Knowledge Hub

AMANN ThreadLex: Textile terminology explained

Explore textile terminology from A to Z. Find clear definitions, synonyms and translations of technical terms related to sewing threads, embroidery, materials and textile manufacturing.

Find the right textile term

Looking for the meaning of a technical term or its equivalent in another language? 
AMANN ThreadLex helps you understand and navigate textile terminology quickly and easily.

Browse terms alphabetically or search for a specific keyword to discover definitions, alternative expressions and multilingual translations – all in one place.

Category English Term Synonyms Short definition (EN) DE
Applications and industries Technical textiles Techtex Textile products primarily designed to deliver technical or functional performance. Technische Textilien
Translations
DE Technische Textilien
FR Textiles techniques
ES Textiles técnicos
IT Tessili tecnici
CN 产业用纺织品
VN Dệt may kỹ thuật
Not to be confused with The category spans many distinct industries and standards.
Functional properties Temperature-resistant Temperature resistant Able to perform within a defined temperature range. Temperaturbeständig
Translations
DE Temperaturbeständig
FR Résistant à la température
ES Resistente a la temperatura
IT Resistente alla temperatura
CN 耐温
VN Chịu nhiệt độ
Not to be confused with Broader than high-temperature resistance.
Thread quality and performance Tenacity Specific strength Breaking force normalised to linear density, enabling comparison between thread sizes. Reißfestigkeit bezogen auf Feinheit
Translations
DE Reißfestigkeit bezogen auf Feinheit
FR Ténacité
ES Tenacidad
IT Tenacità
CN 比强度
VN Độ bền riêng
Not to be confused with Do not use as a direct synonym for breaking force.
Thread quality and performance Tensile strength Tensile performance Resistance to a tensile load relative to the defined specimen or cross-section. Zugfestigkeit
Translations
DE Zugfestigkeit
FR Résistance à la traction
ES Resistencia a la tracción
IT Resistenza alla trazione
CN 拉伸强度
VN Độ bền kéo
Not to be confused with Often confused with breaking force; use the term required by the test method.
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Tension puckering Thread-tension puckering Seam puckering caused mainly by excessive or unbalanced thread tension. Spannungskräuseln
Translations
DE Spannungskräuseln
FR Fronçage dû à la tension
ES Fruncido por tensión
IT Arricciatura da tensione
CN 张力起皱
VN Nhăn do sức căng
Not to be confused with Check tension after ruling out feed and shrinkage effects.
Thread size and measurement Tex Tex system A direct numbering unit equal to grams per 1,000 metres of thread. Tex
Translations
DE Tex
FR Tex
ES Tex
IT Tex
CN 特克斯
VN Tex
Not to be confused with A higher Tex value means a coarser thread.
Thread size and measurement Tex number tex no. A direct linear-density designation based on grams per 1,000 metres. Tex-Nummer
Translations
DE Tex-Nummer
FR Numéro tex
ES Número tex
IT Titolo tex
CN 特克斯号数
VN Số tex
Thread fundamentals and construction Textured multifilament Texturised multifilament; bulked filament A multifilament whose filaments are permanently crimped to create volume and softness. Texturiertes Multifilament
Translations
DE Texturiertes Multifilament
FR Multifilament texturé
ES Multifilamento texturizado
IT Multifilamento testurizzato
CN 变形复丝
VN Đa filament texturised
Not to be confused with Do not confuse with spun thread or air-textured yarn.
Thread quality and performance Thermal shrinkage Heat shrinkage Thread shrinkage caused by exposure to elevated temperature. Thermoschrumpf
Translations
DE Thermoschrumpf
FR Retrait thermique
ES Encogimiento térmico
IT Ritiro termico
CN 热收缩率
VN Độ co nhiệt
Not to be confused with Not the same as melting or thermal degradation.
Thread quality and performance Thick spot Thick place A local section of thread with an abnormally large diameter. Dickstelle
Translations
DE Dickstelle
FR Grosseur
ES Punto grueso
IT Punto grosso
CN 粗节
VN Điểm dày
Not to be confused with May be disruptive or non-disruptive depending on severity.
Thread quality and performance Thin spot Thin place A local section of thread with an abnormally small diameter or reduced material content. Dünnstelle
Translations
DE Dünnstelle
FR Amincissement
ES Punto fino
IT Punto sottile
CN 细节
VN Điểm mỏng
Not to be confused with A thin spot may create a weak point.
Seam quality and testing Thread balance Stitch balance The relative distribution and tension of the thread systems within a stitch or seam. Fadenbalance / Fadenverteilung
Translations
DE Fadenbalance / Fadenverteilung
FR Équilibre des fils
ES Equilibrio del hilo
IT Bilanciamento dei fili
CN 线迹平衡
VN Cân bằng chỉ
Not to be confused with Not the same as total thread consumption.
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Thread ballooning Ballooning The rotating loop formed as thread unwinds at high speed from a package. Fadenballonbildung
Translations
DE Fadenballonbildung
FR Ballonnement du fil
ES Abombamiento del hilo
IT Ballooning del filo
CN 线气圈
VN Phồng chỉ
Not to be confused with Controlled ballooning is normal; excessive ballooning can disrupt processing.
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Thread breakage Thread breaking Unintended rupture of the sewing or embroidery thread during processing or use. Fadenbruch
Translations
DE Fadenbruch
FR Casse du fil
ES Rotura del hilo
IT Rottura del filo
CN 断线
VN Đứt chỉ
Not to be confused with Identify the affected thread system before diagnosing.
Thread fundamentals and construction Thread compactness Compactness The degree to which the thread components remain closed and stable during processing. Fadenkompaktheit
Translations
DE Fadenkompaktheit
FR Compacité du fil
ES Compacidad del hilo
IT Compattezza del filato
CN 线体紧密度
VN Độ chặt của chỉ
Not to be confused with Low compactness may lead to opening and hook damage.
Thread quality and performance Thread consistency Thread uniformity; regularity The consistency of thread diameter and structure over a defined length. Fadengleichmäßigkeit
Translations
DE Fadengleichmäßigkeit
FR Régularité du fil
ES Regularidad del hilo
IT Regolarità del filato
CN 线均匀性
VN Độ đồng đều của chỉ
Not to be confused with Not the same as colour consistency.
Thread fundamentals and construction Thread construction Construction type; yarn construction The structural design of a thread based on fibre or filament processing and combination. Fadenkonstruktion / Konstruktionsart
Translations
DE Fadenkonstruktion / Konstruktionsart
FR Construction du fil
ES Construcción del hilo
IT Costruzione del filato
CN 线结构
VN Cấu trúc chỉ
Not to be confused with Construction is separate from raw material and thread size.
Thread size and measurement Thread consumption Thread requirement The amount of sewing thread used to produce a defined seam or product. Nähfadenverbrauch
Translations
DE Nähfadenverbrauch
FR Consommation de fil
ES Consumo de hilo
IT Consumo di filato
CN 缝纫线耗用量
VN Lượng tiêu hao chỉ
Not to be confused with Distinguish net requirement from production allowance.
Thread size and measurement Thread consumption factor Consumption factor; factor k A multiplier linking seam length to the theoretical thread length required for a defined stitch formation. Fadenbedarfsfaktor
Translations
DE Fadenbedarfsfaktor
FR Facteur de consommation de fil
ES Factor de consumo de hilo
IT Fattore di consumo del filato
CN 用线系数
VN Hệ số tiêu hao chỉ
Not to be confused with The factor depends on stitch type, density, seam width and material thickness.
Machine and needle components Thread guide thread guide A component that guides thread along a defined path through the machine. Fadenführung
Translations
DE Fadenführung
FR Guide-fil
ES Guíahilos
IT Guidafilo
CN 导线器
VN Bộ dẫn chỉ
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Thread looping Loop formation defect Uncontrolled visible loops of thread caused by poor thread control or stitch formation. Schlingenbildung
Translations
DE Schlingenbildung
FR Formation de boucles
ES Formación de bucles
IT Formazione di cappi
CN 线环形成
VN Tạo vòng chỉ
Not to be confused with Normal stitch-forming loops inside the machine are not defects.
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Thread melting Melt damage Thermal damage in which a synthetic thread softens or melts during sewing or use. Fadenschmelzen
Translations
DE Fadenschmelzen
FR Fusion du fil
ES Fusión del hilo
IT Fusione del filo
CN 线熔化
VN Nóng chảy chỉ
Not to be confused with Different from heat shrinkage without melting.
Thread quality and performance Thread quality Quality of sewing thread The combined level of properties that determine processing performance and utility value. Fadenqualität
Translations
DE Fadenqualität
FR Qualité du fil
ES Calidad del hilo
IT Qualità del filato
CN 线质量
VN Chất lượng chỉ
Not to be confused with Quality must be assessed against the intended application.
Thread size and measurement Thread size Thread thickness; thread fineness The practical designation of how fine or coarse a thread is. Fadenstärke
Translations
DE Fadenstärke
FR Grosseur du fil
ES Grosor del hilo
IT Titolo del filato
CN 线号
VN Cỡ chỉ
Not to be confused with Thread size is related to linear density but is not a diameter measurement.
Troubleshooting and sewing defects Thread snarling Thread entanglement; snarling Twisting or entangling of thread into loops or knots during handling or processing. Fadenverwirrung
Translations
DE Fadenverwirrung
FR Emmêlement du fil
ES Enredo del hilo
IT Aggrovigliamento del filo
CN 线缠结
VN Rối chỉ
Not to be confused with Often linked to excessive twist or poor thread path.