Plying Yarn From Medieval Spindles & Thoughts on Historical Accuracy

[@JillianEve]

The final information on the 3 ply came out to 119 yards, 1.5 oz, 14 WPY/ DK weight and it is so soft and light, not ropey at all! I imagine it could fluff into a worsted after I wash it. Happy spinning friends!

[@LeoFieTv]

I have found that a heavy earthen jug works great for all kinds of winding and other thread working where the ball/spindle/whatever tends to dance around. The trick is to loop the thread through the handle once. My jug holds about 1 litre of liquid, it's not that big, but because it's delft, it is rather heavy and stays in place nicely no matter how much the ball dances around in it.

[@sophiafeist6211]

Hi! Love your videos- you've helped me so much in learning to spin- and as a textile historian it's so interesting to see you experimenting with techniques! Just came down to leave one note: people definitely had very brightly colored textiles all throughout the Middle Ages. Natural dyes (as opposed to post-industrial chemical dyes) can produce VERY bright colors- it just takes a lot of dye, so it was expensive to make bright colors. Most natural dyes also fade over time/with exposure to light, so surviving medieval textiles have become darker or paler than they would have been centuries ago. So no caveat necessary on the bright colors!

[@archeanna1425]

What was historically accurate for the way one woman at one end of the village made bread or spun yarn or plucked chickens or braided her hair may not have matched what was historically accurate for another woman in the same village in the same year, let alone generation. Life wasn't ordered on Amazon, it was made up moment by moment and season by season. My Ukrainian grandmother, who was part of a well-off family, knew that the way she made cabbage rolls was different from the way a poor Ukrainian farmer's wife made cabbage rolls. She knew that you had to use a different recipe depending on whether you were using good cabbage or the kind of cabbage her family saved as feed for the pigs. Both types of cabbage rolls were 'authentic'. When I asked her for her borscht recipe, she looked at me strangely then said, 'Well, you go out to the garden and you see what is ripe.' I'm so glad I had her in my life. Happy Grandmother's Day, Nana.

[@deemg2830]

This is absolutely a beautiful. Thank you for sharing this!

[@mommabumble]

Thank you so much for posting this! I was going to fi you had not! lol Even two people trained in the same school aren't going to do things the exact same way even if they are trying to so how much less identical would people who haven't even seen their neighbor for years.

[@SusieQ3]

I think what matters most is that cabbage rolls are delicious! If my ancestors could have made large batches and frozen some for later consumption, I know they would have. That said, I'm going to pull some out of the freezer for lunch, and be historically accurate in our modern context ❤

[@nbthor]

Great video! Thanks. As an academic medieval historian I have a couple of thoughts. 1. You approached the question with a great deal of rigor, explained your limitations and the choices you made. That is as much as anyone can ask. 2. Plausibility is as much as any one can hope for without a time machine. 3. Experimental archeology can answer questions, but I think its greatest value lies in the questions we start asking as we try to solve these historical problems. They are questions you would never even think to ask if you didn't try to do the thing. Finally, kudos to you for a video that looks at history and helps with problems people are currently grappling with. That's some grant worthy stuff.

[@JillianEve]

Thank you so much! It means a lot when people recognize the amount of research I put into my videos! 🥰💜🧶😊

[@Marialla.]

I love watching you casually spin, wrap yarn on your hand, add it to the cob, and remove and replace the half-hitch all without looking, while you chat with us! It gives me such vibes of a normal historical woman doing these things as she goes about her daily life.

[@JillianEve]

I'm just trying not to embarrass my ancestors. 😂

[@hadleyjolley3375]

Honestly, spinning (and knitting and weaving) has made me appreciate industrial cloth production. I can do this for fun because the machines do it for everyday wear. I do feel connected to the past without having to try to much to be "historically accurate"--my ancestors would do magic loop too if they had access to a flexible 40-inch circular needle. I think part of that comes from my mother and grandmothers all knitting, so it feels like when I pick up spinning or weaving that I'm re-introducing arts that were lost from my line.

[@lauriemumm3407]

I've done historical re-enactment for 26 years and I've done a fair bit of research on spindle spinning. What I find interesting are the historical videos and videos from remote parts of the world where spinning is still an everyday activity. I see quite a few different techniques being used to spin and ply. I also see a lot of differences in construction of the tools. I think there probably wasn't a universal "medieval" spinning style but a lot of different styles depending on the area. I also suspect there are a lot of different solutions to the same problems like plying from a spindle. What I see there with the blocks works beautifully.

[@Coastalwoolwashing]

Floof noodles! If you ever do merch I want a floof noodle pin!

[@DAYBROK3]

colour was expensive, some were not as fade proof, but they had quite vibrant colour. natural dyeing is so much fun.

[@PermaPen]

Oooooh, that is a gorgeous yarn! Impressed that you can stand and chat and not look at the fleece you're spinning. Historical accuracy vs possibility - I imagine they are the same thing. Ask 10 people how they do something and you'll get 13 answers. I enjoy hearing all the possibillities, thank you! I love those woodblocks! When not being employed for plying they can hold my rolls of foil and greaseproof...

[@SusieQ3]

I would ask my mom how to do something and get 13 possible ways, just from her! I think people are so determined to attain what they think is a perfect standard, that they're forgetting that there's multiple ways to do something.

[@christenagervais7303]

Well, that is just so logical!

[@StephanieMayfieldDIG]

I think it is naive to think everyone in the past did a thing only one way. People are always tinkering and throwing things together. If it is historically possible and it works then I would bet someone has done it that way.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

That's my htought too. And that's what I want to show when demonstrating pre-historic techniques (with plant fibers). WIth the little that is found it is impossible to tell exactly how they did it, but I can show some possibilities.

[@oakstrong1]

I have only one spindle, so when that is full, I wind the yarn around a toilet roll tube. I have two toilet roll holders with a heavy base, so they don't move around (but the toilet roll tube does) that allows me to ply two yarns back to the spindle. The doorknob method was what we did as kids when we needed thicker yarn or string for loops for hanging clothes or towels. I'm sure everyone is familiar with that: tie one end of the yarn to a door knob; twist tightly all the way; tie the other end to the same knob and let it twist around itself while the twist loosens, making sure the twisting is even. The longer the yarn the harder it gets, so it was useful to have someone holding the yarn apart and letting it come slowly closer while the other did the twist smoothing.

[@oddveigvorkinnslien9753]

My grandmother, who was born in 1917, always said: « If you are plying yarn, and your bobbins run out at the exact same time, you will die!» This was probably an old saying to comfort the spinner, beceause this almost never happens, but as a child I found it creepy😳 I got my first dropspindle when I was 9 or 10 years old, but we did’nt have much access to wool, so I did’nt get to learn it that well. It was my facination with the viking culture that made me want a dropspindle in the first place. I am from Norway, so this is very much our cultural heritage. Now I have three dropspindles an an Eel Wheel 6, and I love to spin! Thank you for your educational videos, they are great!

[@DandySprat]

My whole spinning vibe is working with/re-purposing antique and thrifted tools. So I like to ply from my spindles by winding them onto old commercial weaving spools that I can stick on a mini lazy kate - I call mine Kit Sister - and then ply from there by spindle or wheel. My large DIY country spinner also only has one bobbin, so I've rigged up a way to use the drive band to wind off singles onto antique spools. It's been a fun and wild ride getting my rig set up!

[@myrany8407]

I have a lazy kate for my spindles that is basically two uprights set into a wood plank on the bottom with a dowel across the top. Into the dowel are 4 cuphooks to which fishing spinners have been hung. on the bottom wood plank I added some cut PVC pipe below each spinner. Bottom of the spindle goes in the pipe. Hook gets hung from the fishing spinner. It turns freely and is lovely to ply from. I also have been known to use and and Navajo ply with just the one spindle hung.

[@lizardluvsvt]

Such a great idea! I needed to read this today!!! You made my day.

[@myrany8407]

@@lizardluvsvt I have to be honest it is not my idea directly though I improved on it with the PVC. I first saw this on a spindle Spinners forum about 14 years ago and no longer remember who's idea it is

[@deborahspins2909]

Thank you so much! You are just so cute! Your smile makes my day 🤗

[@JillianEve]

😁🧶❤

[@塩田花野]

First of all, your apprearanse is stunning Eve♡ And those blocks are absolutely cool!! Those are all what I need to ply from spindles so I am going to get a pair and say good bye for basket!!

[@JillianEve]

Yay, thank you! Happy spinning! 🧶😊❤

[@avionpiscean33]

Oh gods. I had to pause the video when you made that apple comment. I cracked up so hard over that. Just wow. That caught me off gaurd.

[@JillianEve]

🍎😂

[@eileenfb1948]

It is much the same with knitting styles and techniques, each part of the world had it's own way of doing things in a slightly different way. I love hearing of how things were once done very simply. Learning those techniques is important to me so they are not lost forever. I have ordered myself a Turkish Spindle after becoming very interested from seeing what you are doing. Thank you.

[@shadowcat5889]

I love the way the apple wood turned out

[@Marialla.]

I love the idea of taking a historical person, bringing them into a present day fabric store or wool store, and saying "take your pick and let's see what you would make of this". 100% absolutely they would be overjoyed to use the wealth of colors and textures we have available! I feel like this is the opposite of historybounding. HistoryLeaping, maybe? Instead of taking a historical twist onto modern clothing, it would be putting a modern twist onto historical clothing.

[@JillianEve]

Yes! I love it! Imagine taking great, great...great grandmother to the beading section of a hobby store! 😯😲😍

[@Bellbebell]

This is the coolest video!!!

[@jeanbadeaux1486]

As always Evie your immersion into these topics takes me away with you. For me, not that I've been spinning that long only about 2 yrs, its always been about going back to the basics of how spinning in general has lead to where it is today. I adore that I can take fluff off of a animal and spin it into yarn then make something useable with said yarn. I constantly think about who discovered this possibility, found the tools, and made the first piece of yarn. I find it absolutely fascinating! Much love and Happy Mother's Day my friend 😘🐑🥰

[@Which-Craft]

Thank you for reminding people that we can really only make educated guesses at historical accuracy. Humans as humans haven't changed that much and I've no doubt some serious creativity happened back then, too, so it's more likely that experimentation happened more often than we think. This is why I love the SCA but will not join officially - I just can't be stuck in someone else's concept of "the way it was done".

[@fakiirification]

correct. The modern human brain has been roughly in the same state for the past 250k or more years. Meaning any idea you have today could have occurred to your far ancient ancestors as well. historical possibility is probably more accurate than historical accuracy, because those verified facts only belong to one specific people, not the whole world where there were probably as many methods as there were tribes.

[@Gigimamapa5]

Hi Eve, I love the medieval dress. Awesome! I like the plying blocks, also. They work well. It looks authentic enough for me.

[@Sarah-KateH]

Fabulous…!

[@auroraasleep]

This was a great video, thank you! For experimental archeology, I'm all for it. Not only is it how we learn about the past, it's also how we learn today. I'm a big fan of diving in wherever you are and then working towards good/better/best. So yay!

[@barbaramorse1049]

When I was spindle spinning, Folgers coffee came in plastic containers with hollow handles. I saved many of mine and duct taped three of them together in a group to use as a “Lazy Kate”. The bobbin shafts fit nicely down the hollow handles allowing me to three-ply sufficient yarn to knit my first all hand spun sweater.

[@JillianEve]

Brilliant! ☕🧶💜

[@sonjanordahl3158]

So far I've been winding off the spindle and making a ball to ply from.

[@jwstanley2645]

Thank you so much for the video. You look so cute with your foot poking out of your long dress pumping the spinning wheel while talking. As for how I would do it, I don't, but I am grateful to run into your video. As for historical accuracy, I can say a couple of things. One, if done well, historical speculation can show us all how human our ancestors were and how human we still are, through the ages, so wonderfully human, age through age. I also love the twists of words and how their meanings have shaped and been shaped by the work we humans have done through the ages. True, we cannot know for certain the details of our ancestors' lives and logical 'guesses' are what we have. Still, it is helpful to respect those possibilities because they also teach us to respect possibilities among our contemporaries and not assume we understand everything or everyone. Truely, carding, spinning and weaving have long been remarkable skills too easily taken for granted in this machine-driven age. Thus, we should all respect our ancestors as intelligent, skilled, and wonderful people. I had never thought of plying as a verb in quite this way. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and passion. Also, I have to admit, that while watching you pump that wheel with your foot, I imagined women of old, sitting with their wheels and gossiping about how silly their men were, lovingly, of course.

[@clumsystitcher]

If we can think of it now someone probably thought of it then. It might not have been common but was probably used. I could definitely see the wood block idea being used at some point in time

[@beverlylooper3927]

I can share with you the images I've seen in renaissance portrayals and the stories my parents and grandparents have told me about their earlier days. They actually had more than one person winding yarn and plying yarn, a woman would wrap the yarn around someone else's outstretched hands, then she would begin winding or plying while the other person(s) gently let go of their side of the yarn, and they would work in harmony. According to my dad, whether it was another woman helping or a man or children..it was considered rude to leave a woman without someone to hold the yarn for her, and she would often be sitting on her front porch while doing this (it was sort of a old fashioned way of being sociable) but I've also seen these wooden claws like ]-------[ that some people used,but I don't know how common they were cause I only saw it once, and my dad told me they made it themselves.

[@draughtoflethe]

A term that I've heard used among the historical cosTuber community is "historically adequate," which I think really drives at what you're saying about understanding that "100% historical authenticity" is not actually a realistic goal, even when attempting to use original practice techniques and approximating historically-available materials. I think the most important thing to remember when doing this sort of experimental archaeology (or even just having fun with historical-ish techniques and materials) is that even way back in history, people were people. They were going to do what made their lives easiest and their tasks most efficient with the technologies they had available, and when they could get away with it, they were going to cut corners and make mistakes. So in some ways, trying to be absolutely perfect *isn't* actually period, because the people making these things historically weren't, most of the time, trying to make museum pieces; they were making everyday, serviceable items that were going to get used, get dirty, and not necessarily be seen from all angles. So historical adequacy seems like a fine goal to me. :)

[@qwitchyy]

I was randomly recommended one of your videos on my homepage, and I wasn’t expecting your content to include so much historical and anthropological information. As a Celtic anthropologist, I’m living for it.

[@ahmetkemalgurel5730]

It's so interesting to see the plying blocks. I live in Turkey and my mom tells me about sometimes her grandmother's plying yarn and color work knitting gadgets as she remembers. Seeing these items in your wonderful video brought back all the distant childhood memories of my family. Actually I don't know if they were using specifically these kind of tools but still, it's nice to think like that

[@annikasamuelsson2185]

I like "historical possible". What you say is true, it is imposibly to knew everything and get hold of teh exacly same material. Historical possible thinking have opende a door for my thinking about spinning.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Magic again !!!

[@EtherealOde]

I agree with the concept that we have modern machinery to make things currently, so any way in which we try to replicate the way things were done in the past is the adventure. Unless there is an actual need to make an exact replica, then whatever way works for you is historically accurate. In ancient times, and even today in many places, the way things were made and used was a result of what was available. For instance your plying blocks. You chose the wood, but another person would choose a solid log that wasn't infested with bugs or wormy, and wasn't going punky from rot. Houses around the world are made differently even in the same towns and neighborhoods. Some people garden, others only shop for food. While I would love to see a piece of the past in action, there's a lot of physics and other things we need to learn as a species to make that possible. We're constantly evolving, which is what makes doing things like this interesting. Keep up the adventure, and do what you love. >3

[@kieraoona]

btw love the outfit and the veil and braids you have going on is super cute!

[@ruthbartholomew9848]

Super informative! Need to get started.

[@luminalsaturn2]

Pretty yarn! Hmmm… Half-split firewood just got a lot more useful lol! I use ply-balls in my apron ‘dress’ my friend made me out of a denim skirt that was *way* too big for me. She put a truly GIANT pocket in the front; and I sewed a two-compartment ‘plying-pocket’ insert out of some extra fabric I had. If I’m working with one ply-ball, I just stuff it up my sleeve! XD

[@JillianEve]

Oh wow! I love it!

[@LadyValkyri]

Beautiful yarn! And I love the blocks. Very cool! Hugs

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

We must renember the delicate precise fine tuned equipment was less likely to survive. Chunky cruder tools will survive.

[@misspugandpomeranian]

What an amazing video! Thank you so much for all the videos you have made! You are trully an amazing and intelligent lady, not to mention what a great teacher you are! I have learnt to spin because of your videos, thank you so much, the knowledge that you share is priceless 🤗😄😃

[@aliciazdavis7674]

I'm new to spindle spinning. In class, I was shown how to make a plying bracelet. It seems to work for now, but I like the idea of the plying blocks.

[@elisacurbelo5594]

I love the medieval music soundtrack as you are plying

[@KristinMoran]

I thought I recognized those soapstone whorls from Hershey Fiber Arts! I love her spinning tools. The spinning blocks look great!

[@justjules400]

I adore your distaff! I rarely get to see them in use and *finally* I'm seeing a seamless demonstration. Thank you so much!

[@marcireale]

Your channel is so enjoyable. It feels like a friendly chat. 💖 I roll my singles into center pull skeins and then ply from those. It means an extra step, which is a nuisance.

[@vernonbowling5310]

Your enthusiasm is contagious I love it !

[@fyrecraftedgaming]

Wonderful! I have been trying to think of a better way to ply from a spindle and I think I'll try this when I can 😃

[@coralcee]

Love it, possibility rules, as long as it’s close to authentic, it’s your Authentic. New project for my son to make for me.

[@paulinetravis9994]

Thank you

[@amandasalg1497]

I love that 3ply you made! Absolutely beautiful ❤️ Watching you spin makes me want to learn how even more. I've told my husband and kids this is what I want for mother's day lol 😆

[@AndreaAlexander]

Beautiful work! 😍 I also love your whole outfit, especially the handmade belt!!

[@Madmak4215]

I think a good mix of both accuracy and possibility is the best way to go! You're still keeping yourself within time period parameters, and I think that just makes it more fun

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Evie, I hope you're all OK xx 💗 Wow, I love those blocks. A great invention/ idea. Possibility to actuality, you gave us both there. As always plenty of food for thought. I love both yarns. You did an amazing job plying them from a New Tool. I loved your outfit too., very appropriate for this Medieval history Spin. Hope you have a Wonderful Mothers Day. Happy Spinning and Plying Take care and stay safe Fibre Friend Lots of love Jen xxxx 💖 ❣❤❤🎆🎆🐑🐑 Say hi to Mark and your Boys xxx

[@gerryivkovich1857]

I have only plied a spindle yarn once and that was with a plying ball. I LOVED this video. Keep it up. Blessings.

[@rosakoko5049]

I love your video!!!💖❤️💖

[@bejeweledwalrus]

Really cool video! I always think there's something special about doing the same art form as your ancestors did, it's like making a multigenerational connection with people you've never met. Personally 100% accuracy isn't something I think we need to strive to achieve. I like to think my ancestors are just happy I'm carrying on the art in any form at all.

[@abittwisted]

Going to have to make a pair of wood blocks for my shop for my own rendition of a lazy Kate and still use bobbins or spindles which ever is used it would work. Heavy blocks with handles to move about as needed and have lots of holes for multiple threads including using it for warping the loom with my thread.

[@theredtower1334]

Because most of my historical spinning is done using Navajo spindles (similar to Turkish spindles) I have usually used the traditional braided plying method which results in 3-ply strands. But, whether this way or with 2 strands, I've usually used two weighted cardboard boxes in the same way that you used the plying blocks. I think I have a project for my husband. 😄 Love the dress. I had one a similar color, but it was a German style dress from about 900. I miss it. Need to make another, I guess.

[@nariseconnor7775]

Love this!! I’ve been plying my spindle spun yarn with the two strand ply ball. (Lmao and my espinner)

[@jirup]

I've arduously hand wound my singles into balls for plying. Granted, the spindle I have been using requires the cob be removed before releasing the whorl. So it doesn't lend itself to a box, basket or blocks. I like the blocks though, just need to buy a couple of new spindles (and who doesn't like an excuse to buy more kit). I'd like to make a ruffled scarf, using wool in a mostly bamboo warp and bamboo weft. When it comes to historic practice, I'd say adequacy is more achievable than accuracy. Historically possible is within the grasp of modern people, so long as there aren't too many gatekeepers trying to spoil the fun.

[@Jjj333ke]

Evie, this is brilliant! I can't wait to try out this type of plying spindle holder! I've been scratching my head for a few weeks now :P

[@Marialla.]

Those plying blocks are so simple and clever! I love that. Also, the picture at 5:40 of women combing is so interesting. The combs are as wide as her body! I've never seen combs anything like that big. Lol I'm commenting as I watch, so I can't wait to see whether you make mention of it yourself later in the video...

[@JillianEve]

They are so huge! I wonder if that is entirely to scale or if the artist drew them larger to really show of the tines? I don't know but it seems like they would be super heavy if they were that large. 🤔

[@Marialla.]

@@JillianEve The thing that makes me think they are to scale is because she's using two hands to hold one. If it was enlarged to show details, surely the standard one-hand grasp would still be shown? Also the way that second comb is affixed somehow NOT in her hands.

[@GaraksApprentice]

I recognise this manuscript image! Those are most likely English style combs, which were indeed that large. English combs are *much* larger than the Viking style - they often had up to five rows of tines. They were common in the time period my group re-enacts (1350-1450), and before/after, though I'm not sure how far out they go on the timeline. One comb is fixed to a post (nowadays a bench) and the fibre lashed onto it, then combed off with the other. They were heated in a brazier (the bowl with the red inside it between the two combs on the ground) and dipped in oil/fat before use, to protect the wool during combing. Peter Teal's book "Hand Woolcombing and Spinning" gives some history on the English style combs, as well as instructions on how to make them.

[@Marialla.]

@@GaraksApprentice Wow, those are some great details! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@awaredeshmukh3202]

​@@GaraksApprentice re-enacting sounds so cool! How did you get into re-enacting such a specific time period? (Also, awesome username haha)

[@Treia24]

I've been spinning with drop spindles for around 20 years off and on, and always just wound off the singles into a center pull yarn ball and plied with two such balls in my right hand and the spindle in my left, but this method looks so much more convenient! can't wait to try it out!

[@dawanariley4183]

I think 🤔 I like historical. I love Viking history

[@SuperSarahbop]

Ian a spinner I have a preference for a ply on the fly technique. I’ll spin a good amount and then wind that onto the palm of my dominant hand . This is a form of Navajo plying or chain ply. So it comes out 3 ply that works well with long color shifts. The best part though is how easy it is to test if the twist is balanced. By letting the yarn create a long u shaped loop if the twist is balanced the played yarn does not twist upon itself.

[@mollywithak1697]

I’ve been spindle spinning for a few months now and have gotten pretty good, I’m at a place where I can do a 2-ply embroidery floss weight yarn that I’m really proud of. But I have only ever plyed with an Andean ply bracelet, it’s worked for what I’ve needed so I’ve never thought to expand. I love your videos though, experimental archaeology for the win!!

[@tenaoconnor7510]

Those blocks are cool 😎 i just got my roving in the mail a couple of days ago. Spent an hour trying to use a double whorl spindle i got from Etsy. Didn’t go well. Set it aside so i can watch your video again and see what I’m doing wrong lol

[@Which-Craft]

As for plying, I don't own a lazy (sorry, Clever) kate. I've wound the singles onto bobbins which I put on a dowel, but lately I prefer to just drop the spindles upside down in individual little baskets and ply from there. Seems also to help even out the twist as I go.

[@theedwardianwriter]

A little late to the party, but I’m a spindle spinner who currently owns a grand total of 3 spindles and that’s it. When it comes time for plying, I am basically obligated to measure it all out on my “niddy noddy” (aka laundry drying rack) and then ball it up into two balls before then plying it back onto a spindle. This block looks like a really clever way of getting around the problem! Another thing I’m interested in is that the wool I’ve been working with lately still has a noticeable amount of lanolin in it, so it’s quite sticky especially coming off of the spindle. Would be interested to compare ease of plying or possible problems coming off of the spindle vs already balled up, but maybe I’m overthinking it!

[@jannaolsen3557]

So loved this video! You are so brilliant, informative and entertaining. A joy to watch. I love spindle spinning and spinning in general but I am a chronic newbie. I am trying to practice more methodically and read more of my spinning resources. Trying to get serious I guess you could say. You are an inspiration beyond words and your period clothing is very cool. Love those spindle holders for plying too Dancing Goats awesome! I use the dollar store plastic mesh box variety that makes them go everywhere. Thank you for your excellent work!

[@TheOddWad]

Thanks for sharing all of this awesome info with us! I am a complete newbie to all of this.. obsessed and haven't yet spun anything, but I feel so much more prepared to start!

[@MajaElise95]

I imagine for plying you could easily end up doing it with help. Imagine doing this as an evening winding down task with the kids. Or just straight up having the kids do this task on their own with one of them holding and the other spinning.

[@8amonas]

I don't know if this is part of a technique?! But I ply my warn by twisting together "clockwise" and "counterclockwise" threads, they just love each other and bind together very nicely. I've made a thing that holds two robins and spins around allowing me to pull the thread and spin it into one, I wind it by hand on a stick and then on bobins

[@hollylaw8272]

Very nice! I think it is fun to do research and understand the "why" of how the people of the past did things. I really enjoy your historical content! Update on myself... I finished printing my 3D printed sock machine. I'm just waiting on the needles and hope to be able to make a bunch of socks soon. By the way! You look like you are feeling better than before. I'm so glad! Been praying for you!

[@CarrieCraftGeek]

Definitely call it Millie! 😂😂😂

[@JillianEve]

You caught that! 😂🎶🎶🎶

[@CarrieCraftGeek]

@@JillianEve I laughed so hard

[@emilywarner6177]

Plying ball and bowl. Trying a nostepinne for my silk spindles to see how that plys.

[@sarahfisher3131]

I learn so much from your historical videos! I'm watching them because I'm actually doing a bit of research on the fabrics of late antiquity. I know that Northern Europe is your own particular specialty, but I particularly appreciate the Anatolian tools you sometimes use (Turkish drop spindle and these plying blocks, for example). Do you have any videos specifically about the spinning techniques of the Mediterranean and the Levant?

[@cosmicgeologist]

i exclusively use turkish spindles so i just leave the ball in a yarn bowl and pull from both ends

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

I agree with your ideas on accuracy. I do spin with a spindle and there is a plying project going on (or hibernating?). Because I only have one spindle I first wind balls. With the balls in a basket (doing things I don't like but I can not stop them) I can then use that one spindle to ply the yarn. I am sure that is not the right way to do it.

[@MerryMerryQuiteContrary]

rn i'm spinning some yarn on a supported spindle, and i use the ears of two mugs to hold the spindle while i wind off of it (either plying straight away or winding into a centre pull ball or onto a cardboard roll. i prefer plying from two balls or bobbins (i use a cardboard roll for that) and put them on a stick that's tied onto sth (specifically a music stand xd). i don't have a lot of equipment yet and all but one of my spindles are self handmade, but i just got a hand cranked yarn winder!

[@greenecrayon]

Every time I hear someone who is academically studying the history of crafting, dressmaking, and many other things of that nature, they all say, "all we can do is make educated guesses." So I'm inclined to believe that it is always a guessing game but all notes are allowed.

[@antonemberbroque4452]

What I am trying is just wrapping my yarn into balls, and then just plying from those balls into a drop spindle. Edit: Update: it worked pretty well for making a 3 ply, tho I had 2 get my mom to help me keep the threads separate, another set of hands helped a lot.

[@resourcedragon]

Regarding the colours: if we look at some of the very brightly coloured illustrations that medieval people left behind, I think you are right that they would have loved to have worn those colours.

[@elineeugenie5224]

Hi folks have you seen this or heard of the Andean ply? There's a channel called Material girl who's done a short showing how to do it. It's basically a way to ply one spindlefull down the middle if that makes sense. I'd put in the link but Yt won't let me

[@jacobleatherberry]

Hmm, I want those anatolian plying blocks instead of a Lazy kate.. I could use long DPN's in there and it could do the same thing.. it's what I use metal DPN's for anyway.

[@kristiereed1403]

Where do I find a yarn swift that the one in your background? It’s beautiful.

[@kieraoona]

I'm currently in the process of spinning and weaving my own apron dress, more of an experiment to see how well (or not well) I could pull it off with a straight weave, as the warp threads being triple loop plied, and the weft threads being double plied. Mainly as I'm a mostly beginner at weaving, but more also to see how long it would take, how much it might cost, and something warm for the winter for just lounging in (cause it gets hecking cold her in Canada). Is it historically accurate....not by a long shot. Do I think it'll look cool or at least be comfortable when its done? I'd like to think so

[@JillianEve]

It will be amazing! 🧶💙😊

[@inwhichalex531]

This satisfies all of the nerd in me

[@elineeugenie5224]

Giant Floof Doodles 🤗🤗🤗

[@bagladysendtheferalspinner3761]

I use ply balls with clay pots,

[@Marialla.]

I'm curious whether the direction that the spindle unwinds could have any influence on how a plied yarn comes out? Like, if you set them all so the thread unwinds off the left side of the spindle, would that create a difference in the product compared to having them unwind from mixed/random sides?

[@JillianEve]

I haven't seen any particular difference myself. Now, if it was toilet paper, I would have very serious feelings about which way it should unwind.

[@Marialla.]

@@JillianEve That's great! I'm not experienced in it, and not technical enough to mentally project what the answer would have been, so I thank you for your knowledge. And you're absolutely right, TP does elicit strong opinions!

[@TealCheetah]

The blocks may not be HA, but they sure did work!

[@RingofSecrets]

I personally prefer plying balls for their portable nature. However, the blocks are a clever and sensible solution that seems entirely plausible. For most purposes, "accurate enough" is going to be a personal standard, and that's for the best.

[@californiacapybara]

Giant floof noodles!