D2 writes: <<When finished with the spinning, I'll have 5 singles to ply together. Anyone have any suggetions as to how to ply them?>>
Way cool, they must be really fine singles! What are the colors like? For some reason, at this time of year I'm always *starved* for color :) Assuming you don't know anyone you can borrow a tensioned kate from, you can make one with a long, narrow, sturdy box and some straight knitting needles or dowels that fit through your bobbins. Poke holes in the sides of the boxes, push through the needle, put bobbin on needle, and finishing pushing through the box. Make sure part of each bobbin whorl sticks up over the top edge of the box. Then you need to tension it. Tape a rubber band *very* securely to one end of the box, and tie a string to it. Run the string over the whorl on one bobbin, then under the whorl of the next; over, under, over to finish. Then you'll have to figure out a way to make the tension adjustable, since it will need to be decreased as you ply and the bobbins empty. I would try putting a piece of duct tape on the outside of the end of the box. Then tie a knot in the string (keeps the string from pulling out from the tape), and use masking tape to stick the string on top of the duct tape. As needed, unstick the masking tape, pull the string slightly tighter, tie a new knot, and stick it back down again. Kind of clumsy, but should work. I can't think of anything else at the moment that would allow you to continue to adjust the tension as you ply. Try to have each bobbin about equally full of yarn, so they empty at about the same rate. If one is much heavier or lighter than the others, the tension will be different on that one, and it might show up in the finished yarn. I suppose it's too late, but what I would do is divide the fiber by weight into five batches before spinning, to ensure the bobbins are as equal as possible. It will also help avoid large amounts of wasted singles on some of your bobbins. At least in theory, having the singles tensioned as you ply means you only have to guide them with your fingers, holding all 5 together so that the twist doesn't run back into the yarn closer to the box. In practice, of course, there are likely to be little kinks and such that you'll have to watch for and fix as you ply. I hope either this is workable or you find something that does work - do share, if you do! Holly
