PLY - The Magazine for Handspinners, Issue 52, Spring 2026: Experimental

PLY Magazine's Spring 2026 Experimental issue invites handspinners to deepen their craft through rigorous investigation. This collection of peer-reviewed experiments explores fiber preparation, drafting mechanics, spindle dynamics, and finishing techniques—examining variables from drum carder placement to twist bias in finished fabrics. Contributors investigate whether traditional methods truly yield superior results, testing unconventional approaches to fiber combing, carding, and yarn construction. Discover how drive band materials, spindle weight, and plying strategies influence your final yarn. Whether you're refining worsted drafts, exploring long draw variations, or optimizing yarn durability through fiber selection and abrasion resistance, this issue provides both foundational methodology and five original experiments you can conduct in your own studio. A great resource for spinners seeking to move beyond convention into evidence-based practice.