Start Spinning Sock Yarn: Twist, Ply & Structure
There are countless reasons to learn to spin yarn. It might be curiosity—playing with the beautiful colours of hand-dyed braids—or the magic of transforming wool from sheep into a garment that keeps us warm. For some, it’s the intellectual challenge of designing a yarn for a specific purpose. Once we’ve learned the basics of spinning—adding twist to fibre, plying singles together, and wet setting the twist in our handspun yarn—where do we go next? We might explore singles or 2-ply yarns for years, or even a lifetime. Or, we may decide to spin more intentionally, taking our skills to the next level: exploring sock yarns and different yarn structures beyond 2-ply yarns. How Do We Design & Spin Sock Yarn? Spinning for socks is one of those next-level options. First, you need to know what characteristics a sock yarn must have. Sock yarns need to withstand the wear and tear of being on our feet. They must stay in place, protecting the person’s feet without sliding down, “hugging” th...