How do you split worsted weight yarn?

ldee13

I dont know if this is the right place to ask but....I have a lot of worsted weight yarn in a very pale gray and found some patterns that I can try with this color but I need the yarn to be thinner. How do YOU split the yarn? I have tried many times just to end up with two tiny balls and a huge knot connected to the main skein!
Thank you!

gertrudeviolet

Splitting worsted weight yarn involves carefully separating the individual plies that make up the strand. To do this, gently pull apart the yarn with your fingers, teasing it into the smaller strands without tugging too hard to avoid fraying or breaking the fibers. This technique is useful when you want to create a thinner yarn or blend different colors by plying separate strands together. It can take a bit of patience, especially with tightly spun yarns, but working slowly and evenly will help maintain the yarn’s strength and smoothness while giving you more versatility for your projects.

Sg00

I tried this once and it took almost half a day for a whole skein because you have to go in small sections, then untwist, then proceed again. I refused to do it after that lol. Also, it’ll obviously depend on the yarn composition (I would only dare to do this with cotton, polys, linen, and silk).

Bunbuni

Good to know very interesting, thanks

77捌捌

Thank you soo much for sharing

qle

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

susannetl

you can not create, normally melts. If it is too thick, I would spend it to make a basket, carpet ... a case ... something that comes in handy to be stronger and more rigid

fatimam

thank you!!!!!

randomname

It takes a lot of time and patience. I will make a ball with the smaller strand that I am removing so that I can weave it as it separates. Only work small lengths at a time or it will tangle. It will take a day, sometimes two, to split one small skein.

toomuchreading

I wouldnt recommend splitting plys in commercial yarn.  A lot of the time it has been chemically treated to maintain its shape so as you untwist a yarn, it wants to go back to what it was. Unplyed, it will be a tangled mess, even if you manage to knit something, it will be twisted up.  I dont think its worth all the time it would take to unply the yarn when your time could be better spent sourcing yarn in the same color in the weight you want (there are so many yarns out there) and knitting it up.  Just my two cents.
If its handspun on the other hand, go for it. It will take a lot of time but hey, its handspun.

gamzesk

good luck!

NewTCCA

I wouldnt try to do this. The structure of the yarn is held together by the plies. Even if you manage to separate the plies, you will end up with an unbalanced yarn that will fall apart more easily and youre more likely to just end up with a tangle.

ldee13

NewTCCA 2020-12-13 22:18
I wouldnt try to do this. The structure of the yarn is held together by the plies. Even if you mana ...

Hi, thanks for the advice. Welcome to the site!

Lilamor

Thank you!

ultimateduck13

I’d like to know about this too