What is Spin and Ply?

Rug Structure: What is Spin and Ply?
Rug Structure: What is Spin and Ply?

Spin and Ply of Yarn

Quite simply the fibers of the described materials having been gathered, cleaned and treated according to the local system are then spun in a single strand. They are spun either to the left or the right. If they are spun to the left, it is termed “Z” spun and if spun to the right, it is termed “S” spun.

The single strand of the “Z” strand is plied with another “Z” strand in the opposite “S” direction to give us a two-ply strand, (or three or four to give us the ply of yarn desired).

Quite often village rugs are embellished by using two colors of natural wool, dark and light, plied together for use as warp threads.