Textiles: Spinning - Plying and Finishing Your Yarn

Plying

You spin two (or more) pieces of yarn in the opposite direction so they wrap around each other. 

Creates a more balanced yarn so your knitting doesn't lean to one side

Makes the yarn stronger than a single-ply

Can provide interest to the yarn

Check for balanced yarn

let some of the yarn hang

does it twist up - then you either added too much or too little twist

if not - your yarn is balanced

Navajo/Chain Plying

create a chain of loops

3 ply yarn

Finishing Your Yarn

Wind it into a skein (not the center pull skeins from the store)

Put some ties in so it doesn't get tangled (loose yarn is EVIL)

Wash carefully much like you would the raw wool

To get it more fluffy you can thwack it against a hard object. (Makes the yarn bloom)

Dry it the same way or hang it with a weight if it's still twisty.

Link to more detailed directions.

More info?

I made a playlist so you can watch everything up close and rewind the videos if you need.