spindle plying.. part 3

Notes:

Last evening, I was going through Bloglines and ended up on Ask the Bellweather.  Wouldn't you know it, two posts ago Amelia wrote a very interesting post on Plying with a Spindle.  Check it out.  The post links to an article in Fiber Femmes written by Abby Franquemont, on Plying with a Spindle.    Read that one too.  The similarities are there, talk of portability, love of the spindle.   Each method produces a spindle plied yarn, each slightly different. 

Laurie mentioned in the comments, that she'd never again spindle without a straw.  That's the trick.  I collect straws wherever I can.  My spindles are a testiment to where I've stopped for coffee.  Every spindle is decked out with an unsightly plastic straw prior to spinning the singles.  If you've noticed a bit of red or green or pink and orange striped plastic sticking out from my cops, that's the plastic straw.  When I find a clear one, I hang on to it.  So much nicer.  The amount that a straw would increase the spindle weight is unimportant.  In any case, after winding on a bit of yarn, you'll have done the same thing.  No worries there.  The purpose of the straw is three fold.  It enables the cop to slide off the spindle more easily and without tangling on the way.  It keeps the center from collapsing.  It allows me to put the cop onto a spindler's or lazy kate for plying.  I use the same spindle to spin all of the yarn.