Yarn Wraps Per Inch Calculator

One (McMorran's balance) is a formula-based estimate computed purely from your WPI and ply count, while the other comes from actually weighing and measuring a real sample of your yarn. They should be close for typical yarns, but the measured figure is the more reliable of the two since it reflects your actual spinning rather than an approximation.

Ne and Tex are two different traditional yarn-numbering systems derived from the same underlying WPI measurement — Ne is approximated as WPI squared divided by 6.5, and Tex (grams per 1000 meters) is then derived from Ne using the standard conversion. They're provided so you can match your handspun yarn against commercial yarn specs or weaving setts that reference either system.

It's a broad starting range tied to the Craft Yarn Council's published Standard Yarn Weight System bands — for example, 14-18 WPI maps to "DK" and a US 5-7 needle range — not a precise recommendation for your specific yarn or pattern. That system is the same industry-standard weight classification printed on commercial yarn labels, so it's a reliable starting point, but treat the needle number itself as a starting point and swatch to confirm gauge.

Every output in this calculator is derived from the single WPI number, so wrapping too tightly, too loosely, or letting wraps overlap will shift every downstream figure — weight category, yards per pound, yarn diameter, and needle size all move together. Wrapping snugly without stretching, on a consistent tool, gives the most trustworthy result.