spindle plying

In the comments, Jenn asks about how to ply when you're spinning with a spindle.

This is a good question, and one I've been thinking about lately, as I've been unhappy with my own plying (and thinking about the answer to Jenn's question has set some lightbulbs off).

When I first started plying, I used to wind the yarn off the spindle into balls (using the ball winder), and then ply from the balls.  Which was fine until you got nearer to the end of things, at which point the balls tended to collapse and tangle.  I figured all the extra man-handling I was doing probably wasn't doing the resulting yarn any good, so I began looking for another solution.

One thing mentioned in Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' book Spinning in the Old Way was a plying box -- she didn't recommend it especially, though I can't recall why, and can't put my hands on the copy of the book just at the moment.  I tried it out though, and it did solve the problem of fighting with the singles for the most part.

The one thing I've noticed in the last year is that my plyed yarns aren't as nice as they used to be, and suddenly I wonder if it has something to do with plying using the plying box (yes, I know, 'tis a poor workman who blames his tools, but still).  So I've been thinking about what else I could try.

A quick Google search led me to an interesting post on the Knit 1, Spin 1 blog on Spindle Plying with a Center-Pull Ball, which has got me thinking.  Other sources suggest using a nostepinne to create the centre-pull ball, but using the ball-winder intrigues me, too.

Judith MacKenzie McCuin, in her book Teach Yourself Visually: Handspinning, has a couple of pages on making a plying ball (and if I'm reading them correctly, she has you creating one plying ball using two strands, one each of the singles you are going to ply -- you wind them both "together" loosely, and then ply).

So there we are -- scratching the surface of this question.  Any more experienced spindle spinners out there who would care to share their plying experiences with the rest of us, novices and not-so-novice who could use a few new tricks?

Comments

[anj]

I re-taught myself to spindle spin this yr and went thru the different methods to find the one that works best for me. I tried sliding the cops off onto a knitting needles and using a box, I also tried plying from 2 balls, spinning from a center pull ball with the outside and inside tails (only one cop needed there). The last I tried was winding both spindles into one ball and that is the method I am using now. The nicest part (for me) is if one is a bit longer by about a yard/meter I can loop it around itself and meet up with the end of the other cop. I like that no-waste method, makes me happy!

[Fiberjoy]

Since I use a Turkish Spindle which produces a center-pull ball this isn't much of an issue for me. But, I've found when working with fine silk singles it's best to wind two individual ends around one felted ball. This takes a bit more time but it evens out the tension and gives me great control over energetic singles.

Judy of Ball & Skein (Smattering) has come up with an excellent method seen in the second picture (scroll down a bit)
http://smatterings.typepad.com/smatterings/2008/04/spindling-with.html
She winds the cop on a straw slipped onto the shaft then uses the "lazy kate" set up she designed which controls tension. If I used top-whorls I'd use her method.

[Rachel T]

I put a roll from an empty toilet paper roll onto the ball winder and then wind off the cop, this is especially helpful for very fine yarns that don't respond well to center pull balls.

You can also ply from both end on a cardboard tube. You will have to scrunch the tube to get it on the ball winder and it will expand as the pressure releases, keeping some tension on the yarn as it winds off. Super useful You can do that with any sort of expandable center, my friend uses a sock or bit of nylon which she stuff as she winds off to maintain the tension on the inside of the ball.

For two ply I use Andean Plying, where you wrap it around your hand in such a way that you start at the tow ends and work your way to the center.

I tend to put them in a coffee can or other sort ot container that keep them from rolling everywhere but gives them some movement. I tend not to worry about tension becuase my yarn is for me. But I should read about those solutions!!

[katherine]

I'd been thinking about whether I could fit straws over the spindle shaft to ease them off, so now I'm looking at that set-up and wondering if I could rig-up something similar for myself -- thanks for that link!

I'm going to keep on with the plying box until I finish the Lola Project, but I think the next round of fibre, I'm going to play around with the plying again.

[Bryn]

Ms. Gibson-Roberts in 'Spinning in the Old Way' didn't like plying boxes because of the lack of tension--she kept ending up with tangles. And you've inspired me to give my spindle a try!

In other news--I'm done! Details on my blog, but (most of) 4 oz. of roving spun, plied and it's currently cooling down from it's setting bath. I had to hurry things up because I get to have knee surgery tomorrow morning (hence my desire to try the spindle. I know I'm going to go through spinning withdrawl). Bleah! (That's a bleah! to surgery, not to hand spindles) Good luck to everyone and I'll get caught back up with the Tour news and everybody's blog as soon as I can maneuver my crutches back into our computer room.