Singles or Plied?

With new yarn trends popping up each month, it's safe to say there's an overwhelming amount of choices when it comes to fiber arts - these days. There are SO many options.. but, everyone's current favorite, is -- by far hand-dyed yarns. I've been dyeing and spinning yarn for 6 years.. so, I know a little bit more than the average knitter/crocheter. Have you ever wondered the difference between a singles yarn and a plied yarn? I'm going to have both available in my update this week, so I thought now would be a great time to bust out a little bit of yarn-y knowledge for ya'll..

On the left (above) is my SINGLE ply sw merino yarn and -- on the right is my 4 PLY sw merino yarn.
Both skeins have the same fiber content and both are dyed in the same colorway. See the difference?

Basically, all yarns start as a single. Plied yarns are multiple singles - twisted together - to form a more defined yarn.

Singles yarn - has a single twist in one direction. It has a unique and more "handspun" look to it. Singles can be a bit temperamental to work with and more difficult to frog -- especially if you haven't worked with them before. A single is just more delicate. No worries though, It's not going to come apart on you as you're working with it. Singles are spun to withstand quite a bit of wear, but if you have a tendency to pull too hard while cinching up the top of a hat -- it is very possible for the yarn to break on you. A single has a softer, almost "rustic" look when it's worked up. That's because it has less stitch definition and an overall softer vibe. Singles are also more likely to pill, so I like to use them for items like beanies and scarves/cowls -- things that get less wear and tear than say - a cozy pair socks or mittens.


Plied yarn - has multiple strands which are spun together to form one. There's one strand to create the single (spun in one direction) and one to create the ply (spun in the opposite direction). A 2-ply yarn has two strands, a 3-ply yarn has three strands, and so on. A plied yarn can transform a project by changing up the texture, weight, and the stitch definition. Any time a yarn is plied, it becomes stronger. Twist adds strength. Multiple directions of twist will add even more strength. The twist tucks some of the surface of the yarn inside and away from the elements making a plied yarn more durable and less likely to pill. That's why plied yarns are much more popular to use for garments.


For those of you who are new to the hand-dyed yarn world and are often confused about which yarn to order and which yarn type is best for your next project.. I hope this helped you get a better understanding of these two very different types of yarn. I really want to expand on this subject more -- in the next few weeks and talk with you more about dyeing, and more about the different types of fibers that go into our yarns (both commercial and hand-dyed).

If you have any questions, or suggestions on what you'd like to hear more about - leave me a comment below!