**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: joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/TinyFibreStudio or buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!** The term 'Andean Plying'/'Andean Bracelet' originated from a Summer 1992 Spin-Off magazine article (p106) by Ed Franquemont called 'An Andean Plying Technique' which showed the steps for this method, but as Abby Franquemont, textile writer, teacher, spinner extraordinaire and Ed's daughter, who lives and works in the Andes points out: "Folks with an interest in the cultural aspect of things will perhaps find it worth note that not all spinners (in the Andes) use this technique, and those who do use it only sometimes. While clever and convenient in various settings, it is not widely viewed as a production technique; and even where it is used, it tends to be used to wind a two-stranded ball most of the time." It was important enough to Abby that this inappropriate use of the term 'Andean' (when applied to Plying Bracelets) should be discontinued that she discussed it with Ed on his deathbed. She recounts the multiple issues with this misattribution here: twunroll.com/article/1296244365606690816 Abby also has a great article in the Summer 2015 edition of Spin-Off (p35) talking about how plying is really done in the Andes, along with lots of tips and tricks for plying bracelets. If you subscribe to Spin Off magazine you get access to the entire back catalogue, all the way back to 1977.
Over fifty years of spinning, and here I've learned a new trick which will keep me from having to unwind my bobbin, weighting the middle of the single with something (a carabiner, embroidery scissors, handful of washers on a string) and then wrapping it around chair legs, over chair backs, trailing off into the back bedroom, etc. and so on! I usually get both bobbins within 10 yards of each other by weighing them, but there's always that bit left over. This is utterly brilliant. Thanks for making such a clear, instructive video. I like your preferred method best.
Great demonstration, Becks, thank you! My personal preferred method is number 2 you showed, for little left over. For larger quantity I like to create a center-pull ball (I know its impact on the twist, but for rustic yarns I don't mind). I take the core of an empty toilet roll, stick the single coming from the wheel in the grooves of the roll and wind it. When I'm done, the end of the single, that was once the beginning of the yarn in the bobbin, is visible. I place that end in the middle of the plied yarn and continue to ply as usual from the center-pull ball. No handspun yarn goes to waste! 😊
I finally understand how to make a plying bracelet thanks to your video and demonstration. I could just not grasp the movements from pictures and descriptions in a book, and other video demos were too fast for my brain to understand how the wrapping was supposed to go. Thank you! harpingJanet
I have found that a large tube (at least the size of a glass tumbler) is a very useful alternative. Simply leave the first end tucked inside where it won't get lost, then loosely wrap. Both ends can be pulled while still on the tube, and the diameter is large enough that there isn't noticeable difference in twist between the inner and outer strands.
05:25 Oh my, this is brilliant! When I just started out spinning (several years ago) I tried the bracelet plying with a full bobbin of 100grams of laceweight singles. It was a frightful mess. I wish someone had warned me then *not* to do that massive amount :-D But also, it was agony on my middle finger and I couldn't understand how anyone could stand even a fraction of that amount of yarn pressure. This is the solution and it is amazing. Back then, I gave up on bracelet plying and since I use 3-ply yarns more, I went with chain-plying, but now I might brave the plying bracelet for 2-ply once more.
Very interesting! I'd heard of Andean plying and seen the wooden tool but had no idea of its purpose. Maybe the 'Andean' term came from Handy Ply, or Hand&ply!
I’m getting ready to do a 2 ply but the question what to do when one bobbin runs out kept me from it. I heard of plying bracelets before but didn’t quite get it! I’ll put your video next to me when it’s time! Thank you.
I've watched other videos in which the person doing the plying put the end around their pinky rather than way over on the spinning wheel. That made it a bit easier to wrap around the back of the hand lower to the wrist. I was thinking that since my thumb is already sticking out and not doing much, I could tuck it there and then pretty much proceed as you did.
Yeah, that’s another good way to start it. I find it easiest to keep the end separate from the bracelet, but everyone should do whatever works best for them! 🙂
An excellent informative video made even better by your happy cat. 😊 I am definitely going to try one of these (probably the book method) next time I ply. I use mostly drop spindles so I have been looking at methods that are easier than wrapping it around paper towel tubes and playing from there. This looks much easier to avoid tangles with!
Let me know how it goes (or how it went, apologies for taking a while to respond!). Regarding paper towel tubes, one trick I came across recently, courtesy of Amanda Hannaford is to put some pipe insulating foam inside the toilet rolls when plying from them so they don’t bounce around so much on the lazy Kate. Genius!
@@TinyFibreStudio The plying bracelet worked very well for me! And thank you for this additional tip. I don't actually have a lazy kate yet, so my plying experience has been sooo much improved using the bracelet method!
Very clear explanation thanks you. You mention rewinding a single before normal 2 plying makes it smoother - is this still the case when using the bracelet ply please? Thanks again
Great question! When you’re using a plying bracelet you’re taking two ends of the same yarn, effectively folding the yarn in half. One of the strands would be going in the same direction as it was spun, the other strand would be going the opposite way. So no, rewinding for the sake of making the yarn smoother doesn’t apply to yarn plied from bracelets. Hope that helps! 🙂
I was demonstrating this technique to my spinning buddies a while ago. This was so well explained I've not linked them this video so they can remember and practice by themselves. Thank you for another great video.
Thank you for such clear explanations. I found it really helpful to be shown the various options and also how they work. Just had my first try with method one and am very pleased with how well it worked.
I try and make sure I guess the right amount of singles to put on the bobbins so there is no need to wrap anything. But I don't often get it just right so then I go round the back of the chair and round the door handle until all the yarn is off the bobbin and hope it doesn't tangle up before I get it plied up. Your method looks a bit easier, I'll give it a go 👍😀
I spin my singles onto three bobbins as usual, then when one runs out I assess which of the remaining bobbins has more yarn left on it and that's the one I make a plying bracelet from. I use the two ends from the plying bracelet plus what's left on the remaining bobbin until one of then runs out. Normally (🤞🏻) there's not much waste left by that point and I'll just two-ply the rest from another bracelet to use for skein ties or leaders.
I think many of us have tried bracelet plying a 4 ounce bobbin once when we were new. Most of us have also NOT repeated that mistake. LOL Raises hand....guilty.
😂 Even if it’s not a full bobbin, sometimes those ‘leftovers’ can be deceiving! You think there’s just a little bit left and end up with an armful of bracelets! 🤦🏼♀️
Excellent video! Thank you very much for making the technique so clear and for sharing the information about its use by Andean spinners. The term "plying bracelet" is perfect. As always, your kitties are adorable.
Great tutorial~hope it works with my Wensleydale! Also, the title needs a change, maybe? It is called “English manually-corrected”. And I tried to click on the support you link, and it disappeared! Hope you and cats are having a nice evening! All best from Sunday morning San Francisco!
Hi Pat, thanks for letting me know about the title - I think it was to do with the subtitles and I’ve hopefully fixed it now. The Ko-Fi support link is in the description and I’ll add it to the pinned comment - thank you for your support! 😃 I’m glad you found the tutorial useful. Good luck with your Wensleydale!
