Ask Jacey: How Do I Start a Chain Ply?

I recently watched you chain ply on an Instagram video. I feel pretty good about my chain plying, but what still gives me trouble is the starting! How do you start chain plying? How do you attach it to your leader? And where do you get your first loop? ~Jenny L.

That’s a great question, Jenny. I struggled with getting started for years before I hit upon a method that is easy and clean and works every time. First, make sure you have a loop at the end of your leader. Because of how I make a leader, I always have a loop and find it helpful for all kinds of reasons. However, if you don’t already have one, just double back the end and tie an overhand knot – now you do! 

Ready for the magic? Take the end of your single and double it back on itself so you have about a 4-inch section of two strands. Now stick that doubled-back bit halfway through the loop on your leader. What you have right now is a looped leader with your doubled-back single threaded through it. When you look at it, you should have four strands of your single in front of you: two on each side of your leader – one that is a loop and one that leads to the rest of your single. The side with the loop that doesn’t lead to your single is going to stand in for your first chain-plied loop. Take the half that leads to the rest of your single and treat it like your single by pulling it through the loop in the other half. There you go! 

I know it seems like a lot of confusing instructions; if you want to see it in action, check out this video.

~jacey

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