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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.

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Category English Term Synonyms Short definition (EN) DE
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 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 fundamentals and construction Three-ply thread 3-ply thread A thread made from three single yarns twisted together. Dreifachzwirn
Translations
DE Dreifachzwirn
FR Fil retors à trois brins
ES Hilo de tres cabos
IT Filato ritorto a tre capi
CN 三股线
VN Chỉ ba ply
Not to be confused with Not the same as a three-thread overlock stitch.
Thread fundamentals and construction Twist Thread twist; yarn twist The helical arrangement of fibres, filaments or yarns around the thread axis. Drehung
Translations
DE Drehung
FR Torsion
ES Torsión
IT Torsione
CN 捻度
VN Độ xoắn
Not to be confused with Twist direction and twist level are separate properties.
Thread fundamentals and construction Twist direction Direction of twist The direction in which a yarn or thread is twisted, conventionally S or Z. Drehrichtung
Translations
DE Drehrichtung
FR Sens de torsion
ES Dirección de torsión
IT Direzione di torsione
CN 捻向
VN Hướng xoắn
Not to be confused with Do not infer direction solely from the sewing direction.
Thread fundamentals and construction Twist level Twists per metre; twist count The number of turns inserted into a yarn or thread per unit length. Drehungszahl
Translations
DE Drehungszahl
FR Niveau de torsion
ES Nivel de torsión
IT Livello di torsione
CN 捻度水平
VN Mức độ xoắn
Not to be confused with High twist is not automatically better; it must match construction and size.
Thread fundamentals and construction Two-ply thread 2-ply thread A thread made from two single yarns twisted together. Zweifachzwirn
Translations
DE Zweifachzwirn
FR Fil retors à deux brins
ES Hilo de dos cabos
IT Filato ritorto a due capi
CN 双股线
VN Chỉ hai ply
Not to be confused with Not the same as a two-thread overlock stitch.
Thread fundamentals and construction Wrapped yarn Covered yarn A construction in which a core is helically wrapped with another filament, yarn or foil. Umwindegarn
Translations
DE Umwindegarn
FR Fil guipé
ES Hilo recubierto
IT Filato ricoperto
CN 包缠纱
VN Sợi quấn
Not to be confused with Not the same as core spun thread.
Thread fundamentals and construction Yarn Textile yarn A continuous textile strand made from fibres or filaments and used to make thread or textile structures. Garn
Translations
DE Garn
FR Fil
ES Hilado
IT Filato
CN 纱线
VN Sợi
Not to be confused with A finished sewing thread may consist of several single yarns twisted together.
Thread fundamentals and construction Z-twist Z twist A twist direction whose visible diagonal corresponds to the centre stroke of the letter Z. Z-Drehung
Translations
DE Z-Drehung
FR Torsion Z
ES Torsión Z
IT Torsione Z
CN Z捻
VN Xoắn Z
Not to be confused with Opposite of S-twist.