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HeartStrings FiberArts
Inspiration & Patterns for Wearable Art in Timeless Styles |
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What is Wraps Per Inch (WPI)?Measuring and universally communicating a yarn thicknessWPI is a yarn thickness measurement that is familiar to spinners, but can be beneficial to non-spinners as well. WPI is an acronym for Wraps Per Inch. This type of measurement provides a more universal way of describing the characteristics of a yarn's thickness than sometimes happens with the confusing terms for worsted, sport, 8-ply, jumper, etc. Have you ever had an occasion where the belly band of an unknown yarn was missing? Or an unspecified coned yarn? Also, you can expand beyond those yarns designated as "knitting yarns" to other perfectly good yarns known to weavers, hand spinners, etc., By understanding this concept, you can make more knowledgeable decisions about yarn substitution. A simple way to measure WPI is the following –
Example of a yarn that has been wound onto the pencil and measures 13 WPI
If your yarn is bulky, you can get more accuracy by measuring over a longer distance. For example, make marks 2 inches apart. Then divide your number of wraps by 2 to get the WPI. If your yarn is very fine, making marks a half inch apart may be sufficient. Remember to multiply by 2 to get your actual WPI. The Pattern Index lists HeartStrings by yarn type. This will help you locate HeartStrings patterns suitable for the yarn thickness you want to use. For simplicity, the listing is categorized into four "weights" of yarn thicknesses: fine, medium, heavy, and bulky. You may find the correlation of WPI to popular knitting yarn types in these categories helpful for substituting yarns on HeartStrings and any other patterns. Return to Index of Jackie E-S Articles & Tips.
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