PLY article index – mobile friendly

Are you new to spinning worsted? Maggie Casey is the teacher for you. With her approachable, no-nonsense approach, you’ll be spinning a smooth, dense worsted yarn in no time.

Are you new to spinning worsted yarns on spindles? Heavenly walks you step-by-step through how to get started and keep spinning.

Ready to go deeper into drafting worsted? Jacey digs way into what worsted drafting is, how it works, and why you’d do it. She covers staple length and how it affects your drafting distance, fiber type, adjusting your tension, how to keep out from between your hands (and how it changes your yarn if you let it sneak in there), and the difference in short back and short forward drafting.

Tips from PLY readers on how to blend, spin, and use the collection of hand-dyed braids we all have stashed.

Controlling color in chain plies.

The process of sampling colors to create an ideal yarn palette.

The ergonomics of color in fiber blending, drafting, and plying.

Tricks for maintaining gradual color changes when spinning a 2-ply yarn.

Knitting pattern for an asymmetrical shawl with color contrast.

A day-in-the-life record of a yarn dyer.

Consider the impact that fiber preparation can have on the color of your final yarn. This article focuses on using a carder to create intentional batts.

Want to move away from stripping as a default fiber prep? Experiment with drafting across the top.

Dyeing is an ancient practice. This article explores natural color histories around the world.

Four spinners across the spectrum of opinions weigh in on the topic of pre-drafting fiber.

An investigation of Jacob wool and how to work with it.

Spinning a Jacob fleece for a knitted blanket.

Knitting pattern for a 60×65 inch blanket in 3-ply Aran weight yarn.

Profile of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh and its “Knit the Bridge” project.

Experimenting with an eclectic collection of fibers to create unique yarns.

How to prepare and spin a fractal yarn.

Knitting pattern for a lace shawl in fractal-spun yarn.

How do prep and drafting impact the final appearance of color in a finished yarn?

There’s no rule against combining colorways into one yarn! This article introduces combination drafting to spin something completely new.

Spinning a balanced, 2-ply sport weight yarn for knitted mittens.