Open-End Yarn

Yarn spun by feeding fibres into a fast-spinning rotor rather than twisting them on a ring frame. It is much quicker and cheaper to produce, so it is the yarn behind value-priced blanks. The trade-off is a coarser, bulkier, slightly hairy yarn that feels rougher, pills sooner and gives a less even print surface than ring spun. It is perfectly serviceable for solid spot-colour work and high-volume jobs where unit cost decides; it is the wrong choice for fine halftones or a soft retail hand.