**I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio or joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!**
I'd been hunting for beginning chain ply videos and didn't know it was called self-striping until I watched your drop spindle chain ply! Then I clicked and went to this!
👋🏻 I’m glad you found it. The technique’s not called self-striping but that’s the kind of yarn I frequently use it to create. That or gradients. I need to do a standalone chain ply video at some point . There are some other chain plying tips in my John Arbon Textiles tops class: ua-cam.com/video/XOUMRkmxTPY/v-deo.htmlsi=nvabHc9L26MUMExu Hope that helps! 😊
the end of video was brilliant..... absolutely brilliant! oh yeah, and so was your yarn...;))) you've got your hands full with those entertaining little rascals.
I had read about chain-plying as being like crocheting, but I hadn't understood that the loop was so long, and that it was the elongated loop that was plied--I just couldn't visualize it. I had to stop the video to go try it out with the two bobbins I had left over after doing a standard 3-ply. So fun!
this is so much fun just watching your cats trying to "help" all the time. A real challenge to get something done there. They seem to like wool, I have a cat at my workplace who also loves wool. He always grabbs my skeins and hugs them. :) greetings from Sweden / Cia
Hahaha yes, I always wonder why I don't get much done... they're the reason! Saffy's the real wool monster - I can't leave anything out or I risk coming back to find holes in it!
Started rewatching some of you spinning videos and Wow, it start clicking for me. I am getting a single on my spinningwheel that I don't hate. Thank you so much!
This was a brilliant, fun, and educational video! With that said, As a beginner, I still didn’t know what self striping was, by the end of the video. (I thought it would have more to do with the way that the colors in the 2 singles matched when plied/ aligned, but it has more to do with the fact that the yarn makes stripes on your knitted rows.) I looked it up, and I get it now! Sometimes you don’t know what You know that others Don’t know! Thanks for your lovely content. Love the cats playing fetch.
It was such a good video ! I am a beginner , so it was very interesting and instructive for me. By the way, I love your cats , they are so funny! Love from France
Super explained ..I do have a quill as well with my Hansi ..did not use it much ..nice to see it in action ..I take full responsibility for the kitties..no come on they are the cutest ever ..let them be part of , ok partially be part of the podcast ...well > just blame me ..I don’t mind at all ..was tons of fun with all three of you
Thanks Gill, glad you enjoyed it. Absolutely - I actually tried shooting a chain ply tutorial at the same but I’ll have to do it with a thicker single because you could barely see this one on screen.
Thanks for this excellent video. One question, I have a singles on my bobbin with an unintentional section of lower twist. You mentioned transferring such a singles to a storage bobbin to even out the twist. Is this necessary if I’m going to make a two ply with mine?
You're very welcome Helena! The theory is that rewinding across a distance of 6ft or more allows the twist to re-distribute itself so sections with more twist would pass that on to sections with less twist. Judith McKenzie swears by it but I feel I need to experiment a bit more with it to see if I really notice a difference. What I was worried about with this one was that chain plying puts a fair bit of friction on the yarn as you're pulling the loops through and I didn't want that under-spun section to get shredded in the process. BTW, it could be any bobbin, I just happened to have a storage bobbin handy. She also recommends rewinding large spinning projects onto multiple bobbins like weaving bobbins and mixing them up so you it's less obvious if your yarn changed during the process.
Great video. I've not tried chain plying yet, but I plan to give it a go soon. You mention at the end that you don't worry about measuring your skein until it's been washed and dried. How do you measure it at that point? Do you re-wrap it on your niddy noddy?
Thank you Natalie! I hope it's helpful when you try chain plying - I'll do a better chain ply tutorial at some point with thicker yarn as you couldn't really see this one very well on camera. I usually measure it un-tensioned by just laying the skein out on a table and measuring the circumference somewhere in the middle of the wraps (ie. not the inside or outside of the skein) then multiplying by the number of wraps. This might give an under-estimate but I'd rather that than overestimate. You could also weigh a certain length to work it out my length but you'd need very accurate jeweller's scales or a McMorran balance (which you can't get in the UK).
I love your videos, I’m a newbie learning so much from them You mention that a mix of superwash and nylon is intended to be a sock yarn. How do I know which fiber and which blend is best for what?
Thank you Mojca - I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos! Great question! I should do a whole video on that! There are so many fibres out there and they all have different properties. For example Merino is very soft but due to its fine diameter and short staple length it’s also prone to pilling. For socks, you’d be looking for fibres which are able to withstand the amount of friction which socks inevitably get. In this case I think it was a Superwash Cheviot/Silk/Nylon blend. Cheviot is known for producing a bouncy yet durable yarn that’s not too harsh and because it’s superwash it should withstand washing a bit more than non-superwash. Silk is great for strength and also takes dye in a very vibrant way and nylon is also a strong fibre. The longwool group of sheep are also great for durable socks (which is why so many commercial/indie-dyed sock yarns include Bluefaced Leicester), along with mohair if you want a bit of a ‘halo’. It takes a while to learn all this, but I can recommend the Spinners Book of Fleece and The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook as good ways to learn about different types of fleece.
**I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio or joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!**
I'd been hunting for beginning chain ply videos and didn't know it was called self-striping until I watched your drop spindle chain ply! Then I clicked and went to this!
👋🏻 I’m glad you found it. The technique’s not called self-striping but that’s the kind of yarn I frequently use it to create. That or gradients.
I need to do a standalone chain ply video at some point .
There are some other chain plying tips in my John Arbon Textiles tops class: ua-cam.com/video/XOUMRkmxTPY/v-deo.htmlsi=nvabHc9L26MUMExu
Hope that helps! 😊
the end of video was brilliant..... absolutely brilliant! oh yeah, and so was your yarn...;))) you've got your hands full with those entertaining little rascals.
😹😹😹 Thank you - yes, 'entertaining' is one word for it!
I had read about chain-plying as being like crocheting, but I hadn't understood that the loop was so long, and that it was the elongated loop that was plied--I just couldn't visualize it. I had to stop the video to go try it out with the two bobbins I had left over after doing a standard 3-ply. So fun!
I am watching your videos again and they are so informative! Love the the cats.
I can't decide which I loved more - the gorgeous yarn you spun or the kitty antics!! What a fun and informative video!! :-)
this is so much fun just watching your cats trying to "help" all the time. A real challenge to get something done there. They seem to like wool, I have a cat at my workplace who also loves wool. He always grabbs my skeins and hugs them. :) greetings from Sweden / Cia
Hahaha yes, I always wonder why I don't get much done... they're the reason! Saffy's the real wool monster - I can't leave anything out or I risk coming back to find holes in it!
OMG, the ending! I laughed so hard! :D
Great video. I need to work on my chain plying. Thanks for the tips. Love your kittens. So playful
Started rewatching some of you spinning videos and Wow, it start clicking for me. I am getting a single on my spinningwheel that I don't hate. Thank you so much!
This was a brilliant, fun, and educational video! With that said, As a beginner, I still didn’t know what self striping was, by the end of the video. (I thought it would have more to do with the way that the colors in the 2 singles matched when plied/ aligned, but it has more to do with the fact that the yarn makes stripes on your knitted rows.) I looked it up, and I get it now! Sometimes you don’t know what You know that others Don’t know! Thanks for your lovely content. Love the cats playing fetch.
My daughter and I really enjoyed the cat antics!
Hahaha I'm glad they entertained you! :)
It was such a good video ! I am a beginner , so it was very interesting and instructive for me. By the way, I love your cats , they are so funny!
Love from France
That was one heck of a jump. What breed are your children? They look oh so helpful. :)
😹 They do have some pretty impressive leaps up their sleeves! They’re Tonkinese and so helpful I feel like I never get anything done. I wonder why?! 🤔
Super explained ..I do have a quill as well with my Hansi ..did not use it much ..nice to see it in action ..I take full responsibility for the kitties..no come on they are the cutest ever ..let them be part of , ok partially be part of the podcast ...well > just blame me ..I don’t mind at all ..was tons of fun with all three of you
Thank you! They're lots of fun, just not great when they (well, Saffy) get hold of my yarn - Saffy's wool-obsessive.
Lovely job. Especially liked to see your chain plying - perhaps you could do a tutorial on your technique. Love the cats too.x
Thanks Gill, glad you enjoyed it. Absolutely - I actually tried shooting a chain ply tutorial at the same but I’ll have to do it with a thicker single because you could barely see this one on screen.
Maybe you should add a tail on to some of your finished yarns and put a tail on them.
Thanks for this excellent video. One question, I have a singles on my bobbin with an unintentional section of lower twist. You mentioned transferring such a singles to a storage bobbin to even out the twist. Is this necessary if I’m going to make a two ply with mine?
You're very welcome Helena! The theory is that rewinding across a distance of 6ft or more allows the twist to re-distribute itself so sections with more twist would pass that on to sections with less twist. Judith McKenzie swears by it but I feel I need to experiment a bit more with it to see if I really notice a difference. What I was worried about with this one was that chain plying puts a fair bit of friction on the yarn as you're pulling the loops through and I didn't want that under-spun section to get shredded in the process. BTW, it could be any bobbin, I just happened to have a storage bobbin handy. She also recommends rewinding large spinning projects onto multiple bobbins like weaving bobbins and mixing them up so you it's less obvious if your yarn changed during the process.
Tiny Fibre Studio Thank you! Really enjoying your videos.
Your cats are so pretty, and hilarious!
Great video. I've not tried chain plying yet, but I plan to give it a go soon. You mention at the end that you don't worry about measuring your skein until it's been washed and dried. How do you measure it at that point? Do you re-wrap it on your niddy noddy?
Thank you Natalie! I hope it's helpful when you try chain plying - I'll do a better chain ply tutorial at some point with thicker yarn as you couldn't really see this one very well on camera.
I usually measure it un-tensioned by just laying the skein out on a table and measuring the circumference somewhere in the middle of the wraps (ie. not the inside or outside of the skein) then multiplying by the number of wraps. This might give an under-estimate but I'd rather that than overestimate. You could also weigh a certain length to work it out my length but you'd need very accurate jeweller's scales or a McMorran balance (which you can't get in the UK).
I love your videos, I’m a newbie learning so much from them
You mention that a mix of superwash and nylon is intended to be a sock yarn. How do I know which fiber and which blend is best for what?
Thank you Mojca - I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos! Great question! I should do a whole video on that! There are so many fibres out there and they all have different properties. For example Merino is very soft but due to its fine diameter and short staple length it’s also prone to pilling. For socks, you’d be looking for fibres which are able to withstand the amount of friction which socks inevitably get. In this case I think it was a Superwash Cheviot/Silk/Nylon blend. Cheviot is known for producing a bouncy yet durable yarn that’s not too harsh and because it’s superwash it should withstand washing a bit more than non-superwash. Silk is great for strength and also takes dye in a very vibrant way and nylon is also a strong fibre. The longwool group of sheep are also great for durable socks (which is why so many commercial/indie-dyed sock yarns include Bluefaced Leicester), along with mohair if you want a bit of a ‘halo’.
It takes a while to learn all this, but I can recommend the Spinners Book of Fleece and The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook as good ways to learn about different types of fleece.
Oh wow, thank you! I didn’t expect such a thorough answer but I truly appreciate it.
Off to search for the books you recommended 🤓
Thank you again!