Q/A Balanced Single Yarn

Is it possible to have a "balanced"
single?

The very act of spinning fibers together will cause a singles yarn to be unbalanced. I feel it is incorrect to use the term balanced with a single, as it is only one ply. The twist in the yarn can and should be set by blocking or restricting to make it stable and usable. Setting the twist is accomplished after washing or wetting out the skein while the skein is drying.

The skein can be stretched tight which is usually called blocking. I do this when I am setting the twist in warp yarns. I prefer that my warp yarns lack the normal springiness while I am putting them on the loom and weaving. After weaving when I wash the fabric web it will regain its springiness. I have to beat each pick very lightly so that there is room for the fabric to breathe as it relaxes later when I wash the fabric.

Restricting is a softer way to settle down the twist while the skein dries. Try draping the skein loosely around something like, placing a skein over a shower rod and placing a hand towel into both loops which I call restricting. Usually I do this for yarns that will later be knit or crochetted.

The skein may twist a bit as it dries, depending on how much twist is in the single. However there are many ways that a singles skein can be used.

PatsyZ