Spindle Plying Techniques — Friday Afternoon

Nov 13, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Instructor: Justin Near

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to spin on a spindle! But now you have a spindle (or several spindles?) full of single spun yarn and you’re not entirely sure what to do with it. Or maybe you’ve plied already but know there has to be another way. In this class, participants will learn several methods of how to ply their single-spun yarn – using an Andean bracelet, a center-pull ball, a makeshift Lazy Kate, and chain- or Navajo-plying. We’ll also talk about balancing and finishing your yarn. Singles will be provided for practicing.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Class Size: 2–10 students

Meet Your Instructor: Justin Near​ is a Nashville, TN fiber artist and homeschooler who has a passion for sustainability and supporting local and regional communities and economies. In recent years, Justin has become a regular instructor at regional fiber festivals, is an occasional writer with Ply magazine, and is developing an annual fiber industry conference with Souther Fiber. Growing up, Justin was surrounded by crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and sewing, and dabbled in many of those as well as closely related fiber arts. As an adult, not long after beginning their homeschool journey, a door into the fiber world was reopened at a young child’s birthday party where wool and spindles were the theme. In her day job, Justin builds, manages, and supports websites and has a strong love for learning new technology. This carries into the fiber arts world, which is very closely related to the sciences – dyeing and chemistry, spinning and physics, design and engineering, and weaving and programming – so Justin feels quite at home here and hopes to pass on that love and passion to as many people as possible so that they, too, can experience the magic and beauty of working with raw, natural materials.