Navajo Plying
The Navajo plying technique is used to obtain a three-ply yarn, and to preserve the color sequence and brilliance in a variegated yarn. It's also an easy way to ply up a cop of yarn with no leftovers!
The first point to remember is to spin the spindle the opposite way of the direction in which you spun your singles. In the example, Stasia is plying counter-clockwise.
To begin, fold over the end of your singles and tie a knot, to make a loop.
Now, picture how a crochet chain is made. The hook goes through a loop, picks up the working yarn, and draws it through to make a new loop. That is just how Navajo plying is done, except before going on to the next loop you will guide the twist generated by your spindle up the original loop, "encasing" the two strands of the loop and the one strand of working yarn all together in a three-ply yarn. Remember to leave enough of a hole so that you can fit your hand through to draw up the next loop of working yarn!
In the video, Stasia is plying directly off of the spindle used to spin the singles, by using her homemade "Spindle Jim." Another alternative is to put your singles on a bobbin and use a Lazy Kate, or you could choose to slide your cop off of your spindle, put it onto a knitting needle, and then lay the needle horizontally in a shoebox with notches cut into the sides to hold the needle steady. Another choice would be to make an Andean Plying Bracelet, remove it from your wrist, and put it around a wine bottle; by setting it slightly below waist level, you can easily draw the yarn off for plying.
You will want a slight bit of tension on your yarn source, whichever method you choose, and it may help you to stand a little bit away from that source, so that you don't get kinks in your yarn as you're plying.
Just take it slowly the first time, and if you need to, sit down and park and draft the spindle so you can catch up with your chain-making!
All video footage on this website is copyrighted material.
The spindle featured in the foreground is from Edward Tabachek.
The spindle in the background is from Jonathan Bosworth of Journey Wheels.
Questions? Visit the Spindlers Yahoo! Groups discussion list to chat about this clip!
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