Weaving the Threads of Your Wardrobe – Unravelling the Yarn Stage  

Helllloooooo people!!!

If you have read my previous blog, you’ve probably guessed the topic of this post.

And if you haven’t checked it out yet, feel free to do so.

As I was explaining about the stages of your favourite dress manufacturing process, we delved a bit into the first stage – fibre stage –  in the previous post.

In this post, I would like to go further into the next step of the manufacturing process, which is the second stage – the yarn stage.    

As always, before we go further, I would like to ask you a few questions:

• Have you ever touched a piece of clothing and wondered why it feels soft or rough?
• Have you ever wondered why some fabrics feel smoother and less fuzzy than others?
• Do you know why some clothes stretch more than others?

Or, just imagine – 

When you wear your favourite dress, which is very soft, flowy, and beautiful, and accidentally, while walking, a mild, sharp substance gets in contact with the top layer of your dress, the thread unravels, giving a tear to your beautiful dress. In contrast, when you wear a denim jacket or casual denim jeans, the same incident may occur, but it does not tear your jeans; it might get a tiny scratch. 

Have you ever wondered why this happens?

Like it’s the same object but just different materials with different threads.

See, this is the answer –

The threads, which are made up of yarns.

Now, what are these yarns?

You might ask, in the previous post I just said that fibres are the means which define the quality of your dress, but now I’m saying the yarns differ in quality?

Well, as this is the 2nd stage in the garment manufacturing process, here the raw material is fibres and these fibres are converted into yarns.

Confusing?

Let me simplify it for you.

So, in the second stage of the garment manufacturing process, the fibres which are extracted from natural or manmade sources in the first stage, are converted into yarns.

What are these yarns?

Yarns are like long, thin strands made by twisting lots of tiny fibres (small hair-like structure) together, similar to how you might twist together strands of hair to make a braid or just like how a bunch of straws can be twisted into a rope.

These yarns are then used to weave or knit fabrics that become clothes, blankets, and other things you use every day. Think of yarns as the building blocks of your favourite sweater or cozy blanket—they determine how soft, stretchy, or sturdy they feel when you touch or wear them.

In the yarn stage of making clothes, it’s like making a special string that will become the fabric for your clothes. First, tiny fibres like cotton or wool are twisted together to make long, thin strands called yarns. These yarns are like the starting point or ingredients for making your favourite t-shirt or dress. Depending on how the yarns are made—whether they’re soft and fluffy or strong and stretchy—they will decide how comfortable and durable your clothes will be when you wear them. So, the yarn stage is where the magic begins to create the clothes you love to wear!

By now, you might have understood the importance of yarns in the revolution of your dress.

Now, how is this yarn made?

How the fibres are converted into yarns?

I have said already that the fibres are twisted together to convert them into yarn. But there is still more to it.

I will now briefly explain how the fibres are converted into yarns.

For that, I’ll categorize the process into 3 stages – 

1. Spinning
2. Twisting
3. Winding

These are the main steps in the yarn manufacturing and we will discuss them one by one.

Spinning:

Imagine you have a big pile of fluffy cotton or soft wool. To turn this fluffy material into yarn, we use a special machine called a spinning machine. This machine works a bit like when you twist strands of hair together to make a braid. 

First, the fluffy cotton or wool fibres are straightened out and cleaned. Then, they are fed into the spinning machine. Inside the machine, there are small hooks or grips that grab onto the fibres and pull them out. As the fibres are pulled, they are twisted together tightly to make a long, thin strand—just like how you might twist together strands of clay to make a long snake.

The spinning process determines the yarn’s thickness, strength, and texture. For example, tightly spun yarns are stronger and less prone to pilling, while loosely spun yarns are softer and more breathable.

Twisting:

Imagine you have a bunch of tiny fibres, like strands of hair, that have been spun together to make a long, thin string called yarn. Now, think about how when you twist two ropes together, they become stronger and harder to pull apart. That’s similar to what happens with yarn in this step!

After the fibres are spun into yarn, they go through a special machine that twists them together. This twisting is like when you twist a rubber band around your fingers—it makes the yarn stronger and helps it stay together. Some yarns need a lot of twisting to be really strong, like the yarn used in a heavy sweater that needs to keep you warm. Other yarns might not need as much twisting, so they feel softer and lighter, like the yarn used in a soft scarf. 

So, the twisting process is really important because it helps decide how strong or soft the yarn will be, which is important for making clothes, blankets, and other things that you use every day!

Winding:

After the yarn is twisted together to make it strong and ready to use, it’s like neatly folding your favourite clothes after doing the laundry. Imagine you have a long, colourful string of threads. Once you finish making it, you carefully wind it around a special spool or cone. This makes the thread neat and organized, like folding your clothes and putting them away in your closet.

When yarn is wound onto spools or cones, it’s like storing the thread safely for later use. This step is important because it keeps the yarn organized and makes it easier to do the next steps, like dyeing it with colours to make it bright and colourful or weaving it into fabric to create new clothes. Just like folding clothes helps you keep your wardrobe tidy and ready to wear, winding yarn ensures it’s ready for the next steps in making beautiful fabrics and clothes!

After completing these major steps, quality inspection will be done to the manufactured yarns.

Even when yarn is being made, workers check it many times to make sure it’s good. They look at things like how strong it is, how thick it is, and if the colour is right. This helps make sure the yarn is just right for making clothes or other things. 

Once the yarn is checked and everything is good, it gets put into packages. These packages could be big cones or small balls, depending on how it will be used. Then, the yarn is ready to go to stores or to other places that make clothes or blankets with it.

This is how the yarns are made.

Sounds simple.

Right?

But not as simple as I have said here. I have simplified it to the utmost and explained it briefly here for you.

For example, in the first step i.e., the spinning stage itself, there are various types of spinning techniques used such as ring pinning, open-end spinning (Rotor Spinning) , air-Jet spinning, mule spinning, friction spinning, etc.

Each spinning technique gives the yarn different characteristics, making it suitable for various types of fabrics and uses. This variety in spinning methods helps create everything from soft, cozy clothes to strong, durable jeans.

In the twisting stage, the different types of twisting are – single twist, ply twist, z twist, S twist etc.

Multiple plies(twists) can make yarn thicker and more durable, suitable for heavier fabrics or knitting projects

These twisting techniques help make yarns with different strengths and textures, which then create a variety of fabrics for all kinds of clothes and other things you use every day!

And there are many more procedures and processes in the yarn manufacturing stage. If you would like to know more about each step in detail, feel free to drop a comment below and I will surely get back to you.

The type of fibre used in making a yarn—such as cotton, wool, polyester, or blends—greatly influences the fabric’s feel and performance. Natural fibres like cotton and wool are breathable and comfortable, while synthetic fibres like polyester add durability and wrinkle resistance.

The different types of spins and different types of twists results in different fabrics with different characteristics.

Just by combining different twisted yarns in the fabric, creates a different texture of how you feel when you touch your dress.

The properties of yarn directly impact the fabric’s characteristics. Soft yarns make clothes comfortable to wear, strong yarns ensure durability, and stretchy yarns provide flexibility.

See, there’s a lot that goes into the revolution of your favourite dress.  

 let’s put our newfound knowledge into action. The Fable Street Halter Neck Sheath Dress is a fantastic example of how the yarn stage affects the final product. Made from high-quality polyester, this midi-length, sleeveless dress with an abstract print and a halter neck showcases how different types of yarn can create durable, stylish, and comfortable clothing. Its premium fabric ensures a flattering fit for all body types, making it a perfect addition to your wardrobe. https://amzn.to/4d0V3Qm   

Why do you have to know about all these?

Well, it is not wrong to be curious about your dress, like how it is made, what it has gone through just to reach you.

Amazing, isn’t it?

It helps you appreciate the journey of your favourite dress from raw fibres to a finished garment. Knowing how yarns are made and how their properties affect the fabric can help you make informed choices when buying clothes.

You’ll understand why some fabrics are softer, stronger, or stretchier, and how different manufacturing techniques impact the quality and durability of your garments. 

This knowledge empowers you to select clothing that best suits your needs and preferences, ensuring you get the most comfort, style, and value from your wardrobe.

Next time when someone asks you why you style up every day, just answer them saying, “My dress has gone through a lot, so it needs a flaunt and appraisal showcasing its worth.”

How cool, right??? 

  https://amzn.to/3SdRr5L 

Now just give a big warm hug to your dress, appreciating its rough route towards you and the craftsmanship involved in making your dress reach you.

If you are interested and want to know in-depth about the yarn manufacturing steps or classifications, feel free to drop a comment below, and I will surely get back to you.

Thanks a million for checking out my blog post. Can’t wait to discuss more fashion topics and see where our conversations lead!

I want this blog to be as communicative as possible, where we can discuss, learn, and grow together. I am excited to read your feedback and ideas on this post. 

Let’s stay connected!

Until next time, stay stylish and informed!

With purpose, 

RK//:)

AUTHOR :

RATHNA KUMARI– Master’s in design.  

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