I’ve searched a ton trying to find this answer, but I think its hard to search for exactly, and mostly get just answers explaining what ply is. It also might just be a really stupid question so nobody has ever had to answer it! If anybody has a link to a thorough discussion on this I’d really appreciate the help.
Long story short, I’m beginning to get into knitwear, and I need help trying to figure out the differences in quality and characteristics between clothes/yarn made of multiple 2 ply yarns and multiple single ply yarns, at the same total ply.
For example, is there going to be a difference between two 4-ply yarns, one made of two 2-ply yarns, and one made of 4 1-plys? On a finished garment, like a cashmere sweater, how would these differences manifest themselves? From what I’ve gathered, I’m under the impression that 4 single ply yarns together would make a softer garment, but not as durable. All other things being equal. Is this fair to say?
Other than that, can you give any tips about how to tell those differences in a final garment, like if I didn’t know before hand how it was made? It would be extremely useful to me if I were able to just look at a shirt and tell if it’s two 2-plys or four 1-ply together. Same goes for one 2-ply yarn or two single plys used to make a sweater. Hope this makes sense.
Welocme to Knitting Help!
I think that you’re right about the strength of a plied yarn vs two or more yarns held together. One of the advantages of ply is the strength and stretch that is gives to yarn. Clara Parkes, the Yarn Whisperer, might be a good resource for ply and anything yarn. See also her Knittier’s Revieew online.
Thanks for the guidance, a book would be a good idea for me. It’s kind of the beginning of a new profession that I fell into, and am trying to learn as much about knitting/yarn as possible. The issue really is that I work with clothes that are done on machines, so there’s not quite as much information available as there is for hand knitting… hence why I’m coming to you guys. I also don’t work in my native language, so getting technical answers to something is even more difficult… I can barely word it in English.
Anyways, when talking about a sweater recently, and about why it was so soft, somebody told me it was because it was two 1-ply yarns, not a two-ply yarn… that is if I understood correctly. Trying to be able to understand it thoroughly enough to where I can recognize it when it’s in front of me.