What Is a 4-Point Fabric Inspection? (And Why Buyers Should Ask for It)

Melange snowflake textured knit fabric close-up - #2615 from Yepo Textile

When a container of fabric arrives with visible defects, the argument is rarely about whether the defects exist — it is about whether anyone checked before it was rolled. The 4-point inspection is how that check is standardised.

How the 4-point system works

An inspector examines the roll against a light box or inspection frame. Every defect is measured and scored:

  • 3 inches or less → 1 point
  • 3–6 inches → 2 points
  • 6–9 inches → 3 points
  • Over 9 inches, or any hole → 4 points

The score is totalled per 100 square yards (or per 100 linear metres). A common acceptance standard is 20 points per 100 square yards, with no individual roll scoring more than 20. Serious defects within three inches of the selvedge are usually not counted.

Soft grey knitted fabric surface photographed flat for fabric inspection
A four-point inspection is carried out on the roll, not on a swatch. Defects are counted per 100 square yards and scored 1 to 4 points.

What it catches that a quick look does not

  • Needle lines and dropped stitches — often invisible until the fabric is stretched
  • Oil spots and dye patches that only show under raking light
  • Slubs and thick places that appear as a line down the finished garment
  • Width variation from one end of a roll to the other

That last one matters more than most buyers expect. If the width drifts from 167 cm to 162 cm across a roll, your marker plan is wrong and your consumption goes up.

Close-up of fabric running through a textile finishing machine
Running defects — needle lines, broken yarns, skew and barré — are exactly what a visual spot-check misses.

What to ask your supplier

  1. Do you inspect every roll, or sample the lot?
  2. What is your points-per-100-square-yards standard?
  3. Can you send the inspection report with the shipment?
  4. What happens if the goods fail — credit, replacement or a discount?

At Yepo every roll passes a 4-point inspection before it is packed, and articles are knitted at our standard 165 cm usable width, with the exact width of each quality listed on its product page, so your consumption stays predictable.

Need samples or pricing?

Tell us the article number, target weight and quantity you need. We reply within 12 hours (Mon–Sat) with pricing, stock availability and free A4 swatch cards or hangers (international freight collect).

Request a quote →  |  Browse all 50 knit fabrics

Fabrics mentioned in this article

Need the full picture? See all 50 knit fabrics in our complete index, or request a quote — we reply within 12 hours (Mon–Sat). Free A4 swatch cards are available, international freight collect.

Every roll of these qualities is inspected and packed before dispatch: #2615 Melange Snowflake Textured Knit (260 GSM), #2409 Boucle Wool-Blend Looped Knit (280 GSM) and #2209 Sculpted 3D Waffle Thermal Knit (260 GSM).

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