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PLY Autumn 2022 The Loft Issue
Loft. Even the word makes you feel light and airy. It makes yarn that way, too, and it’s the focus of PLY’s Autumn 2022 issue. We want to explore all the different facets of loft, but we need your help.
Is loft ethereal or practical? You tell us! If you are aiming for loft, what fibers or blends do you choose? What attributes are the most or least important? Woolen is the airiest preparation, but many of us have a stash full of commercial top. What are the best/quickest/easiest ways to change a worsted preparation to more woolen? Or how can we spin a worsted prep to get the most loft? Which method of drafting adds the most air? Longdraw? Spinning from the fold? Double-drafting? A short forward woolen draft?
Adding plies can add significant weight to a yarn. What is the lightest or loftiest style of plying? What about singles yarns? They can be magic – quick to spin and light as air – but what’s the best method for spinning them? What is the best fiber or blend? The best finish? What about color? Can you play with color in a singles yarn? What are the best types of patterns for singles yarns?
Of course, not everyone wants to spin wool. How can you spin a lofty yarn from a cellulose fiber? Which fibers are the lightest and loftiest? Are there lofty yarns that can keep you cool? What makes a yarn breathable? How do you make the warmest lofty yarn?
Light, soft colors can be hard to dye and repeat. How do you design a delicately hued colorway? Do you have tips for keeping colors light in acid dyes, in natural dyes? Tell us about the beauty in fugitive natural dyes. Art and textured yarns have reputations for being heavy. How do you spin them to make them lighter? Is it the choice of style of yarn or the careful choice of the type of additions?
No yarn talk is complete without mentioning grist. Walk us through the construction of a yarn that gets all of the yardage per pound. Think light, not necessarily thin. Can you make a lofty yarn that is durable and wears well? What can you do to increase durability without sacrificing loft?
Lofty also means ambitious. How do you plan and spin a challenging yarn or project?
If it’s got to do with loft, we want to know about it!
Proposals are due September 1, 2021; you’ll hear back from us in October; and final articles and projects are due March 1, 2022.
The last few moodboards are here:
Summer 2022: Mix
Spring 2022: Goats
Winter 2021: Heads and Hands
Autumn 2021: Consistency
Summer 2021: Electric
Spring 2021: Double-coated
Winter 2020: Warmth
Autumn 2020: Basics
Summer 2020: Supported Spindle
Spring 2020: Fur
