Singles
Measurement — one of 5 in the glossary
A count of yarn fineness, written on spec sheets as "30 singles" or "30/1". The number runs backwards from intuition: the higher it is, the finer and lighter the yarn, so 40 singles is finer than 18 singles. Fine singles give a lightweight, smooth, drapey fabric with a close surface; coarse singles give a heavier, more rugged fabric. It is the most reliable single clue to how a tee will feel, and a better one than ounce weight alone, because a 30-singles 4.2 oz tee and an 18-singles 4.2 oz tee are completely different garments.
A count that runs backwards
Singles counts yarn fineness by length per unit weight, so a higher number means a finer yarn. 30 singles is finer than 18 singles.
It is written as "30 singles" or "30/1" — the 1 meaning single-ply. "30/2" would be two-ply yarn of 30 count.
The counter-intuitive direction catches people out constantly, and it is the opposite of denier, where higher means heavier.
What it tells you that weight does not
Fabric weight is mass per area. Two shirts at the same ounces can be knitted from completely different yarns and feel nothing alike.
A 4.5 oz tee in 30 singles is fine, smooth and light in the hand. The same 4.5 oz in 18 singles is coarser and denser-feeling.
So singles is the number to ask for when a spec sheet gives you weight and you still cannot tell what the shirt will feel like.
For a decorator
Higher singles means a smoother face, which holds fine print detail better — the same reason ring spun beats open end.
Very fine yarns also make lighter, more transparent fabric, so an underbase may be more visible from the inside.
Taken together, "30 singles combed ring spun" is the shorthand for a blank that will print sharply and feel retail.
Common questions
- What does singles mean on a t-shirt?
- A count of yarn fineness. Higher is finer: 30 singles is a finer yarn than 18 singles. It is written as "30 singles" or "30/1".
- Is a higher singles count better?
- Finer and smoother, which usually reads as better quality and prints more sharply. It is also lighter and less opaque, which is not always what a job needs.
- What is the difference between singles and fabric weight?
- Weight is mass per area; singles is how fine the yarn is. Two shirts of identical weight in different singles feel completely different.
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