How to Spin 20 Multi-Ply Yarn Textures

Another popular method for those who love coiled textures- this method is also found in my book Spinning and Dyeing Yarn and incorporates thick and thin plying with stacking and thread wrapping to create little sluggish bobbles and "granny stacks" with a twist!

This is a RARE method not found in books or technical resources - probably because it is the last yarn you'd ever want to wear as a sweater or socks. Plying with Wire is something every novelty art yarn spinning should try at least once. The end result is a sculptable, completely unique yarn experience that is fun for weaving and 3 dimensional fiber art projects!

The most popular art yarn spinning technique on my entire channel! Learn how to spin a coiled yarn with different textures of handspun single. This method is fabulous when you are working with colors and tones, try a gradient yarn or a color blocked single yarn spun with this method. Pretty much every SINGLE method can be coiled to create incredible texture for weaving, knitting, crochet, and fiber art. It is estimated that you will cut your yardage by 70% when going from a single ply yarn to a coiled yarn - so keep that in mind if you're spinning a lot for a project.

Let's ply curly longwool locks into yarn together! I created a very sparse locked yarn in this tutorial to contrast with the other lockspinning methods that I have (see my single-ply locked method and corespun locks method in my other classrooms) but if you were to ply locks back to back in your yarn you'd create a gorgeous boa effect that could be worn as a scarf right off the bobbin!

If you have watched my SINGLE masterclass lessons this technique might look familiar to you. In this video we will ply twists into our yarn to create a fringe texture that is fabulous for freeform weaving! This method has also been called "roots" and "twists on twists" by Michelle Snowden in Lexi Boeger's book Handspun. See my free patterns page for a boot topper pattern that incorporates this texture in the cuff!

Have you ever plied beads into yarn? There are a few different methods out there and here is mine! I also have a bead inclusion video in my SINGLE series and CORESPUN series if you prefer a different method for making beaded yarns. I recommend starting with lightweight beads as you grow accustomed to securing them tightly against gravity and moving to heavier beads as you have more experience.

I'm obsessed with the way this yarn turned out. It's one of my favorite methods in the entire PLIED series. Plying feathers into yarn is my favorite way of incorporating feathers. I also have videos on spinning feathers into a SINGLE yarn and CORESPINNING feather yarns. But plying, in my humble opinion, is the best way to create a secure feathery yarn.

This texture of yarn is unreal and so full of creative texture possibilities. Try plying a shagged yarn with commercial yarn before cutting up your handspun so you can get into the method first. This method is also in the book Intertwined by Lexi Boeger and she uses multiple strands of commercial yarn that is cut to make a garland boa that is amazing. Next time I spin this I'm going to use both handspun and commercial yarn to try making pom poms and texture striping and... Yeah this method rocks. Enjoy!

Yes another bulky yarn that creates a stunning boa that is ready to wear right off the bobbin! In this method I use bulky handspun wool to create that dense effect seen in the video but you can play with finer yarns, multiple yarns, threads, and fabric to create your own loopy plied texture. The bigger the bobbin the better! And an open orifice is highly recommended if you want to duplicate the yarn I made in this video.

This is a great way to create a large skein from cut lengths of yarn (or fabric!) and also teaches you how to attach ends of yarn when plying with thread to create smooth transitions in your handspun. In this video I will also be playing with stripes of texture for knitting, crocheting, and weaving into a self-striping style of yarn.

Let's ply a stretchy yarn together! Grab your favorite elastic thread (did you know there are multiple kinds to choose from at the craft store?) and ply a skein with me. The most fun part about this yarn is that when you take it off the bobbin (wound onto a 2-yard niddy noddy) it creates a stretchy ready to wear deconstructed yarn cowl. When used as warp this yarn will create a smocking effect in your rigid heddle weaving.