Ply

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Ply refers to the individual strands twisted together to make a yarn. The process of plying (twisting these strands together) makes yarns stronger. Most commercial yarn is composed of three plies and most handspun yarn contains two plies. "Singles" yarn contains only one strand and is therefore more likely to break and also twist.

Do not be confused with the Australian terms 3 ply, 4 ply, 8 ply and 12 ply. See When Plies Aren't Plies.

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