PLY article index

Knitting pattern for geometric colorwork mittens.

Spinners are such interesting people. Meet Heather Apple, amazing spinner and devoted World of War Craft player.

Stephenie Gaustad is infinitely patient as Jacey asks her every single question she’s ever had about different drive systems of wheels and how they work. Jacey plays “what if” games including where she names a yarn and Steph tells her which wheels would be best suited; where she asks Steph how to adjust a specific wheel for a particular yarn; and where she names a “type” of spinner and asks what kind of wheel they should have. Steph talks about what each wheel excels at and struggles with and what a new spinner might look for in a wheel. Stephenie also drops so many precious spinning gems about happenstance and twinkling spinning that you’re sure to add some valuable spinning knowledge to your spinning soul.

You don’t have to know everything to make a yarn! Use what you already know and make a yarn with Jacey using a flyer-led wheel. She talks with setting up your wheel, getting comfortable with your fiber, and getting the right uptake/tension. She also shows you up close and clearly how the flyer-led system works, how the flyer leads the show and the bobbin follows and then stalls to let the yarn wind on. There’s pulley/whorl talk, twist talk, tension talk, and plyback test as Jacey spins a worsted yarn. If you’ve ever found the technicalities of how scotch tension works, this will help!

You don’t have to know everything to make a yarn! Use what you already know and make a yarn with Jacey using a bobbin-led, single drive wheel. She talks about setting up your wheel, getting comfortable with your fiber, and getting the right uptake/tension with this greedier drive system. She also shows you up close and clearly how the bobbin-led system works, how the bobbin leads the show and the flyer follows and how the yarn winds on. There’s pulley/whorl talk, twist talk, brake talk, staple length talk, fiber stripping talk, and cross-lacing for decreasing uptake as Jacey spins a worsted-style yarn using a short backward draft.

You don’t have to know everything to make a yarn! Use what you already know and make a yarn with Jacey using a double drive wheel. She talks about setting up your wheel, getting comfortable with your fiber, and getting the right uptake/tension and not feel rushed. She’ll also show you up close and clearly how the double drive system works. There’s pulley/whorl talk, twist talk, uptake talk as Jacey spins worsted for a bit and then moves into a point of contact long draw.

Stephenie Gaustad, sits down with Jacey Boggs for some tea and talk! They talk fiber, community, history, spinning, and how much they both like each other.

Jacey introduces her own very limited spindle spinning experience and why she brought spindle spinner (and maker) Jill Duarte to the guild.

Suspended spindles (also known as drop spindles) represent many people’s first spindle. Jill Duarte introduces different types of suspended spindles, the different parts, and how they work!

Supported spindles are well-loved by spindle enthusiasts and Jill Duarte tells us why. She introduces and demos several different types and explains what they’re especially good (and not so good) at.

A look at how a suspended top whorl spins with Jill Duarte

A look at how a supported cup whorl (also known a Tibetan spindle) spins

A look at how a supported disk whorl (also known a Takhli spindle) spins with Jill Duarte

You’ve gotta store your spun yarn somewhere; here’s how to start a basic cop on a spindle.

Jill walks and talks us through how to build a cop on a whorled spindle, because that yarn has got to go somewhere!

Jill walks and talks us through the wonderful process of winding a cop on a crossarm spindle.

Winding your cop on a Dealgan is a bit different than on any other spindle. Jill shows us how.

Jacey’s getting her crossarm spindle and fiber ready to Make A Yarn with Jill Duarte. If you’re nervous about this, don’t worry, you can’t be more nervous than Jacey!

Jill Duarte guides us through making a yarn on a crossarm spindle (because you don’t have to know everything to make a yarn!). Get out your suspended spindle and spin along!

A color blending cartoon.

Three anonymous reviewers share their experience with the Clemes & Clemes blending board.

Jacey welcomes you to the PSG, explains what it is, how to use it, and why it’s so great!

Wondering which wheels or spindles are best for worsted? Jacey walks you through choosing and how to adjust each type of wheel once you do make your choice!

Are you new to spinning worsted? Maggie Casey is the teacher for you. With her approachable, no-nonsense approach, you’ll be spinning a smooth, dense worsted yarn in no time.