Understanding Low Twist Yarn

Q: What exactly is “low twist” yarn?

A: In the spinning process, yarn is twisted to add strength and provide greater uniformity, aiding the weaving process. The greater the twist, the more durable and substantial the yarn.

To create a low twist, the yarn is actually untwisted. Only longer staple cotton fibers—with their inherent strength—can be used in constructing low-twist yarns. The de-twisting action creates more air and space between the fibers, which yields a terrycloth fabric that’s especially soft and absorbent. This feature also decreases the time it takes the towel to dry after use or washing.

Q. What’s the difference between low-twist cotton towels and the more standard ringspun cotton towels?

A. You’re probably familiar with single-ply, 2-ply and 3-ply yarn. What you might not know is that while a single is, of course, a single strand a yard, “single” is also a term used to describe yarn that’s twisted in a single direction. Tecnically speaking, then, multiple strands of yarn can still be correctly described as a “single” if they’re all twisted in the same direction.

As far as 2-ply and 3-ply yarn is concerned, they consist of multiple strands of spun yarn that are twisted in the opposite direction from which they were originally twisted. This is done because twists add considerable strength to cotton fibers, and each multiple direction of a twist adds even more strength. That’s why a 3-ply towel is generally stronger than a 2-ply, and a 2-ply towel will tend to be stronger than a single-ply.

But here’s where it really gets interesting: While 2-ply and 3-ply cotton towels are still very popular and regularly used in the industry, a number of new and unique twists have been developed in recent years that give yarns a significantly higher level of softness and absorbency. It was through that process that the “low twist” style of cotton towel was originated.

So why, exactly, are low-twist towels so luxurious? To put it simply, it has everything to do with the fibers. Standard ringspun towels, for instance, are constructed of both long and short staple cotton fibers. But as we mentioned above, low-twist towels can only be made from longer staple cotton fibers, which are especially strong. The result is that low-twist cotton towels are heavier, softer and considerably fluffier than the much more commonplace twisted cotton yarn towels that most of us have in our homes. And yes, low-twist towels are also much more absorbent than the average ringspun towel.

The bottom line? If you manage an inn, a hotel or a bed-and-breakfast, your guests will absolutely notice the difference a luxurious, low-twist cotton towel offers. In fact, we’ve heard from a number of inn proprietors who’ve received such positive feedback on their low-twist towels that they’re now offering the towels for sale to their guests.

Our supplier, SFERRA, has developed a luxurious, low-twist cotton towel for fall 2014 called Sarma. Made with extra-long staple Turkish combed cotton, Sarma is plush, ultra-absorbent, and quick drying.

Sarma offers a lush terry towel in exciting decorator colors, helping to round out our Bath program in answer to specific performance preferences. It is available in bath sheets, bath towels, hand towels, fingertip towels, wash cloths, and tub mats.

SFERRA gave Sarma a clean, modern look with no dobby border, and dreamt up this gloriously bright and cheerful color palette:

Please visit our website to see the other towel choices we offer.

If you don’t see the products you wish to purchase, please call us at 1-800-877-4667 and one of our knowledgeable sales reps will be happy to assist you in finding the correct towel styles or any hotel supplies for your particular property.