A ply is a strand or layer of material, such as yarn, rope, plastic, wood, or paper. Plywood is so called because it is a laminate of several thin layers of wooden material. Two-ply toilet paper has two separable layers, each about as thick as single-ply, affording greater comfort and convenience without a commensurate increase in the risk of clogging the toilet. Layer may refer to: Look up Layer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about yarn fiber. ... Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Trunks A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is a solid material derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ... A blank sheet of paper Paper is a commodity of thin material produced by the amalgamation of fibers, typically vegetable fibers composed of cellulose, which are subsequently held together by hydrogen bonding. ... Toy constructed from plywood. ... Bold textBold textBold textBold text // Laminate A laminate is a material constructed by uniting two or more layers of material together. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A toilet is a plumbing fixture and disposal system primarily intended for the disposal of the bodily wastes: urine, fecal matter and vomit. ...

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with plying. (Discuss)

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Plying, in textile manufacture, is the activity of twisting, intermingling, or otherwise intimately combining two or more fibers or yarns into a combined yarn or fiber. ...

Ply with respect to yarn

Plying is a process used to create a strong, balanced yarn. It is done by taking two or more strands of yarn that each have a twist to them and putting them together. The strands are twisted together, in the opposite direction than that in which they were spun. When just the right amount of twist is added, this creates a balanced yarn, which is a yarn with no tendency to twist upon itself. Almost all store bought yarns are balanced, plied yarns. This article is about yarn fiber. ... A hand-turned spinning wheel in action Cones of yarn for industrial use Spinning is the process of creating yarn (or thread, rope, cable) from various raw fiber materials. ...

A two ply is thus a yarn plied from two strands, a six ply is one from six strands, and so on. Most commercial yarns are more than a two ply. Embroidery floss is generally a six ply, for example. Gold Embroidery Cross-stitch embroidery, Hungary, mid-20th century Phulkari from Punjab region, India 15th century embroidered cope, Ghent, Belgium Elizabethan embroidery styles include blackwork on linen and dense patterns worked in colored silk and metallic threads on velvet or other rich fabrics Embroidery is the art or handicraft of...

Plying handspun yarns

When hand-spinning, there are two common ways to ply a balanced yarn: regular and Navajo.

• Regular plying consists of taking two or more singles and twisting them together, the opposite way. This can be done on either a spinning wheel or a spindle. The most important thing to remember though is that the twist must go the opposite direction. If in spinning the single the wheel was spinning clockwise (which is called a "Z" twist, as on any given side the fibres appear to cross diagonally in the same direction as the diagonal of a "Z"), in order to ply it the wheel must spin counter-clockwise (an "S" twist). This is because otherwise you are not balancing the twist, just twisting it more. The concept is similar to when a heavily twisted piece of yarn is folded, and it twists up on itself. It is most common for singles to be spun with a "Z" twist, and then plied with an "S" twist.

• Navajo plying consists of making large loops, similar to crocheting. First make a loop about 8 inches long through the loop on the end on the leader. (A leader is the string left on the bobbin to spin off of.) Start spinning all three strands together in the opposite direction than that they were spun in. When only 2 to 3 inches remain of the loop, pull a new loop of yarn through the loop, and continue spinning. The new loop should be around 7 inches long. Repeat this process until the yarn is all plied. Only one single is necessary, and if the single is already dyed this technique allows it to be plied without ruining the colour scheme. This technique also allows the spinner to try to match up thick and thin spots in the yarn, thus making for a smoother end product.

Most spinners (who use spinning wheels) ply from bobbins. This is easier than plying from balls because there is less chance for the yarn to become tangled and knotted if it is simply unwound from the bobbins. So that the bobbins can unwind freely, they are put in a device called a Lazy Kate, or sometimes simply kate. The simplest lazy kate consists of wooden bars with a metal rod running between them. Most hold between three and four bobbins. The bobbin sits on the metal rod. Other lazy kates are built with devices that create an adjustable amount of tension, so that if the yarn is jerked, a whole bunch of yarn is not wound off, then wound up again in the opposite direction. Some spinning wheels come with a built in lazy kate. Picture of lazy kates, with tension device. Navajo sandpainting The Navajo Nation (Dineé in Navajo language) is a Native American sovereignty. ... A spinning wheel is a device for making thread or yarn from fibrous material such as wool or cotton. ... A bobbin is a spindle or cylinder, with or without flanges, on which wire, yarn, thread or film is wound. ... In spinning, a lazy kate is a device used to hold one or more spools in place while the singles or yarn on them is manipulated. ...

Machined yarns

Machines that ply yarn use the 'regular' method mentioned above. The main difference is that instead of humans, gears control the intake making sure that the strands all have the same tension and the same length. Other than that, the process for plying is exactly the same.

Novelty yarns

Many novelty yarns make use of special plying techniques to gain their special effects. By varing the tension in the strands, or the relative sizes of the strands, or many other factors different effects can be achieved. For example, when a soft, think strand is plied against a tightly twisted thin strand, the resulting yarn spirals. Another example is the boucle, which is a yarn where one strand is held loosely and allowed to make loops on the other yarn while plying.