10 Tips for Plying Yarn on a Spinning Wheel

In this yarn spinning tutorial, I'll demonstrate plying yarn on a spinning wheel with a colorful braid of Targhee wool! While I spin, I will share 10 tips to help you ply your best yarn including tips about whorl ratios, using a tensioned vs. un-tensioned lazy Kate, checking for a balanced yarn, and how to troubleshoot problems with over or under twisting!
Contents of the Tutorial
0:00 Introduction
2:06 Lazy Kate
3:11 Whorl Size
4:12 Tip #1 Ply with tension
4:54 Tip #2 See your twist with color
5:40 Tip #3 Spinning direction
5:54 Tip #4 Start with consistent singles
7:29 Tip #5 Fixing over twisting
8:20 Tip #6 Fixing under twisting
9:20 Tip #7 Use a larger bobbin (if you can)
10:10 Tip #8 Check your balance as you ply
10:30 Tip #9 Fixing problems after plying
11:05 Tip #10 Fix corkscrews before they get in the ply
11:17 Spinning 2-ply vs. 3-ply
12:18 When one bobbin runs out...
12:52 Finished yarn
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🍭 The fiber used in this video is a Targhee wool braid and the colorway is "Candy Mountain" from Created By Elsie B. createdbyelsieb.com/
📕 To learn more about how to control the color of your hand dyed braid of fiber, check out Alanna Wilcox's book A New Spin on Color
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🎡 The spinning wheel seen in this video is a Lendrum DT and you can learn more about this spinning wheel at the Woolery (affiliate)
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[@jdb6026]

You are the teacher I never had. 😢 Watching you makes me feel like I can conquer the world and any challenge. 🌍❤️

[@JillianEve]

Because you can!!! 😊💖💖💖

[@wendydevereux4375]

I happened on your videos and decided to get a second hand spinning wheel. I am trying plying. Thank you for getting me hooked 😂

[@juliaarmstrong2260]

you are the best helping us with spinning.... thank you. i never had a teacher that covered all the areas of spinning.

[@karenpatton4363]

Sooooo good for us who do not have a helper at home…are learning on our own. Pleasant, knowledgeable, easy to follow.

[@_vanearaujo]

You are such a cute joyful person! Your channel is super inspiring. Thank you so much for this content💖

[@tracyirwin103]

OMG I need a tensioned lazy Kate! It never even occurred to me that one would exist but now I'm going to diy my own this weekend. Great video as always. Thanks for being awesome :-)

[@JillianEve]

Thank you Tracy! You don't need much tension for it to work. I'd love to know what you come up with!

[@tracyirwin9578]

@Claire Skey I found some inspiring examples on Pinterest and bought about $4 worth of materials and now I have an awesome tensioned Lazy Kate that I use at least once a week! DIY is great.

[@sockengineer8550]

I’m really enjoying watching you. You make me want to get my wheel out and spin again!

[@hazardmuffin]

Your videos are amazing! I just learned to use a spindle and your videos have been answering all my fiber questions as I learn. Watching videos like this makes my head spin with possibility, and I'm trying not to get too excited, lest I end up with a wheel I have no room for!

[@JillianEve]

Welcome to the never ending rabbit hole of spinning!

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

Wow absolutely gorgeous x

[@melanieo15]

That yarn is gorgeous, thanks for sharing!

[@suemartin451]

Great video. Really explains so clearly.

[@woollycrafts]

So much information in your videos ! Another gem today. Thanks 😊

[@joywright5650]

love your videos, evie! can't believe that bright colored fiber braid turned into that beautiful yarn. AND i learned alot........thanks!!........joy

[@lorimurphy889]

I always learn so much from your videos. Can't wait to practice.

[@lisamazzitelli4971]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@bonniemartin5430]

Thank you for this! This was so helpful!!

[@anaramirez9813]

Love all your videos! I’m new on this craft and I’m loving it

[@rosakoko5049]

BEAUTIFUL VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!!!🌷💖🌷🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🌹

[@olenavasendin3839]

Thank you so much for another great video! I learn from you a lot! You are my favorite!

[@kittylevee4662]

Beautiful yarn‼️ 💜💙💚💛🧡❤

[@bradsumner92]

I will sometimes ply inconsistent to add a bit of texture and fun to my plain roving 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

[@JillianEve]

Oh me too! It is great when you know the "rules" because then you can break them! 🎃

[@bradsumner92]

JillianEve way more fun to break them! Lol

[@juliaarmstrong2260]

thank you so much. I was having problems with my plying........I went to your plying tension and followed your "tension/plying" tips. It works.......watching all your tips.

[@Loreon71]

Thank you for the nice video! ❤

[@SissyEli]

You win me every time with the best content 👏🏻🤩

[@JillianEve]

Oh thank you so much!!! 🥰

[@Gigiknittingandmore]

Love you video’s. Your so up beat and fun. Keep it up. Your really fun to watch while I spin, bobbin lace, loom or anything else I am doing.

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 🥰

[@JillianEve]

Also, anyone who does bobbin lace is a rockstar! 🤩

[@charlottekerlavage361]

Oh that yarn is so beautiful 😍

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much Charlotte! I'm still deciding what to do with it. Any ideas?

[@charlottekerlavage361]

@@JillianEve I have been on a shawl/scarf kick lately, but anything you end up making with with will be stunning

[@Gold-wc1qq]

Thank you

[@conniecopenhaver120]

Your videos are "always awesome", your teaching style is fantastic, slowly & descriptive with complete explanations and problem solving techniques ... You show us how to do it right and then wrong with the necessary steps for correction, thank you for that!!!!! ... QUESTION: Is it possible to ply store bought skeins of yarn "as skeins", and not use bobbins? ... If yes, do you have a video of how to do that? If you do, can you post the Link to your video in the reply section to this comment for me and others also? ... Thank you!!!!!!!

[@Typhoonyoon]

Beautiful color yarns. I am always so timid about choosing multiple bold colors, but your video gives me courage to venture out of my elements.

[@JillianEve]

I've spun lots of colors that I didn't love in the end, but it was the practice I needed to figure out what I do love! Go for it! Have a colorful adventure! 🎃

[@kendramadlon3949]

Just want to say your makeup looks really nice here really makes your eyes pop 💖

[@JelMain]

You can also balance out twist in the skein.

[@JelMain]

This is where I wish the Ashford E-Spinner allowed speed control in the foot pedal. It would be easy to connect it across the speed knob.

[@scummins4233]

Love this yarn and making a sweater gets my vote! I'd love to spin my own yarn like this and knit my first cardigan 🤗 but I'm not great with colours and picturing how yarn will look when knitted up into a garment

[@JillianEve]

A little bird 🐦 told me there may be more of this on its way to my house in enough quantity to make a sweater... 😁

[@scummins4233]

@@JillianEve ooohh yay 🤗

[@lorrainebinskin2990]

Thank you, I am self taught, so never learned the little ‘helps’, love spinning, have had up to 40 alpacas, so many fleeces saved up. Could you do a video on ply different fibres together?

[@JillianEve]

Wonderful! Yes, that would be a great video to do. I have a list of ideas and I will write that down. Thanks for the idea! Happy spinning!

[@kristalburns3490]

this yarn is so yummy!

[@JillianEve]

Thank you! 🎃 Any suggestions about what project I should do with it?

[@kristalburns3490]

@@JillianEve I can see a yoked sweater. Or even a nice striped cardigan. Something that is going to showcase the colors.

[@halu959986]

Very informative as always, im no where near having the space or money for a wheel, so ill live vicariously through you until then ;) xx

[@JillianEve]

When you do get your wheel you'll be ready! 😀

[@halu959986]

@@JillianEve with any luck! If only learning a craft was as easy as just watching someone do it

[@paulettemorrissey9428]

Your instructions are incredible. I now totally understand how to use my spinning wheel correctly, after having it for 10 years. Do you recommend 3 ply for weaving?

[@dmbrown240]

Just beautiful. But I already told you that on Facebook and Instagram. 🥰

[@michelleareton8314]

I’m 3 weeks into my spinning journey, and I decided to try chain plying. It was a disaster 😆. I really need a tensioned lazy Kate. I ended up wedging my lazy Kate and bobbin against my wheel for some drag, because the curlies were insane. Your chain ply video helped a lot, and by the end I got into a rhythm. But it was wayyyy over twisted and quite “artistic”. I think I’ll try 3 ply with 3 bobbins next time.

[@JillianEve]

Good for you for making it work though! 💕

[@RandomAFP]

My #1 tip for plying: keep your Kate (or whatever your bobbins are in) a little way away from you and wedge it in place (I use a massive book) then pass each thread through the handle of a mug (wrap round once or twice and boom! tensioned, if your Kate is tensioned you can just feed it through) before bringing them together to ply together a little. Hold that end and move the mugs over near where you're plying, keeping them away from each other so the threads can't tangle together between the mugs and the Kate and while you're working the threads will be separated until they get to your hands. I got this tip from the Spindlers group over on rav for winding plying balls, but it works well for wheel plying straight off the bobbins as well. Plus, if you keep the Kate a good distance from you, if you have spots of higher or lower twist, the distance lets it even out a bit.

[@JillianEve]

@@RandomAFP This is a really great tip!

[@RandomAFP]

@@JillianEve expert I'm not, I got my wheel for Christmas but the skein I just finished was *so* much less painful to do and came out more even. Over plied, but thats the way I like it, I do the same thing with my spindled yarns.

[@WeaverWoman2]

Jillian, does it matter which direction the singles are coming off of the bobbins? Should it come off the bobbin in the direction it was spun, or does it matter? I see two coming off counter clockwise and one coming off clockwise.

[@lorrie6736]

When taking out too much twist after you have spun your yarn what size whorl and tension do you use? Also, the same for adding twist for already spun yarn, whorl size and tension? Thank you for your tips, I always learn a lot from your videos!

[@JillianEve]

I use whatever is bigger than what I used for the singles ❤

[@karenombler5629]

Hi, I am about to start spinning and wondered what is the easiest, basic spinning wheel to buy and do lazy kates come with a spinning machine when you buy it. Thank you!

[@lgassin]

I feel challenged :). I'm working on 8 oz of Jacob right now that will be a 2-ply, but once that is done, I will stretch myself to a third ply!

[@JillianEve]

You can do it!

[@redhead0122]

Is there a way to find more bobbins for my spinning wheel. My spinning wheel is from my greatgreatgrandmother and it only has 2. Which makes plying kinda annoying. as I first have to roll what I have spun into a ball to make room on the bobbin. my spinning teacher (2 years ago) said it is okay to do it that way. but it would be so much easier to just have some more so I don't need to do that extra prep

[@cyndidaves5313]

Hi I made 3 bobbins of 2 ply wool. Since I am a beginner my 3 bobbins are over and under spun. You mentioned that once I ply them together and if I have some yarn that is over spun in areas with the yarn kinked it will be difficult to get the over spun plied sections to relax. My Q is should I wash and set my 3 bobbins of yarn before I ply them? Or Q should I try to un-twist the over twisted yarn by re-spinning it on my wheel in the opposite direction, before I ply them together. Or Do you have a better idea for me? Like throw it all away and chalk it up to practice?!!? Thank you Eve, I love your videos and you are an Awesome Teacher and so delightful & kind.

[@JillianEve]

Yep, once the yarn is plied, the plies keep the twist in place so whatever goes in there, will stay there. I wouldn't wash and set before you ply though. That actually makes plying more difficult because you can't tell where the twist is at all! I would call it practice and work toward getting more consistent, but I wouldn't throw it away! You can still make fun and useful things out of your beginning practice yarns like a fun scarf or hat! If it doesn't make it into a project, I would at least keep it so that in the future, you can look back at it to compare and see how much you have improved! Happy spinning!

[@cyndidaves5313]

@@JillianEve thank you so much for responding and for your time and for your encouragement. Your are a gift, to take your time to teach and share your talents!!! 🥰🥰 Blessings to you and your family

[@teresameyer4574]

Is their a correlation between fixing under/over ply with using S or Z direction to correct for balanced yarn. I could not tell from video. Thanx. .

[@Sarah-tq2jx]

I’m not a professional, but I think to fix overply you spin S (clockwise, same direction you spun singles) and for underply you spin Z (counterclockwise, opposite direction you spin singles). I could be wrong though!

[@AnniM88]

Would the little test of letting the yarn hang loose (to see if it is overtwisted) also work for singles? Because I am a beginner and still worried about over or under twisting everything when starting out

[@abbymaull7163]

As someone who has never spun yarn, could you do a 4+ ply yarn or can you only stop at 3?

[@JillianEve]

You can do as many as you want! 🧶💕

[@nikitaleeson3388]

How can I take the bobbins off the spinning wheel ? but the lazy Kate that came with it has the bobbins on the on there sides?

[@JillianEve]

It might be best to check with the maker of your spinning wheel if you can. Spinning wheels have various mechanisms to remove bobbins. 🧶🐑✨

[@bf3036]

Hi. Is there a link for this Rainbow roving from LCB. I couldn’t find it. Thanks.

[@JillianEve]

The roving is from Created By Elsie B. 🧶

[@bf3036]

@@JillianEve Thanks so much. I love your videos!

[@jenzdelight]

I love you to bits.. other.. than.. the.. God forsaken.. ADVERTISING!!!!!!!!!!

[@JillianEve]

If you think of a way I can provide videos without ads AND pay my bills, let me know. I spend at least 8+ hours editing each of my videos, and that doesn't include the time to record and do the projects. I also have to pay for licenses to use music, sound effects, and many of the graphics you find in my videos. It costs a monthly subscription fee to pay for my editing software, and I haven't factored in the cost of my computer storage, recording and lighting equipment. If you want an ad free viewing experience you can join KZbin Premium or check out my Patreon. I would be losing money to make my videos without ads, and I can't afford to do that.

[@helenhenry6218]

I want to start spinning, but I don't want to begin with a drop spindle. I want a wheel that will be good for all kinds of yarns, craft yarn, single ply? (not sure of the wording) what wheel or attachment? Would you recommend? Thanks

[@JillianEve]

Did you watch my video about choosing a wheel? There are so many wonderful comments on that video! So many people shared what wheels they have and why the love them, it might be really helpful. I have some links to great beginner wheels in the description of that video as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJmpo6V3g5p1arM

[@JillianEve]

If you check that out and you are still wondering which way to go (it can be overwhelming!) let me know and I'll help you narrow it down. I'm personally partial to the Ashford Traditional because that's what I started on. I do think they have a great range of options and the price is pretty good! Here is an affiliate link to the Woolery if you would like to check it out! woolery.com/ashford-traditional-spinning-wheel-double-drive.html?aff=186

[@susanwhaitiri9749]

💖💙🌹

[@daniellesnyder1244]

Every time I try plying, my singles keep untwisting and sort of “melt” and fall apart. It’s soooo frustrating to put so much time (and enjoyment) into spinning just to have it all fall apart-quite literally-because I can’t figure out plying. I’m spinning the wheel the opposite direction, so I can’t figure out what the issue is. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@helenharrison2942]

hey def not an expert but it sounds like u might not be putting enough twist into your singles, they have to have enough twist to not fall apart

[@Sarah-tq2jx]

I’ve heard that knitting with “energized” yarn will cause your finished piece to slant depending on whether your yarn was over or underspun - does the same apply for weaving? If I use overspun yarn, will the woven fabric slant? 🤔

[@JillianEve]

Yes, energized knitting slants, but for weaving the energy pulls the fabric together and causes draw in.

[@disaplays1890]

So last night I was doing a chain ply on my wheel and I don't know how my mind was so preoccupied with I don't even know what....I plied the ENTIRE bobbin the same way I spun the single. I know.....what the frick. I didn't even realize the mistake until I was transferring it onto my niddy noddy. It is SOOOOO overspun. Is there any way to save it even a little bit? Sorry to ask this on an older video, but since this one is about plying I figured it would be a good place to start.

[@JillianEve]

I have a more recent video where I fixed some over spun yarn. It is similar to that. Just put it back through the wheel to correct the twist to the other direction. 🧶😊💖

[@disaplays1890]

@@JillianEve thank you so much. You are a yarn savior.

[@disaplays1890]

@@JillianEve It worked! Thank you so much!