more about ths superior cotton spinning fiber.