AA Enterprises · Buyer Tools
Crimp Percentage Calculator
Work out yarn crimp percentage from the straightened yarn length and the fabric length.
Crimp % = (yarn length − fabric length) ÷ fabric length × 100. Take-up % is measured against the yarn length. Higher crimp means more yarn is consumed per metre of fabric.
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Get a quote Ask on WhatsAppCrimp is why warp length exceeds fabric length
When yarn interlaces in a woven fabric it bends over and under the crossing threads. That waviness is crimp, and it means the yarn is longer than the piece of cloth it sits in.
Crimp percentage is (yarn length minus fabric length) divided by fabric length, times 100. Get it wrong on a warp calculation and you will run out of beam before the piece is finished.
Typical crimp values
Terry pile is the extreme case: the pile warp is several times longer than the towel because it loops up out of the ground. It runs on a separate beam for exactly this reason.
| Fabric | Warp crimp | Weft crimp |
|---|---|---|
| Voile | 2 – 4% | 2 – 4% |
| Poplin | 4 – 7% | 8 – 12% |
| Plain sheeting | 6 – 9% | 6 – 9% |
| Denim twill | 5 – 8% | 4 – 7% |
| Terry towel (ground) | 5 – 8% | 4 – 6% |
| Terry towel (pile) | 120 – 200% | — |
Crimp interchange
Warp and weft crimp are linked. Increase weft density and the warp has to bend further over more picks, so warp crimp rises and weft crimp falls. This trade-off is called crimp interchange.
It matters when you change one side of a construction. Raising PPI to make a heavier cloth will lengthen the warp requirement, and if you have already cut the beam you will be short.
Worked example
A 100 metre piece of poplin has 6 per cent warp crimp. Warp yarn consumed = 100 × 1.06 = 106 metres per end. On 6,600 ends that is 699,600 metres of yarn, before waste.
If you had planned the beam on 100 metres per end, you would fall roughly 6 per cent short — six metres of cloth on every hundred.
Frequently asked questions
What is crimp percentage in weaving?
The extra length of yarn compared with the fabric, caused by the yarn bending over crossing threads. It is (yarn length minus fabric length) divided by fabric length, times 100.
What is a typical warp crimp?
Most woven cotton runs 4 to 9 per cent warp crimp. Poplin sits around 4 to 7 per cent; plain sheeting a little higher.
What is crimp interchange?
The trade-off between warp and weft crimp. Increasing weft density raises warp crimp and lowers weft crimp, and vice versa.
Why is terry towel crimp so high?
The pile warp loops up out of the ground fabric, so it can be two or three times the length of the towel. It runs on a separate beam.
Does crimp affect yarn requirement?
Yes, directly. Warp yarn requirement is fabric length multiplied by (1 plus crimp), before adding waste.