Grandma Knitty Home
Knitty: little purls of wisdom
what's the editor up to lately?feature articlesKnitty's generous selection of patternsKnittyspinČarchive of previous issuesMeet other Knitty readers and chat in our coffeeshop!sign up for the free Knitty newsletterLooking for an ad fromone of our advertisers? Click here!Our tiny, perfect online shopping mallGet yourself a little Knitty treat!read the behind-the-scenes news at Knitty


Find exactly what you're looking for

The answer to your question about Knitty is probably here!

Take home something Knitty today

Advertise with Knitty

Get your cool stuff reviewed in Knitty

Full information about how  to get published in Knitty

Read exactly what FREE PATTERNS really means...respect our designers and authors rights [and thank you]

Knitty is produced in a pro-rabbit environment

© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

 



Cool stuff!Techniques with TheresaWatch this spaceKnit like a manFrankenknits™
PodcastsPut it in reverseFinger knittingYou want to design?Technicolor
Knittyspin> Festival survival guide2006 Spin OutCoiled yarnpattern: Booze bag


*disclaimer*
Spinning coiled yarn is wickedly fun and highly addictive. If you have an addictive personality like I do, I suggest you turn back now; if you choose to proceed with reading, I take no responsibility for all of your singles becoming coils.
Spinning coiled yarn is a simple, yet time-consuming process where a thick and thin single is plied and manipulated on a light weight, smooth, strong binder; like crochet cotton, wooly nylon (serger thread), rayon, or even embroidery floss.

I start selecting my fibers based on what I want the overall 'feel' of my coil to be. I'm using both blended batts and hand painted top.

Don't be afraid to 'break some rules' when selecting your colors and fibers. (chances are if you have read this far, you aren't afraid anyway...)

I'm using fibers including alpaca, hemp, nylon, mohair and wool. And color schemes like pink with black and orange with purple. Yes! All in the same hank of yarn!

 

When I am making this thick and thin single, I spin it at a higher TPI (adding more twist) than I normally would; as the coiling process is far more intense than balanced plying and causes the slubs/thicker bits (the parts of the yarn that require less twist) to become undone. I also like to add in some very very thin bits which helps the coil adhere to the binder thread.

When I've decided my single is finished, I like to wind it into a center pull ball.

Keep in mind that it takes roughly 75-100 yards of yarn to make 10 yards of coils, depending on how thick or thin your singles are, and how tight you get your coils.

Time to coil!

I like to tie my single onto my binder.

Here, I'm using a crochet cotton. You can use anything strong and smooth.

Then, I insert that knot between the two plys of my leader yarn. (if you aren't using a handspun leader you might not be able to do this, but you can tie it right onto you leader)

To create this coil effect, I hold my single at a 90 degree angle and let it ply tightly around my binder.
Taking the section of ply that I just made, I slip it up the binder to increase its density.

Holding the binder very taut, I push some more.

 

 

 

After that it is essentially wash rinse repeat. (or ply, ply, ply, ply; push, push.)

A lot of people inquire as to the balance of a coil. The traditional rules of balance are pretty much out the window with this type of yarn. Since the yarn ideally is plied on (or coiled) at a 90 degree angle. Therefore, the spots of in balance may occur when the yarn is coiled at an obtuse angle. (or where spots of "Knopping" happen.)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Symeon lives with her family in the wilds of Vermont. By day she runs her online yarn shop, whist performing jobs such as short order cook, story teller, nurse, judge and jury, teacher, juggler and all round corraller of children. By night she has been known to drink beverages of fermented grapes and lift elephants over her head.

You can visit her blog where she documents it all.