Search for articles in published issues of PLY Magazine. You can search by any or all of the options: author, word(s) in the title, word(s) in the description, issue topic, or article topics. Note that the article topics search will show results of articles that fit ALL of the selected topics.
Click the article title to open the single entry for that article (which makes it easier to read the description). Click the issue topic to find that issue in the PLY shop.
Total Records Found: 1356, showing 25 per page
This article explains how brake bands work in flyer-led wheels and bobbin-led wheels. It then goes through various material options for brake bands and the advantages and disadvantages of each (filament line, cotton, flax, leather, kevlar) as well as brake band texture and size considerations. It also offers suggestions for how to change the take-up in other ways besides changing the brake band.
This article explores the various materials you can use for your drive band: poly band, crochet cotton, hemp cord, butcher’s twine, jute cord, and thick cotton cord. It talks about what makes a drive band successful and how often you should replace your drive band. And it dips into how changing the drive band material can change the yarn you create.
We asked our readers for their best tips on deciding how much take-up tention a particular spin needs and how they keep track of it.
This article starts with how tension works with various drive systems (flyer-led, bobbin-led, and double drive) and talks about adjusting the tension. The article then gives nine specific instances where you might want to increase the tension on your wheel.
This article discusses the role of tension in spinning supported long draw, double drafting, and spinning unassisted long draw. The author explores these techniques on a flyer wheel as well as on a supported spindle (or a spindle wheel).
This article explains how to spin the yarn used for the cowl pattern included in this issue. It also discusses how to use an even winding device (such as a WooLee Winder) for double drafting and why that combination is pure magic. And it shows you how to create a 3-ply plyback sample.
Knitting pattern for a cowl that looks like chain links.
This article talks about how to card your fibers to avoid unintended neps in your fiber prep, using both a drum carder and hand cards.
This article talks about the different types of hand strain that can occur while spinning and what you can do to avoid it. Then the author provides several specific hand exercises you can do daily to help keep your hands flexible and injury-free.
Tension is important when creating any type of yarn but is especially important for textured and art yarns. This article explains how to use tension and how much tension to use when corespinning and also provides troubleshooting tips for problems you might run into.
This article looks at the various types of kates that are available for holding your bobbins while plying and how tension works with each type. It also talks about specific types of plying when tension is most important.
This article explores how to make sure your ply twist is even and consistent by keeping your singles well tensioned while plying. It describes how to set up your wheel and kate and how to manage your hands. It also offers tips for managing singles when plying 4 or more plies.
This article describes how to use a blending board and a photo inspiration to create a distinctive colorway of fiber that will spin into a unique set of colorful swirls.
This article discusses the benefits of using an opposing-ply yarn for making socks and then explains how to spin an opposing-ply yarn, especially how to manage the single spun in the same way as the ply, which will have lots of extra twist in the end.
This article experiments to see if the type of worsted draft (short forward vs short backward) affects the finished yarn.
This article looks at how spinning can help with stress relief and offers suggestions for what you can do while spinning to help reach flow state.
Crochet pattern for a delicate and textured scarf using puff stitches.
This article describes how to spin the yarn for the crocheted scarf pattern included in this issue, a laceweight 2-ply yarn fro a blend of Targhee, silk, and bamboo.
The author experiments with fiber types and methods for spinning an extremely fine yarn, challenging herself each time to go even thinner. Can she surpass 100 WPI?
This article examines how different ply structures (singles, 2-ply, 3-ply) affect your knitted item in stockinette, lace, and cables and provides sample swatches to show those differences.
This article shows you how to create a swirled blend of combed top for a worsted-leaning preparation using a hackle.
This article explains how to spin the opposing-ply yarn for the sock project included in this issue.
This article explores how differential tension can affect the look of a plied yarn, going from a traditional 2-ply yarn through gimp yarn, spiral ply, and supercoil.
Knitting pattern for toe-up shorty-style socks using opposing-ply yarn.
