PLY article index

The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, cares for several ambassador gray wolves, including an annual brushing by trained staff. This article documents the journey of working with the IWC to access the wolves’ shed undercoat and create finished cloth from handspun yarn.

Rabbits have been domesticated for thousands of years. In this article, discover their history and the science of angora fiber.

We live in a time that allows us all to become connoisseurs of fiber with the click of a button, and not just the ones available locally. In this article, learn about the fiber of the Brushtail Possum, originating in Australia and Tasmania.

You might think of hand carders as being the poor cousin of other fiber processing tools, but they are simple and effective for a range of fiber prep tasks.

Drum carders are a mystery to most fiber artists. By understanding this tool through the lens of friction, however, we can turn that attitude around.

Most spinners fall somewhere in between highly intuitive and highly technical spinning. What does that actually look like in practice?

A quick reference for choosing which preparation to use on your wool fiber.

A diz in action is like watching magic, creating a smooth and lofty fiber prep. This article will walk you through what a diz is and how it works.

So often when we think about fiber prep, the discussion focuses on a particular color, a particular method, the particular tools and techniques we employ. But what about color?

Creating two DK weight singles yarns suitable for colorwork.

Worked in the round seamlessly from the bottom up, this stranded colorwork cowl is knit in highly contrasting shadesw of a singles DK weight yarn. The diamond shapes represent flowers blooming and then returning to the earth to sleep until the following year.

A quick reference for choosing which preparation to use when blending fiber for color and texture.

Texture can appear intimidating at first, but it’s possible to create a textured preparation that is spinnable at nearly any gauge and spinner’s comfort zone.

Shetland sheep are a primitive breed from the Shetland Isles off the coast of Scotland. Learn about their traits and their history in North America.

Prior to the 19th century, all colors came from natural sources. In this article, learn about the types of natural dyes and how to use them on your fibers.

The history of cochineal, a natural dye from scale insects, and the process of dyeing Shetland wool with it.

Shetland is a versatile breed: in this article, it is being spun worsted for a cardigan project.

Knitting pattern for a lace cardigan in worsted weight wool yarn.

Wool combs are the tool for bringing out qualities like luster, strength, and consistency in yarn. Her are ten tips for combing your fiber.

We all have that one braid of beautiful wool with just the right colors, but sometimes it becomes compacted, compressed, and maybe a little felted. Try these troubleshooting tips to save your braid and make it spinnable.

Preparation of fiber is so important to the spinning process, and it covers a lot of ground. In this article, follow the decisions involved in designing yarn for a notebook cover.

It can be helpful to have a central location for project notes, design sketches, and details on spins and projects created: jazz it up with this woven notebook cover from 2-ply handspun yarn.

Getting to know a new wheel is a process. Read about how to treat an unfinished wheel, troubleshooting your first spins, and taking care of this tool for the long term.

Making use of unusual ingredients allows you to play around with colors and textures as if painting, and the results are always surprising and often quite beautiful. Here are three yarns that illustrate the importance of fiber prep for creating stable, cohesive yarns from diverse fibers.