Chain Plying
Chain Plying
This week on Ask Me Monday we revisit Chain Plying, a technique for triple plying yarn, as you knit or crochet, to create a thicker, more textured fabric. This method is particularly cool for manipulating those gorgeous, hand-dyed sock-weight yarns by our favorite dyers into a more versatile worsted or Aran weight.
This episode of Ask Me Monday is sponsored by Knitter’s Pride/ KnitPro
See more KP products during “Vic’s Tips” segments of The Knit Show!
Featured Knitter’s Pride Products: Ginger Crochet Hooks, SmartStix Circular Needles, Ginger Circular Needles
Why Chain Ply?
There are two reasons I recommend adding Chain Plying to your yarn-craft skills repertoire:
- Versatility (aka making do). Chain Plying is particularly cool for manipulating those gorgeous, hand-dyed sock-weight yarns by our favorite dyers into a more versatile worsted or Chunky Aran weight. Using what we already have is always a good thing, for both budget and the. environment, but especially right now when just popping into your favorite LYS isn’t always realistic, this method reinvents the lace, fingering, and sock weight yarns you may already own.
- Texture and interest. Your yarn will seem like a textural paint of sorts when you play with combining chain plying and single plying in one garment. Have fun watching the drape and weave fluctuate as you switch back and forth!
Chain Plying: Practice Swatch
MATERIALS
Fingering or sock-weight yarn (I used Tosh Merino Light in Vickie Howell for Mad Tosh color: Peace Fingers)
Size US Knitter’s Pride Ginger 10 1/2 needles
DIRECTIONS
Chain Ply and CO 16 sts.
Note: Continue to Chain Ply as you go, as need be.
Row 1: *K1, p1, rep from to end.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.
Repeat Rows 1-2, until piece is square.
BO.
Unply to weave in ends.
Chain Plying & Single Plying: Knitting on the Bias Practice Swatch
MATERIALS
Fingering or sock-weight yarn (I used Tosh Merino Light in Vickie Howell for Mad Tosh color: Peace Fingers)
Size US Knitter’s Pride Smart Sticks 10 1/2 needles
DIRECTIONS
Chain Ply and CO 12 sts.
Note: Continue to Chain Ply as you go, when instructed.
Chain Knit Section:
Rows 1-2: With Chain Plied strand of A, knit.
Row 3: Kf&b, k8, k2tog, k1.
Row 4: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rows 5-10: Repeat Rows 3-4.
Traditional Knit Section:
Revert to single ply.
Row 11: Kf&b, k8, k2tog, k1.
Row 12: Knit.
Rows 13-16: Rep Rows 11-12
Repeat Rows 3-10, once more.
Repeat Rows 1-2.
BO.
Unply to weave in ends.
Chain Plying & Single Plying: Crochet Practice Swatch
Chain Ply and ch 14 sts.
Note: Continue to Chain Ply as you go, when instructed.
Chain Ply Crochet Section:
Row 1: With chain plied strands, hdc in the 3rd ch from hook, and in every ch to end.
Row 2-4: Ch 2, hdc in next st and every st to end.
Traditional Crochet Section:
Revert to single ply.
Rows 5-8: Ch 2, hdc in next st and every st to end.
Chain Ply Crochet Section:
Rows 9-12: With chain plied strands, ch 2, hdc in next st and every st to end.
Fasten off.
Unply to weave in ends.
Put those chain ply + knitting skills to work, make the You Might Be Biased Scarf.
