MARCH GUILD MEETING - 21ST MARCH - Plying with a Purpose

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March meeting – Plying with a purpose 


As usual our next meeting with take place in the New Room, doors open at 10.00 am for a 10.30 am start.

Plying can be so much more than twisting two strands of spun yarn together to get something
balanced to use. There are of course the complex plies detailed in in books such as Sarah
Anderson’s authoritative ‘Book of Yarn Designs’ or playful art yarns with unexpected quirks. However, sometimes, to solve specific practical problems, you need to ply for a specific purpose.

This session is not so much how to ply as how to ply to solve a problem; for some specific
projects or when operating under constraints. We’ll look at best practice when plying,
address some myths about plying and then go on to practice different plying approaches
including:
  • Andean (aka bracelet plying) which allows you to spin and ply using only one bobbin,or to use up ends so you can empty bobbins
  • Plying with more than four strands eg to create a five stranded yarn for Guernsey knitting
  • Navajo (N-plying) which allows you to create a three ply yarn from one bobbin ofsingles and helps you achieve crisp colour changes.
  • Unequal plies such as spiral and pigtail
  • For a more challenging and well-rounded ply we will also look at howto make a cableyarn (four strands with opposite plies)
We’ll touch on what plies work best for which purposes and also look at different types of
plying apparatus as well as how to make a quick, but effective lazy kate or create a centre pull
ball with no equipment.

For a finale we’ll talk about finishing yarns to even out the plies.

Altogether you’ll learn a lot of tricks to make a spinner’s life easier and just a touch more
exciting.This session builds on the Twist Taming GBA last year, but if you missed that, or struggle with the basics of plying, we can look at specific problem after the session, so bring along any
problem plies.  Although aimed at spinners and those set up to spin, there will be a theoretical and nonspinning element.

YOU WILL NEED:
Your spinning wheel and something to spin, spun up samples on bobbins – several with a
small amount of yarn, rather than a huge bobbinful! Don’t forget to bring an empty bobbin.

Any plying props such as a lazy Kate, plying paddles, ball winder, nostepinne etc.

Don't forget to bring along your lunch.

See you all there!