What the count number is actually measuring
Ne count is a ratio of length to weight — the higher the number, the finer the yarn. A 20s Ne yarn is coarse and suits heavy toweling; an 80s Ne yarn is fine enough for premium shirting. Buyers who quote a count without a combing grade are only giving the desk half the spec.
We work across 20s – 80s Ne on both combed and carded lines, so the first question back to any enquiry is always what the yarn becomes downstream — knit, weave, or terry — because that decides which mill on our list runs the order.
Combed or carded: the real difference
Carded yarn keeps the short fibres in, which gives it strength and a lower cost per kilo, but a slightly hairier surface. Combed yarn removes the short fibres before spinning — smoother, stronger per unit of raw cotton, and priced accordingly. For hotel linens and terry, carded is usually the right call. For fine knitwear and export shirting, combed earns its premium.
Ne count guide
| Count range | Combing | Typical end use |
|---|---|---|
| 20s – 30s Ne | Carded | Heavy toweling, hotel linen |
| 30s – 40s Ne | Carded or combed | Mid-weight knitwear, casualwear |
| 40s – 60s Ne | Combed | Fine knitwear, export shirting |
| 60s – 80s Ne | Combed | Premium shirting, fine voile |
What to send us
Send the count, the combing grade, the twist direction if it matters to your knitting machine, and the shade card if you need dyed yarn rather than greige, to the yarn desk. We quote in writing within 24 business hours and can turn a physical counter-sample around in 15 days.
