PLY article index

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.

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Total Records Found: 1356, showing 25 per page
Author	Article Title	Issue date	Issue number	Issue topic	Article topic list	Description
Kate Atherley	On Spinning Yarn for Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	fiber considerations, fiber prep, yarn stats, socks	If you’re going to the trouble of knitting socks, you should do everything you can to ensure they last as long as possible. As spinners, we have the power to create yarns that precisely match our needs: here are some considerations for making an ideal sock yarn.
Donna Kay	Spin It! My Perfect Sock	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	spin it, Cormo, mohair, blends, fiber prep, 3-ply, yarn stats, socks	After much experimenting, here are all the details on one spinner’s perfect sock yarn.
Kate Atherley	Knit It! Perfectly Imperfect Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	knit it, socks, cables	Knitting pattern for some slightly-odd socks that may stave off your Second Sock Syndrome, featuring cables and a slip-stitch heel flap.
Christina A. Pappas	Humble Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	historical, socks	Socks are a late addition to the human wardrobe: the first proper socks were not worn until sometime after CE 1. Explore the history of sock wearing (and making!) in this article.
Jillian Moreno	Favorite Structure: Favorite Fiber	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, yarn stats, fiber considerations	There are probably more opinions on how to spin a sock yarn than any other yarn. Some of the spinning community’s favorite teachers share their go-to methods for sock yarn spinning.
Pimmie Schoorl	Stubborn Sock Yarn: Testing Structure	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	experimenting, 2-ply, 3-ply, chain plied, 4-ply and beyond, cabled, opposing ply, crepe, BFL, durability	A quest for the most hardwearing sock yarn construction, putting seven different approaches to the test.
Jennifer Lackey	Color Study in 3 Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, color, cabled, chain plying, fiber prep	Socks are great for exploring new approaches, but they can be a challenge for color. These 3 pairs demonstrate how colored fiber might be handled when spinning for socks.
Evanita Montalvo	Turkish Spindles, Sleeping Turtles, and Matching Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, spindles, crossarm spindles, planning, expanding skills, Turkish spindle	One of the many wonderful things about knitting socks is how portable they are—and if you’re spindle spinning, you can stay on the go from yarn to final pair. Here are some tips for getting matching socks out of a spindle-spun yarn.
Lori Patterson	Sock Summit: A Remembrance	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	personal reflection, community	A reflection on Sock Summit, a multi-day event dedicated to sock knitting.
JoAnna Moskal	Spin It! 3-Ply 2 Ways	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	spin it, socks, 3-ply, chain plied, braids	Sometimes a bit of indecisive rebellion results in really awesome socks. Here’s a fun approach to spinning a braid for sock yarn.
Debbie Held	Making the Case for Crepe-spun Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, crepe, elasticity, expanding skills	A true standout among contenders for the best sock yarn structure is crepe, as it brings an added necessary element into the mix: elasticity.
Jillian Moreno	Prep It! More Than Merino: Fiber for Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	prep it, fiber considerations, socks	Handspun, hand knitted socks are an undisputed luxury. Many spinners default to Merino and Merino blends, but there is a wide world of great fibers for socks! Check out some of the options here.
Mary Berry	Spin It! Goldilocks and the Perfect Book Sock	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	spin it, fiber considerations, fiber prep, yarn stats, socks, swatches, Shetland	Once upon a time, our shepherd Goldilocks looked to her own flock for The Perfect Yarn with whichto knit The Perfect Boot Sock. Here’s where her journey brought her.
Mary Berry	Knit It! Perfect Boot Socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	knit it, socks	Knitting pattern for socks with a round toe, padded heel, and snug fit, knit from a good tough handspun yarn.
Denise Williams	A Good Yarn: Nylon vs. Mohair	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, experimenting, mohair, manufactured fibers, add-ins, durability	Nylon is a popular addition to sock yarn for its purported durability. This article explores using mohair as a substitute.
Rebecca Marsh, Mary Heath	Tuff Socks Naturally: An ongoing collaborative project exploring sustainable fibers and techniques for making durable socks	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, durability, community, fiber considerations, experimenting	Tuff Socks Naturally is a motley crew of sock knitters gathered together on Instagram, dedicated to exploring alternatives to nylon and superwash in sock yarns and finding durable fiber sources.
Natasha Sills	Spin It! Woolen Socks?	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	experimenting, woolen, twist, socks	Conventional wisdom says socks should be spun worsted. But what if that’s not an option? This article investigates how to spin a woolen yarn that can hold up to sock wear.
	Tip Jar: Tips for making the perfect sock yarn	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	socks, expanding skills	Everyone loves handspun socks, PLY readers give you tips to spin the perfect sock yarn.
Michelle Boyd, Mary Caldwell, Donna Kay, Monica Spicker, Marilyn Wright, Heather Zoppetti	6 Spinners and Their Perfect Sock Yarn	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	yarn stats, socks	A perfect sock yarn varies by personal preference! These spinners share their ideal combinations of fiber and method.
Melanie Duarte	Luxury Socks That Last and Luxury Socks That Don't	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	twist, socks, durability, experimenting, swatches, 3-ply, yarn stats	How does twist affect the longevity of a garment, especially a hard-wearing item like socks? This experiment shows what to expect when varying twist across singles and plies.
Julie-Anne Gandier	Superwash Wool: The Spinner's Friend of Foe?	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	fiber considerations, wool, superwash wool, environmental	Superwash wool is a polarizing topic. This article aims to provide spinners with a fundamental understanding of the science of superwash, building the necessary framework for making an informed decision about using these fibers.
Tom van Deijnen	Darn That Hole!	Winter 2018	23	Sock Yarn	expanding skills, sustainability	Once the dreaded holes appear in your handspun, hand knit socks, you have numerous options for repair! Learn the basics of darning in this article.
Joanne Arnest	Has Anything I've Learned Made Me a Faster Spinner?	Autumn 2018	22	Power	Polwarth, fiber prep, long draw, short forward draft, expanding skills, experimenting, personal reflection	Are there reliable tricks for achieving faster spinning, especially with a spindle? This spinner experiments with preparation and drafting styles to compare time spent and final yarns.
James Perry	Who's the Fastest of Them All?	Autumn 2018	22	Power	wheel selection, ratios, twist	A look at high speed spinning equipment: what’s out there and what performs well (note: article is from autumn 2018).
Rachel Simmons	Spinning and the Universe	Autumn 2018	22	Power	spindles, science	Have you ever considered that every time you spin, you are harnessing the power of the universe? This article meditates on the transfer of energy between spinner, tool, and fiber.