Fabric Glossary: Terms Starting with Y

Yacht Cloth

Please refer to sailcloth.

Yarn

Yarn is made by twisting staple fibers together and is used in weaving and knitting to produce fabrics. It is generally weaker than sewing thread, which is used for sewing fabrics together or for embroidery.

Yarns can be made from natural or synthetic fibers. There are two main types of yarn:

• Spun yarn:

  Made from individual fibers or filaments called staples, which are twisted together to form a continuous chain of overlapping fibers. This process is called “singles.” Spun yarns are typically made from natural fibers such as cotton, flax, jute, or wool.

• Filament yarn:

  Made from one or more continuous strands called filaments, with each filament running the entire length of the yarn. Most filament yarns are made from synthetic fibers, with the exception of silk, which is a natural filament fiber. Synthetic fibers have long been developed to mimic silk.

Yarn Dyed

Yarn dyed fabrics are created by dyeing the yarn before weaving it into fabric. In contrast, fabric dyed after weaving is called piece dyed.

Yarn dyeing is used for fabrics where the structure or color variation is important. Examples include iridescent, check, plaid, tweed, houndstooth, and handwoven multicolor fabrics. Some silk fabrics like taffeta, shantung, and dupioni are yarn dyed to retain the structure and stiffness of the weave.