PLY article index

Twist is energy, and when we get it all right, it flows. This article meditates on achieving balance in creation.

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, discusses cotton. If you think she’s a wool expert, you’re right, but she knows lots and lots about cotton too!

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, introduces bast fibers: hemp, flax, pineapple, bamboo, milkweed, etc.

Deb Robson talks about lab-made/manufactured fibers. Everything from faux cashmere, nylon, and eco-spun to rose, mint and sparkle!

Jacey introduces the episode and all the drafts she’ll be demonstrating.

Jacey talks and teaches short forward drafting with and without twist between your hands. She talks about staple length, distance of draft, keeping consistent, and how to avoid thick/thin spots.

Jacey talks and teaches short backward drafting with and without twist between your hands. She talks about staple length, distance of draft, keeping consistent, and how to avoid thick/thin spots.

Jacey talks about and demonstrates how to spin from the fold (tip and flat) for worsted-style and woolen-style yarns.

A cartoon by Franklin Habit.

A profile of Beth Smith, international spinning teacher and sheep obsessive.

Three anonymous reviewers put Nancy’s Knit Knacks Anything but Lazy Kate to the test.

Twist and staple length are at the forefront of every spinner’s mind. How do these two characteristics interact with each other?

Jacey is very excited to introduce you to our next teacher — Deb Robson. Deb will be teaching about the four main types of fiber you’ll encounter as a handspinner. She’s brilliant and you’re bound to learn something.

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, introduces the major categories of fiber you’ll encounter in your spinning life. You can’t not learn from this amazing woman.

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, gushes about everyone’s favorite fiber type – -wool. That simple, short description doesn’t do this 20-minute talk justice. You WILL learn something.

Deb Robson, brilliant author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, discusses the smoothest of all fiber types: silk. She covers different types, various preps, and spinning tips.

Silk can be hard to spin. PLY readers offer tips that make it easier.

This article discusses the four silkworms used most often for silk production: Bombyx silk, Tussah silk, Eri silk, and Muga silk.

This article talks about how to work through spinning silk through a variety of ways to explore the fiber. It offers suggestions specific to spinning silk and how to finish the yarn as well as what information you might want to keep for your records.

This article looks at how the direction of spinning impacts silk.

This article explains how to spin the yarn for the shawl/stole pattern included in this issue.

Knitting pattern for a stole worked sideways to embrace the drape of silk while retaining the open lace pattern.

The author describes her journey along the western border of Thailand, especially the experiences of fiber arts using cotton and silk.

This article explores using natural dyes on different types of silk (Bombyx, Eri, Muga, Tussah) and the resulting colors. The natural dyes include cochineal, sandalwood, madder, onion skins, osage orange, and indigo.