PLY article index

What’s twist angle and why do you care? Michelle Boyd joins us to answer those questions and more.

Ever find it hard to get a good twist angle measurement? Jacey’s here to demystify the process, talk about how multiple plies affect twist angle, and how the S- and Z-twist angles relate to each other. Taking this important measurement needn’t be hard; let this segment make it easy!

Grist is just about the best measurement you can take of a yarn. It tells you how the length and weight of a yarn relate to each other as yards per pound (YPP). If you’re only going to take one measurement, grist might be the best one to choose. Jillian Moreno explains why it’s so awesome, how to take it, and what it means.

Technical measuring not for you? Not interested in taking the TPI, WPI, twist angle, and grist? Jillian Moreno talks measuring for the intuitive spinner in this segment. A guide to gathering the bare basics and going from there!

Jillian spins a yarn, walking and talking you through her process, while spinning and measuring intuitively.

Jacey tell you about the episode, the guild, and what’s to come.

Jacey explains the PSG website, how it’s set up, and how to navigate the episodes and seasons.

Roy Clemes explains small carding tools, the differences, and how and when to use each including flickers, hand cards, lock pops, cotton cards, and wool cards.

Michelle Boyd tells you where and when to oil your wheel as well as tying the perfect leader.

Need help with the basics? Jacey gives a thorough overview on spinning yarn. It’s not worsted or woolen, it’s just spinning. She uses a bobbin-led wheel and then a flyer-led wheel.

This article explores the fibers and yarns used for the binder and core for creating a boucle yarn. It mixes and matches four materials: silk thread, polyester thread, viscose thread, and handspun singles from the same alpaca/bamboo blend as the loops.

This article explains how to create a boucle-like yarn on a spindle. It describes how to spin the singles and how to ply and overply the yarn, including recommended plying tricks for spindles.

A brief overview of what defines a bulky yarn.

Spinning a bulky yarn once you’ve learned to spin fine isn’t as difficult as it may seem. This article offers tips on using your existing skills to get back to bulky.

How do you spin a bulky yarn that will hold up? This article dives into the importance of fiber length and twist in constructing a useable yarn.

Tips and tricks to draft thicker using short forward draw, short backward draw, and long draw.

Don’t let anxiety about new techniques get to you. Use the tips in this article to release that anxious tension in your body.

Using brake band tension to affect your wheel’s take-up doesn’t always have the same outcomes. This article describes the adjustment’s different potential effects on a variety of drafting styles and wheel types.

A profile of the SpinOlution wheel company.

This article explores using a diz in both pre-drafting and inline while spinning.

The process of choosing and preparing fiber for a bulky singles yarn.

Pattern for a textured knit cowl in bulky singles yarn.

Anyone – everyone! – can spin a thick-and-thin yarn. This article focuses on the importance of staple length and drafting distance for a consistent end product.

Pattern for a textured knit cowl in bulky weight thick-and-thin yarn with cables and a button closure.