Yarn quality reports are full of abbreviations. Here is what the main ones mean, so you can read a spec with confidence.
CV% (evenness)
Coefficient of variation of mass — how uniform the yarn is along its length. Lower is better. See yarn evenness (CV%).
CSP (strength)
Count Strength Product — count (Ne) × lea strength (lbs), a count-independent strength indicator. Higher is stronger. Use the CSP calculator.
IPI (imperfections)
Imperfections Index — thin places, thick places and neps per unit length. Lower is cleaner.
RKM (tenacity)
Breaking length in kilometres (grams per tex, roughly) — a measure of yarn tenacity. Higher is stronger.
Reading them together
For critical fabric, ask for CV%, CSP/RKM and IPI alongside the count — and, crucially, consistency batch to batch. That is what our quality standards are built on.
Want documented, consistent yarn quality? Tell us your parameters.
See the glossary for every term, and our yarn guides.