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.

Narrow down your search by selecting the article topics you want included above (will only show articles that contain ALL of your selected topics)
Sort by:
Total Records Found: 1356, showing 25 per page
Author Anne Podlesak
Article Title Knit It! Brighton Top
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list knit it, sweater
Description Knitting pattern for a raglan-sleeve, high-waisted lightweight top in both 2-ply and singles yarn.
Author Alexis Borsboom
Article Title Twister Together: Threads that balance and connect us
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list twist, community, personal reflection
Description

Twist is energy, and when we get it all right, it flows. This article meditates on achieving balance in creation.

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: Cotton
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list cotton, fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, discusses cotton. If you think she’s a wool expert, you’re right, but she knows lots and lots about cotton too!

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: Bast
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list bamboo, bast, flax, hemp, plant fibers, fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, introduces bast fibers: hemp, flax, pineapple, bamboo, milkweed, etc.

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: Manufactured fiber
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list manufactured fibers, sparkle, fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson talks about lab-made/manufactured fibers. Everything from faux cashmere, nylon, and eco-spun to rose, mint and sparkle!

Author Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Article Title All the Drafts Intro
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: All the Drafts
Article topic list drafting
Description

Jacey introduces the episode and all the drafts she’ll be demonstrating.

Author Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Article Title All the Drafts: Short forward draft
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: All the Drafts
Article topic list staple length, drafting, short forward draft, consistency
Description

Jacey talks and teaches short forward drafting with and without twist between your hands. She talks about staple length, distance of draft, keeping consistent, and how to avoid thick/thin spots.

Author Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Article Title All the Drafts: Short backward draft
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: All the Drafts
Article topic list staple length, drafting, short backward draft, consistency
Description

Jacey talks and teaches short backward drafting with and without twist between your hands. She talks about staple length, distance of draft, keeping consistent, and how to avoid thick/thin spots.

Author Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Article Title All the Drafts: From the fold
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 5
Issue topic PSG: All the Drafts
Article topic list drafting, from the fold, woolen, worsted
Description

Jacey talks about and demonstrates how to spin from the fold (tip and flat) for worsted-style and woolen-style yarns.

Author Franklin Habit
Article Title Lazy Kate's Guide to Thoroughly Unsatisfying Spinning (twist)
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list twist, humor
Description

A cartoon by Franklin Habit.

Author Jillian Moreno
Article Title Who's That Spinner? Beth Smith speaks for the sheep
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list person of interest, sheep
Description

A profile of Beth Smith, international spinning teacher and sheep obsessive.

Article Title Stealth Reviews: Nancy's Knit Knacks Anything But Lazy Kate
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list kate
Description

Three anonymous reviewers put Nancy’s Knit Knacks Anything but Lazy Kate to the test.

Author Kara Perpelitz
Article Title Twist & Staple
Issue date Summer 2014
Issue number 5
Issue topic Twist
Article topic list staple length, twist, experimenting
Description

Twist and staple length are at the forefront of every spinner’s mind. How do these two characteristics interact with each other?

Author Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Article Title Fiber Basics: Introduction
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 4
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list fiber considerations
Description

Jacey is very excited to introduce you to our next teacher — Deb Robson. Deb will be teaching about the four main types of fiber you’ll encounter as a handspinner. She’s brilliant and you’re bound to learn something.

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: You need fiber
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 4
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, introduces the major categories of fiber you’ll encounter in your spinning life. You can’t not learn from this amazing woman.

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: Alpha keratin fiber (wool)
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 4
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list wool, fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, gushes about everyone’s favorite fiber type – -wool. That simple, short description doesn’t do this 20-minute talk justice. You WILL learn something.

Author Deb Robson
Article Title Fiber Basics: Beta keratin fiber (silk)
Issue date PSG Season 1
Issue number 4
Issue topic PSG: Fiber Basics
Article topic list silk, fiber considerations
Description

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, discusses the smoothest of all fiber types: silk. She covers different types, various preps, and spinning tips.

Article Title Tip Jar: Dealing with the particular challenges of spinning silk
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list silk
Description

Silk can be hard to spin. PLY readers offer tips that make it easier.

Author Michael Cook
Article Title 4 Worms: Species silk for the handspinner
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list breed-focus, silk
Description

This article discusses the four silkworms used most often for silk production: Bombyx silk, Tussah silk, Eri silk, and Muga silk.

Author Ann Krieg
Article Title Spin It! Spinning a silk sampler
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list silk, expanding skills, experimenting, samples
Description

This article talks about how to work through spinning silk through a variety of ways to explore the fiber. It offers suggestions specific to spinning silk and how to finish the yarn as well as what information you might want to keep for your records.

Author Michelle Boyd
Article Title S, Z, and Why?
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list silk, twist, S-twist, Z-twist, knitting, crochet, weaving, experimenting, samples
Description

This article looks at how the direction of spinning impacts silk.

Author Tabitha Ferguson
Article Title Spin It! Stupas and Spires Stole
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list cashmere, silk, 2-ply, spin it
Description

This article explains how to spin the yarn for the shawl/stole pattern included in this issue.

Author Tabitha Ferguson
Article Title Knit It! Stupas and Spires Stole
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list silk, knit it, shawl, lace
Description

Knitting pattern for a stole worked sideways to embrace the drape of silk while retaining the open lace pattern.

Author Tabitha Ferguson
Article Title Cycling for Silk in Southeast Asia
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list cotton, silk, cultural, personal reflection, traveling
Description

The author describes her journey along the western border of Thailand, especially the experiences of fiber arts using cotton and silk.

Author Cassie Warholm-Wohlenhaus
Article Title Prep It! The eco-rainbow: Dyeing silk with natural dyes
Issue date Spring 2014
Issue number 4
Issue topic Silk
Article topic list silk, dyeing, natural dyeing, color, experimenting
Description

This article explores using natural dyes on different types of silk (Bombyx, Eri, Muga, Tussah) and the resulting colors. The natural dyes include cochineal, sandalwood, madder, onion skins, osage orange, and indigo.