What Are Wraps Per Inch?

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Table of contents

What Is Wraps Per Inch?
What You Will Need
How To Measure Wraps Per Inch
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What Is Wraps Per Inch?

Wraps per inch (WPI) is a measurement used in the fiber arts, particularly in knitting, crocheting, and spinning yarn.

It is a way to determine the thickness or diameter of a yarn or fiber.

WPI is useful when you want to match a yarn weight or the gauge of a pattern or create a consistent fabric in your project.

We use it often to check the yarns we use because you can't always go by what is on the yarn label. After all, different manufacturers use different standards.

What You Will Need

A ruler
The yarn you want to measure

How To Measure Wraps Per Inch

Instructions

Unwind a few inches of yarn from the skein or ball to make it easier to work with.
Hold the ruler vertically in one hand.
Then hold the yarn in your other hand, so it is parallel to the ruler.
Begin wrapping the yarn or fiber around the ruler for an inch, maintaining a consistent tension, but not too loose or too tight.
Wrap the yarn side by side, without any gaps or overlapping.
Once you have wrapped the yarn for an inch, count the number of wraps you have made in that inch and use that number to determine the yarn weight from the chart below.

The yarn in this image has 6 wraps per inch which is equal to #6 super bulky yarn.

Wraps Per Inch By Yarn Weight

CYC Weight	WPI
#0 Lace	30-40+
#1 Super Fine	14-30
#2 Fine	12-18
#3 Light	11-15
#4 Medium	9-12
#5 Bulky	6-9
#6 Super Bulky	5-6
#7 Jumbo	1-4

This chart is based on WPI information shared by https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/how-measure-wraps-inch-wpi

Yellow yarn wrapped around ruler. — The above yellow yarn has 21 wraps per inch which falls into the #1 super fine yarn range.

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