PLY article index

Jillian talks about why we ply yarn in the first place. What kinds of things does it add? Strength? Durability? Diameter? Grist? Design?

Jillian Moreno talks and walks you through plying 2-ply and 3-ply yarns. She talks about sitting, kates, comfort, tension, angle, and general plying technique as well as a few plying practices that aren’t optimal. Plus, she’s lovely.

Chain plying is great plying technique to manage color and/or use up all your singles. Jillian Moreno teaches you how to chain ply in a simple, meditative way.

A cartoon on the Leicester breeds.

Profile of Colin Siegmund, the young shepherd of a Border Leicester flock in Connecticut, USA.

The bigger our stash gets, more more we need a good way to store it and organize it. PLY readers give their best tips and tricks here.

Sheep with similar names aren’t always related to each other, but the Leicesters are. This article sketches the connections, notes the gaps, and ponders the possibilities—while appreciating the wool.

Spinners have been crazy about Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) for years, but what about the other two Leicesters? This article compares all three breeds from raw wool to knitted swatch.

A great tailspun yarn doesn’t have to start with a great fleece, but it’s certainly easier if it does. Here are qualities to consider when choosing your tailspinning fiber.

Three methods for dyeing long locks, each best suited to 1) vivid stripes across a lock bundle, 2) subtle color blending in a group of locks, or 3) saturated unblended colors in a bundle.

Have you ever scored a bunch of locks that are just so beautiful, so perfectly curled, such astounding examples of locktasticness that you can’t even bring yourself to spin them? This is the technique for you: by “trapping” each lock at its base between 2 cores, you can fully accentuate each one without losing any length in the twist.

Leicester Longwool is very different from the soft, shorter stapled wools normally associated with lace spinning and knitting, but it is perfect for lace outerwear. Spin a smooth, worsted yarn with a crisp hand, bold stitch definition, and beautiful drape and memory.

Spinning a fine worsted-style yarn from commercially prepared Leicester Longwool roving.

Knitting pattern for a lace stole in fingering weight yarn, easily adapted to a smaller scarf or larger throw.

As we dive deep into what makes a Leicester a Leicester, it helps to understand wool’s structure and composition. This article examines the specific properties that affect fiber behavior.

Three spinners share their thoughts on whether to cut longwool locks, from “let me sharpen my scissors” to “it may be right for you” to “I would never, ever.

Preparing and spinning Border Leicester wool (with some unintended results).

Knitting pattern for toe-up eyelet lace socks with gusset, heel turn and flap in fingering weight sock yarn.

Three anonymous reviewers assess mini combs for processing short, fine fibers or small amounts of fiber.

Is there really all that much tension between traditional crafts and being hooked on the internet? Learn about the fiber guild experience—online.

Processing Bluefaced Leicester isn’t an easy feat, but you can embrace these locks’ inherent texture for some great stress-relieving spinning with a bouclé effect.

Even sturdier wools can end as soft, fluffy yarn with close control of spinning twist. Check out this experiment on finding the right twist for your project.

Why is BFL such a popular choice for a first spinning fiber? This article investigates the properties that make it an ergonomically friendly wool for both beginners and more experienced spinners.

Spinners often compare every other breed to Merino—let’s give it a head-to-head chance against Bluefaced Leicester and see who comes out on top.