How to determine the twist direction of yarns, strands and ropes

Whether you’re dealing with yarn, twine, strands or rope, it is important to determine their direction.

A simple and fool-proof way is, as shown left, to look at the material vertically.

1. ✦When the diagonal  is going downwards from right to left, evoking an upper-case Z, it’s a Z-twist.
   

2. ✦When the diagonal  is going downwards from left to right, evoking an upper-case S, it’s a S-twist.