PLY article index

Learning to control the diameter of one’s singles is a rite of passage for a spinner, but that fine control can negatively impact your body without proper care. Learn how to mitigate the risks of tendinitis in this article.

When you try to spin a yarn requiring a lot of twist, it can be a challenge to get enough twist in quickly enough to make yarn that can withstand the take-up while aso training your hands to draft at the right speed. Try this method of perpendicular drafting to slow down the process and build your skills at a calmer pace.

Spinners have a whole host of both synthetic and natural fibers at our disposal, and the choice can be very important for lace yarns. This article compares five fibers (optim Merino, Angora rabbit, Yak down, Cashmere top, and Alpaca) with different preparations and spinning styles for ideal lace yarn qualities.

A spinner steps beyond her comfort zone to try a thinner draft, both woolen and worsted.

Shetland spinners today use the same methods of preparation and spinning as did their forebears. Learn the tricks that lead to creating this famously fine and delicate yarn.

Knitting pattern for a lace mini-shawl, suitable for any thickness of yarn.

The WooLee Winder is a custom-made flyer unit for automatic, level bobbin winding. Three anonymous reviewers give their feedback on the tool.

Many people spin silk with a high amount of twist, but low-twist silk has its own enchanting qualities.

The Longest Thread competition is held biennially at the International Highland SpinIn in Tasmania, where participants compete for the longest continuous 2-ply thread spun from 10g of raw wool or alpaca. This article follows one spinner’s experience in the competition.

The variety of available and appealing weaving yarns can be limited—how about a handspun, handwoven garment? Use the tips in this article to spin and weave a successful warp yarn.

You want different things in a woolen and worsted yarn so it makes sense you ply them differently! Jillian Moreno talks and walks you through how to do each for the sleekest worsted and the loftiest woolen yarn.

Plying on a spindle doesn’t need to be hard, make a ball and ply away! Jill Duarte demonstrates how to make and use a plying ball.

Jacey makes a yarn using two stale bobbins of Wensleydale and a Daedalus e-spinner. She talks about how to tell how much ply-twist you should add in when your singles no longer have active twist, how to take a good plyback, and how to reactivate the twist in a stale single.

Jillian Moreno and Jacey sit down with some tea and talk about life, community, fiber, spinning, and how much they adore one another.

Jacey introduces the episode, charkhas, antique wheels, vintage wheels, and Heavenly Bresser.

Heavenly Bresser talks about antique and vintage wheels and the wheels she currently has (almost 50). She walks you through what to look for and avoid if you’re in the market for your own older wheel. Heavenly discusses what repairs she’s made, what repairs are easy, difficult, and what repairs are simply not worth the time and trouble.

Heavenly Bresser welcomes you to the world of charkha spinning. She walks you through the parts of the charkha and how it works. Heavenly also talks about best fiber types and preps for charkha spinning, what kind of drafting is suitable for charkhas, and then teaches you how to get started, join, spin, and wind your newly spun yarn onto this wonderful tool!

Heavenly Bresser dishes about drive bands in this segment. What types of materials are used, what you can use, and benefits and drawbacks of each. She also talks about and demonstrates the drive band knot and sewing your drive band instead of knotting it for a smoother spin.

The process of sampling and spinning Cormo fiber for a light fingering weight 3-ply yarn.

Knitting pattern for a matched colorwork shawlette and beanie-style hat set.

A cartoon on selecting fiber for fine spinning.

A profile of the Ottawa Valley Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild, founded in 1949 and still active with over 200 members.

Milking goats had unexpected consequences for this spinner, whose muscular changes led her to valuable insights on life and craft. Bonus: a homemade hand salve recipe!

Maggie Casey and Jacey sit down with some tea and talk spinning, community, and life in general.