"You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

– A.A. Milne

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Hello there Reader!

This is The Yarnist. The daily newsletter that makes you love knitting the same way Chubby Checker loves the Twist.

Here's what we've got for you today...

• Knitspiration: Why single ply yarn is so lovely
• Stitchionary: A garter stitch with a slip
• Pattern Pick: This blanket is a true mosaic
• PLUS: Knitted armor, ancient knitting, and more

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Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links.
When you buy using them, you support our work here at The Yarnist, as we get a small commission.

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Knitspiration

🤨 What is Single Ply Yarn?

The *shape* of yarn is not something we spend a lot of time thinking about.

We spend most of our time drooling over gorgeous dye jobs, high quality fibers, and how soft it feels on our skin.

But yarn construction is more important than you might think.

There's yarn that's knit into a tube (ribbon), and yarn made from strips of knitted fabric (t-shirt), and yarn consisting of little chains of fibers (chainette).

Most yarn however, is made up of fibers that have been twisted, and then twisted again with some friends.

Today we're going to look at what happens when you make a yarn that goes it alone.

What is a ply?

We're not going to get too deep into plying today, as there is a surprising amount to cover on this topic.

Essentially plies are a strand of twisted fiber.

Those strands are often *plied* together, twisting them on top of each other.

Each strand is basically stored energy, and wrapping those strands around each other helps to balance that energy within the yarn. This keeps the yarn straight, instead of twisting all over the place.

The more strands, the more stable the yarn is.

Most yarn has at least two plies, but usually three or four.

In fact the number of plies used to be an indicator of the yarn weight.
A yarn with four strands would be about worsted weight, and a yarn with eight strands would be much bulkier.

But today it's possible to spin many different weights of yarn with just one strand of fiber.

Why single ply?

Single ply yarns are easy to fall in love with.

They're kind of like a cloud of fiber twisted into a tube of warmth, joy, and happiness.

Here's some things we adore about using single ply:

• Soft: Because the yarn is not tightly spun, it is quite spongey and soft with a fuzzy halo.
• Super Warm: There's a lot of air in these yarns since they are only spun once. That means they're even better at insulation than other yarns.
• Good for Beginners: They're pleasant to work with and do not easily split, making them a great choice for first time knitters.
• Quick Knits: They often are on the bulky side, so they can knit up fast.
• Felting Practice: If you like to felt your knits, those fuzzy fibers love to stick together, so this yarn is ideal.

There's something very satisfying about knitting with fiber in a less processed form.

But for all it's advantages, this kind of yarn has some big drawbacks.

Drawbacks of single ply yarn

Knitting with single ply isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

There's some important things to keep in mind when using it:

• Less Detail: The yarn is often fuzzy, so stitches lack much definition and can blend together.
• Frogging is Hard: Made a mistake a few rows back and need to rip out? Good luck. Those fuzzy fibers like to stick together and can be difficult to pull out.
• Lack of structure and strength: If a single ply yarn is not spun enough or doesn't have long enough staple fibers, the yarn may be prone to breakage.
• Pilling: While it is possible to make garments and accessories, sweaters, hats, and scarves are less practical than when using smaller yarn weights.
• Biasing: Because these yarns are not balanced, they may cause your fabric to twist and some stitches to slant.

That being said, on the whole we still enjoy working with single ply yarns. We'll gladly risk some pilling for that cozy cloud of fiber.

Our Favorite Single Ply Yarns

This type of yarn isn't perfect.

It can be as temperamental as a toddler at nap time. Sometimes you're enjoying the sweet sensation of snuggles together. Other times you're in an epic battle of wills, usually ending with both of you in tears.

But in the end you'd never give up that lovely soft little thing.

The yarn I mean.

The baby is negotiable.

Anyway, here are a few of our favorite single ply yarns:

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​Fluff of the Andes by Knit Picks

CYC #6 (Super Bulky) • 100% Highland Wool (109yds/200g)

The best of Peruvian Highland wool gets fluffed up a notch to become Fluff of the Andes! Peruvian Highland wool is a strong fiber that has an excellent balance of structure, loft, and drape, and it’s spun into a super-bulky, single-ply yarn that makes a dramatic statement. Projects in Fluff of the Andes are as quick to finish as they are to start, making it irresistible to cast on with.

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​Aspen by Mary Maxim

CYC #5 (Bulky) • 100% Acrylic (130yds/100g)

Mary Maxim Aspen yarn is a delightful bulky weight roving yarn inspired by the Rocky Mountain Landscapes. It is a soft and lofty yarn making it easy to create to your heart's content. This yarn, when used on certain projects, may create a subtle self-striping color pattern with pops of color throughout your project.

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​Muse Aran by Knit Picks

CYC #4 (Aran / Worsted) • 100% Superwash Merino Wool (114yds/100g)

Be prepared to be inspired by the hand-painted masterpieces of Muse, our artfully crafted superwash aran weight Merino wool yarn from Japan. The wonderfully soft and touchable Merino is firmly twisted in a single strand, stable enough to discourage splitting and pilling, while still enjoying the finish and drape of single-ply construction—with special care taken to ensure even thickness. Meticulously hand-dyed by artisans, each skein of Muse is a study in the art of masterful color blending.

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​Susurro by Malabrigo Yarn

CYC #3 (DK) • 50% Silk, 25% Merino, 25% Linen (325yds/100g)

Malabrigo Susurro is the perfect combination of soft, light, and breezy! Made of Mulberry silk, Merino wool, and Linen, this gorgeous blend gives the yarn a sharp contrast between the linen texture and the silky sensation of the merino. These three fibers also create a gorgeous depth of color for the yarn, providing an almost metallic sheen. Light as a feather, Susurro is the perfect DK-weight yarn for all of your warm weather projects!

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​​​​​​​Silk Garden by Noro

CYC #4 (Aran/Worsted) • 45% Silk, 45% Kid Mohair, 10% Lamb's Wool (110yds/50g)

Noro Silk Garden is a hand-dyed blend of silk, mohair, and wool with incredible self-striping colors!! Eisaku Noro's artistry in blending colors and fibers remains unsurpassed. Wearing a garment created with Noro yarn is like wearing a work of art. Use this aran-weight yarn to make beautiful hat, scarves, sweaters, and more!

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​Spun Colors by Premier

CYC #4 (Worsted) • 65% Acrylic 35% Merino Superwash Wool (419yds/200g)

Painterly hues that range from delicate, neutral tones to strong indigos. Combine colorways in a single project to create Missoni-inspired shawls, scarves, and sweaters. A medium weight, wool/acrylic blend yarn in a 200-gram put-up means fewer interruptions in color with an appeal for knitters and crocheters alike.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Landscapes Renewed by Lion Brand Yarns

CYC #4 (Worsted) • 75% Polyester, 25% Recycled Polyester (232yds/150g)

Landscapes Renewed is the latest addition to the beautiful Landscapes family! Composed of 25% post-consumer recycled polyester, this roving yarn is designed to inspire while also being eco-friendly. Each machine-washable ball boasts ample material for garments and accessory sets alike. But it doesn’t stop there—each colorway is a unique masterpiece, blending artistic flair with the allure of nature's palette.

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Conclusion

So what do you think?

Are you a fan of single ply yarn?

Do you have a favorite we didn't mention?

Hit reply and let us know your thoughts!

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Announcements

Here's a couple of upcoming events you might want to check out!

Knit Your Wardrobe Summit (Feb 1-4) I'm doing a presentation for this FREE event along with 14 other knitting teachers and designers. Get Your FREE Ticket!

Headband KAL Feb 4-24 • Space is limited Join us as we explore new techniques through a quick headband project. 4 projects to choose from! Get on the waiting list

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Daily Stitch

Garter Slip Stitch

This week were exploring slipped stitches and how they can create unique textures within your fabric.

A personal favorite of mine, this stitch alternates slip stitches with knit stitches, and then a simple row of knit stitches.

It's even easier than regular garter stitch since you don't knit half the stitches!

​Learn This Stitch

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Yarnist Insider Bonus

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Members Only

LIVE Knitting Circle (Jan 24 @ 7EST) Join us and we chat and knit together. ​RSVP HERE​

Weekly Stitch Challenge Let's learn together as we knit this week's challenge stitch. ​Get the instructions here​

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Pattern Pick

Slips Stitch Afghan by Irina Poludnenko

This week we're focusing on slip stitches, and this beautiful blanket if covered in them.

You may recognize this colorwork technique as mosaic, which uses slipped stitches to created it's designs.

By combining a patchwork of these different patterns, you end up with an afghan that is bound to get people talking.

Best of all it's 100% Free!

Get This Pattern

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Knits & Giggles

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Thanks for reading!

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Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs:

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Look at you reading all the way to the end!

Here's a bonus video with this incredible arial footage of sheep being herded. 🤯

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Made with 💙🖤🤍 in Tallinn, Estonia

Narva Mnt 15, Tallinn, 10120