A Story About Fibre Links
“Ring Spinning-pur!”
The name of the island sounded peculiar: Ring Spinning-pur. I glanced at my tour guide, who anticipated my curiosity and said, “This is the land of legendary Yarn Academies.”
“Yarn Academy? Never heard of it. Tell me more!” I asked, intrigued.
“Here, textile fibres are stretched, trained and twisted through sacred rituals to become elite, strong yarn.”
“Oh, I see…”
As we walked, I noticed a row of fibres lined up outside a grand hall labeled Drafting Dojo. They were mostly short and stout, with uneven heights. Some looked like fluffy round balls—more comic than cohesive.
“Who are you? And where are you from?” I asked one of them.
“We’re the Cardo Team, from the town of Carding,” he replied proudly.
I pointed to a mischievous greenish dwarf clinging to his back. “And who’s that fellow?”
“Ugh… that’s my cousin Flynn Nep. He refuses to let go,” sighed the Cardo member.
Nearby, another group stood tall and graceful under a polished signboard: Comba Team. These fibres were long, silky and aligned like dancers in formation.
Before I could ask them anything, a booming voice echoed through the halls.
A wise old roller with a voice like a calibrated motor introduced himself as Professor Draftwell and addressed the crowd:
“Welcome, fibres! Today, you’ll learn the sacred art of cohesion. Only those who master the Link Technique shall graduate as Elite Yarn!”
“First, align yourselves in the Drafting Dojo. Then, prepare to face the Twist of Destiny in the Twisting Dojo!”
Inside the Drafting Dojo, chaos and contrast unfolded.
The Cardo Team struggled. Some fibres slipped out of line, others lagged behind. The formation bulged and thinned like a poorly wound bobbin. Flynn Nep tangled with everyone, turning alignment into a circus.
Meanwhile, the Comba Team moved with precision. Each fibre aligned smoothly, guided by an invisible rhythm. Their line was uniform, their purpose clear.
Then came the Twisting Dojo, ruled by a muscular spindle named Lord Hercules. A sign at the entrance warned:
“Only those who survive the Twist of Destiny shall become yarn! But beware—too much twist, and you’ll snap like a noodle in a blender!”
Inside, the fibres gripped each other tightly. But it wasn’t just hugging—it was about Fibre Links, the frictional handholds that determine team strength.
The Cardo Team tried valiantly, but their short arms and slippery cousins made linking difficult. Their handgrips turned into sweaty handshakes.
Some screamed:
“I have too many handshakes! My hands ache—I can’t breathe!”
Their links barely held—just about 3 mm between each member.
Meanwhile, Comba floated through the twist like a yogi in a tornado, whispering:
“Twist is not force—it is harmony.”
Their team maintained elegant 6 mm handgrips, forming strong, stable links. No neps, no drama—just cohesion.
Graduation Day
Both teams emerged from the chamber and entered the Testing Centre.
The Comba Team passed with flying colours, earning the coveted Elite Yarn Certificate. The Cardo Team, despite their effort, fell short. Their hearts sank.
I felt sorry for them…
…Until I woke up.
“Oh! What a dream! Now I finally understand why fibre links range from 3 mm to 6 mm. That question had been haunting me for a week,” I said to myself!
My question was: What are fibre links in the yarn, and why are the fibre links in the yarns just 3 mm to 6 mm, despite the minimum fibre length being 3 to 4 times higher than that?
Now, I could answer some more questions:
What Is a Fibre Link?
A fibre link is the portion of fibres in the cross-section of a yarn that overlaps and grips adjacent fibres due to twist-induced friction.
It’s not a physical bond, but a frictional and geometric interlock of a bunch of fibres in the cross-section of a yarn.
Each fibre can form multiple links along its length, depending on how long it is and how tightly the yarn is twisted.
Why the fibre links are important?
They decide the uniformity and more of the strength of the yarn.
Higher link density generally means better strength and cohesion.
Why Carded Yarn Has Lower Strength?
| Factor | Carded Yarn | Combed Yarn | Impact on Strength |
| Fibre Length | Shorter, more variable | Longer, more uniform | Short fibres slip more easily; fewer full-length overlaps |
| Alignment | Less parallel | Highly parallel | Misaligned fibres reduce cohesive force |
| Impurities & Neps | More | Fewer | Interrupt smooth twist and reduce frictional grip |
| Link Quality | Weak | Strong | Short links may not transmit tension effectively |
| Twist Efficiency | Lower | Higher | Twist binds better when fibres are aligned and clean |
Will the length of the fibre link be affected due to improper drafting, despite longer fibres?
Yes, and exactly. Studies show that yarn strength scales with the number of effective fibre overlaps. So, the poorly prepared fibres fail to form effective fibre links. With good preparation, the twist is more uniformly distributed, maximizing the self-locking effect and thereby yarn strength.
Do the lengths of the fibre links vary for the same kind of fibres? What is their effect?
Yes. The 3 mm and 6 mm lengths mentioned above are just average. Depending upon their preparation, if the yarn irregularity is greater, the fibre link lengths will vary greatly. It is the strength of these fibre links that results in end breaks at spinning. If the traveller tension is more than that of the fibre link, an end break occurs.
(Murugan Santhanam is Managing Director of Texdoc Online Solution Pvt. Ltd.)
