Making a cabled yarn can add variety to your spinning. If the yarn you have is too thin for your project you can double the thickness by using this cabling technique. Difficulty Level: Average Time Required: 90 minutes

Here's How: Start with a yarn that has been plied already and attach it to the leader of your spinning wheel. The plied yarn can be your handspun or any commercially spun yarn. Note the direction of the spin of the original plied yarn. You will be spinning in the same direction as the original ply. The yarn will be very overtwisted. Spin a second bobbin of the same yarn (or another type of yarn) adding the same amount of twist to it as the first bobbin. (same direction as the first - overtwisted) Remove the second bobbin from the wheel. Now ply both bobbins of yarn together, spinning in the opposite direction. Plying in the opposite direction, you should get a balanced, cabled yarn.

Tips: Spinning a cabled yarn is similar to making a twisted fringe on a handwoven item. Make sure that you add enough twist into the first spinning in Steps 2 & 3. Cabling creates a smoother surfaced yarn for knitting. Cabled yarns are stronger than plied yarns and are great for knitted socks. You can create interesting effects by cabling mohairs, silks, wools, cottons, different colours, etc.