Grace writes: <<about the virtues of Navajo plying over regular three-ply?>>
Advantages as I see them: Can ply with just one bobbin or ball of yarn ready. Closely related, lets you do a 3-ply from a relatively small amount of fiber. Don't have to worry about having bits of singles left on two bobbins. Can play with color, if the singles are multi-colored. Fun to chain-ply, once you get the hang of it. Disadvantages: In the beginning, it's very easy to overply until your hands and feet get thoroughly coordinated (helps to put your drive band on a *larger* whorl for a slower flyer, rather than a faster whorl as usual for plying, until you're really comfortable). If the yarn is true-worsted, you'll potentially be slicking fibers up and out of the twist, making the yarn a little less smooth and shiny. The little bumps where the yarn reverses direction add texture (yes, can be either a pro or a con, depending on how much texture you want). Tension may be a little uneven until you get the hang of things - but then, so can traditional three-ply. In your particular situation, the only real advantage to chain-plying is to get knitting before you're finished spinning and plying :) And practicing a new skill probably counts, too. I love chocolate-colored fibers! I have some very nice moorit Shetland roving from the one year we had wool good enough to send to Stonehedge for carding. I think there's only 9 or 10 ounces. I need to think of a really good project for it... Holly
