What is this yarn ply... or whatever?

October 29, 2019 7:08 PM

I used this yarn on my last tapestry and it's the best yarn I've found for weaving, but I'm looking for yarn with a bigger range of colors. I've tried other cotton yarns, and it seems like the specific type of ply of this Lion Brand yarn is what keeps it from unravelling in the loom while I'm weaving. Please help?

It seems it's like the "ply" characteristic that I'm looking for because it looks more like rope than the standard spun yarn, and for that reason it doesn't unravel in my loom. But I just don't know about yarn! Can you help me figure out what kind of ply this is (or if it's not ply, what is it?). Or do you know of another yarn like this? Thank you!!

posted by ancient star to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)

Best answer: The term you’re looking for is “cabled”! That yarn looks like two two-ply yarns, plied together. Cabled yarns can have more component plies than that, too. They tend to be rounder than ordinarily plied yarns and also more resistant to abrasion, as you’ve found.
posted by the fringe of the flame at 7:16 PM on October 29, 2019 [2 favorites]

YarnSub is a great resource for this type of question. I primarily use the site when a pattern recommends a super expensive yarn and I’m looking for affordable alternatives. It’s highly detailed and I have found the substitutions to be really accurate.
posted by donut_princess at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2019 [3 favorites]

If you're interested in making any yarn a cabled yarn, it would be slightly easier than learning how to spin from fleece, since the drafting part and the yarn part is already done. You would need to twist the yarn you like tighter and then ply it back on itself in the opposite direction. Any competent spinner could do it.

If you can't find what you need any other way, hit me up and we can collaborate. I can cable ply whatever commercial yarn you want.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:17 AM on October 30, 2019

You may also want to look at chainette yarns - they are like a little crocheted tube so all the plys stay firmly in place.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 9:46 AM on October 30, 2019

This Lion Brand cotton is also mercerized, which could make a difference if the other cotton yarns you tried aren't mercerized. Mercerization makes cotton smoother and shinier, among other things. If you've mostly been trying yarns primarily meant for knitting or crocheting (like most craft store and local yarn store yarns), you might give yarns primarily intended for weaving a try. Weaving yarns generally have a tighter twist, although they also tend to not come as thick as worsted weight.

Lunatic Fringe yarn shop has a brief description of mercerized vs unmercerized.
posted by Advanced_Waffler at 9:27 PM on October 30, 2019