🧶 Understanding Yarn Weight (Nm)

What is Nm?

Our cone yarns are measured using the Nm (Number metric) system — a standard in the textile industry for indicating yarn fineness.

Nm means:

How many meters of yarn weigh one gram.

In short: The higher the Nm, the finer the yarn.

📏 Examples:

• 30 Nm = 30 meters per gram (≈ 32.8 yards per gram) → Fine yarn

• 10 Nm = 10 meters per gram (≈ 10.9 yards per gram) → Thicker yarn

• 2/30 Nm = 15 meters per gram (≈ 16.4 yards per gram) → Moderate thickness

🔍 Let’s break it down:

2/30 Nm means: two plies of 30 Nm yarn twisted together.
Each single strand is 30 Nm (30 meters per gram, ≈ 32.8 yards per gram), and when you double it, the combined result is equivalent to 15 meters per gram (≈ 16.4 yards per gram) — twice as thick.

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🧵 Why does Nm matter?

Higher Nm yarns are:

• Finer and lighter

• Require higher-quality fiber, advanced spinning techniques, and greater production precision

That’s why high-Nm yarns are often used by discerning crafters who value stitch definition, breathability, and softness.

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🧶Machine-Grade Yarn, Hand-Knitting Ready

These yarns are originally designed for machine knitting or weaving.
If you're a hand knitter or crocheter, you’ll likely need to ply multiple strands together to reach your desired yarn weight (e.g. fingering, DK, worsted).

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📊 Cone Yarn Ply Reference Table

— for Wool, Cashmere & Other Animal Fibers

(Click to enlarge if shown as image)

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⚠️ Important Notes

• 🧵 Nm counts may vary slightly depending on fiber content (e.g. wool, cashmere, silk) and country of origin.

• ✋ Each knitter has their own tension and hand feel, so final thickness can vary.

• 🔍 Always swatch before starting a project to test:

  • Gauge

  • Density

  • Shrinkage after washing

✨ Tip

This chart is a starting point — don't be afraid to mix different fibers, colors, or strand counts to create one-of-a-kind textures.

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🐐 Mohair Blends & Brushed Yarn: Special Considerations

Mohair blends and brushed yarns often come in very fine Nm counts that may look thin but fluff up beautifully when worked.

Typical Nm counts include:

• 9500 Nm

• 13,000 Nm

• 18,000 Nm

• 22,000 Nm

These ultra-fine yarns are typically:

• Held double or triple to reach a practical thickness

• Used alongside other yarns to add halo and softness

Additional context:

• 10,000 Nm ("10k count") is often considered the entry point for luxury mohair

• Italian mohair often comes in this 10,000 Nm to 15,000 Nm range

• Japanese kid mohair tends to be even finer, from 13,000 Nm to 18,000 Nm, offering extreme softness and airy texture