PLY article index

Spinners have our quirks… and one of them may be “listening to the wool” to determine how a fiber should be spun. Are we all getting the same information from it?

Flax loves you, and the more you torture it, the happier it will be. Learn the basics of flax and linen in this article.

Twist direction has a very different meaning to an anthropologist or archaeologist. This article breaks down what twist can tell us about culture.

While active twist can make for some interesting effects in finished cloth, most spinners pursue balanced yarns. What does that mean, and how is it achieved?

Preparing, spinning, and finishing a Merino/flax blend yarn.

Knitting pattern for a lace scarf in fingering weight Merino/flax yarn.

An experiment with twist and ply to discover what goes into a stable yarn.

How many of us actually use twist angle, or angle of twist, in our spinning? Dive deep into this property with this article.

Does twist information get lost in your mind? Learn how to intuit it in this hands-on article.

Three spinners share their views on yarn measurements and their utility.

Learning to measure our yarns helps us understand what is happening with them, but we don’t have to measure every yarn to make good ones. Here are some low-tech checks to get you there.

What does twist have to do with durability? This experiment tests out the relationship across several yarns.

Sometimes you don’t want to take a risk on making socks with just any random yarn. So how do you spin the fiber, and where do you put the twist, for ideal results?

Spinning 2-ply sock yarn from superwash Merino top.

Knitting pattern for lace socks in superwash Merino yarn.

Balance is complicated—not just in spinning, but in life. One working spinner shares her approaches to managing time and craft.

Twist ultimately comes from you, and it’s wise to learn how to minimize these forces on your body to spin with comfort and longevity.

Grist freaks out some spinners, but it’s useful for making consistent yarn. Explore this mysteriously mathematical measure in an in-depth article.

Quick tips on twist to improve your spinning life.

New spinners often learn that twist will be lost in finishing—but where does it go? This article investigates the mystery of this mechanic (with a bonus experiment to try at home!).

Struggling with a twist-active yarn? Learn how to set it before using in a project.

Does twist direction combined with knitting technique affect the finished fabric? Find out in this article.

Explore twist in a finished crochet project made from singles yarn.

Spinning three different yarns from the same merino/bamboo/silk base: one balanced 2-ply, one energized S-spun singles, and one energized Z-spun singles.