How to Ply: A Guide to Plying on a Spindle or Wheel

You've mastered spinning a singles yarn and now it is time to ply yarn. The concept is simple enough—just take two (or three, or four, or more) singles, hold them together, and ply them by twisting them in the opposite direction they were originally spun. Simple, but the possibilities are endless and you've got the likes of Maggie Casey, Judith MacKenzie, Rita Buchanan and other spinning masters to guide you through the process.

We've pulled together a handful of useful and inspiring plying articles from the past thirty-five years of Spin Off so that this information is in one handy place. We know that this free eBook contains a wealth of information for the beginning spinner, but I know from my own experiences that when I take a moment to review material that I think I comprehend, I always learn something new—greater depth is revealed each time I take the time to look at something again with fresh eyes. Inside you'll find:

• A Closer Look - Plying is optional—using unplied or singles yarn—saves precious time. Efficiency and productivity were urgent concerns when everything was made from handspun fiber, which explains why, traditionally, most handspun textiles were made from singles. Yet some traditional textiles were made from two-ply yarns, and now we usually ply. Learn about psychological motives, practical benefits, and design opportunities of the craft.

• Self-Ply - Have you been perplexed in a spinning class when the teacher recommends letting the singles "self-ply" or "ply back on itself" to test the yarn size? It's a simple technique that one often sees in classes but isn't usually described in spinning books. Usually the self-plied yarn has less ply twist than separate singles plied on the wheel or spindle, but this quick method will give you a basic idea of what the finished yarn will look like.

• Plying on a Spindle - This method is easy! In fact, there are many ways to do it: Andean plying, multiple spindles, center-pull ball, and more. Maggie has tried them all and she prefers to transfer the singles from her spindle to a storage device (such as a felt ball) before plying. Included in this article is tips on how to ply using a flowerpot, lazy kate, and spindle.

• The Art of Ply - This article covers the range of ply topics, from what is plying, to basics hand positions and tools you can use. Learn how to use plying to create more consistency in your finished yarn, plus basic guidelines for using yarn for knitting vs. weaving.

• Plying Chained Singles - Commonly known among spinners as "Navajo-plying", plying chained singles produces a three-ply yarn from a bobbin of singles yarn and is accomplished by "chaining" loops; each new loop is drawn through the previous loop. With this technique, you can create the appearance and stability of three-ply yarn from one bobbin of singles instead of three.

• Andean Plying - For spinners using handspindles, the Andean plying method is an easy way to ply the yarn from a spindle. It is also a great way to ply small samples.

Whether you're learning for the first time, want to weigh the benefits of single- vs. multiple-ply yarn, or want tips for plying on a drop spindle, this eBook is packed with helpful tips for spinners of all skill levels.