In the textile industry, a hank refers to a unit of yarn or twine that is in a coiled form. This is often the best form for use with hand looms, compared to the cone form needed for power looms. Hanks come in a fixed length depending on the type of material, so the term hank is sometimes used as a unit of measure. For instance, a hank of linen is 270 meters, and a hank of cotton or silk is 770 meters.

References

• http://www.humanscape.org/Humanscape/new/may03/ishandloomdoomed.htm
• http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9039147

knitting