My newer books refer to Z spun S plied yarns as being "normal" which is an indication of frequency, not correctness. Mable Ross in her Encyclopedia of Handspinning, under Z-Twist on p. 214 states "Commercial woollen-spun yarn, traditionally S-spun, is still sometimes so spun." I also checked my references to mill spinning and there is nothing about a MUST on spinning and plying other than that to avoid odd twist, plying is done in the opposite direction of the single yarns. There is also ample literature about using one twist direction for warp and the other for weft as it affects the way the intersections in a piece of woven cloth interact and changes the appearance of the fabric. I've never heard this "theory". Actually you may have something unusual - there is a type of knitting that due to twisting the threads NEEDS Z-plied yarn. Called Tvåändsstickning (Swedish twined or two ended knitting) it is a knitting technique that demands the Z-ply because S-plied would untwist using this technique - had a lady here in town looking for some and I had to send her to Walstedt's Swedish wool factory as it is the only commercial source. You just might have something special there. As far as I can tell from 50+ years of knitting and 30+ of spinning, I've never heard that the initial spinning direction made any significant difference in the finished stocking stitch knit fabric. I'd certainly discount that person in your shop in terms of respect and consideration of her teaching. There are other sources.
Sara von Tresckow, Fond du Lac, WI sa...@powercom.net http://www.woolgatherers.com Dutch Master Loom/Spinning Chairs/Öxabäck Looms, vendors at Wisconsin Spin In
