Energized singles: Yarn that's (too?) full of life

When I first started spinning, my yarn was… weird. It was weird in a way that I had difficulty explaining. I mean, sure it was chunky and inconsistent and had a lot of wobbly bits. But it also worked up into a swatch that felt strangely rubbery, like a bathmat.

Eventually another spinner mentioned something off-handedly, which is how I learned about "energized singles." (It's also why it's so valuable to spend real-world time with other hobbyists - you pick up so much more in casual conversation than in an Internet discussion!)

When yarn has just been spun, it has crazy amounts of twist. It hasn't settled down yet, the torque is still fresh. This is what's called an "energized single." If you turn around and ply it right up, you end up with energized yarn. It has that extra bit of wild springiness that gave my swatches their bouncy feel.

If you don't want energized singles, the answer is simple. Rest them under tension (i.e. wound onto a ball or onto a spindle) for at least 24 hours before plying them. Plying the singles by spinning them the opposite way also helps balance out the torque and tame the energy.

On the other hand, a lot of people go nuts for energized singles. They do have more energy and life than commercially spun yarn. And you won't find any energized singles on the commercial market, they are strictly a product of handspun yarn. Their rarity alone makes them a hot commodity for some people.

Kathryn Alexander is considered the guru of working with energized singles. She is famous for knitting singles straight off her bobbins, freshly-plied. A lot of other knitters have taken up the challenge, creating patterns that capitalize on an energized single's crazy amount of biasing. It's fascinating stuff, and something interesting for new spinners to try!

Image of socks knit with energized singles courtesy Flickr/blurdom