How to pull off 1 ply from a skein??

[carolynbb]

I've started using loop starts on my 2x1 work, which I really like....except for having to pull just 1 ply of floss off of the skein! It always tangles and knots up and makes me say bad words.

Any tips?

[Rose]

Well it is not very easy to explain it is easier to just show but..... I hold the 6 ply in my left hand loosely. I pick 1 ply and pull it straight out from the top of the length, in a slow steady pace.

[coffee_freak]

I'm thinking another video tutorial is in order..lol..brb

[coffee_freak]

ok well maybe not. webshots is not working at the moment..won't upload the video...

[freelady]

I may have misunderstood, but are you cutting off a length of 6ply first? That's what I do, then just separate the single threads as needed. If I'm using two, I still separate them and put them together again. Using 16-24 inch lengths, I seldom have a tangling problem. Okay it happens now and then so I just say naughty words and deal with them. But as they aren't too long it isn't ususally too bad.

[Granny]

Hard to explain but I kind of slide it down the length without any great degree of difficulty and I start with 36 to 40" lengths.

[carolynbb]

I may have misunderstood, but are you cutting off a length of 6ply first?

Yeah, that's what I'm doing. I must just be spectacularly uncoordinated!

I've been kind of making a Y shape and trying to keep the "stem" of the Y taut while I separate the two "arms" of the Y. It, uh, isn't working. It makes puppies cry.

Tomorrow I'll try pulling it out straight from the top like Rose suggested.

[SusanF]

If you are right handed, hold the thread in your left finger and thumb and very slowly pull the one strand up with your right hand. The thread will start to bunch behind your thumb, but that's okay. Just keep pulling evenly and it should come out okay

[Mabel Figworthy]

Yup, that's how I do it to. If you use the Y method you'll generally get (as you've noticed) into an almighty tangle. I firmly hold the top of the thread between my left-hand thumb and index finger, then with my right hand pull out one strand, going straight up (if I pull at an angle it doesn't work with me). As Susan says, the other five strands will bunch up but the moment the single strand pulls loose, the others will "unbunch"
note of caution:: this method does not work for pulling out more than one strand at once -- you have to do it one at a time, then recombine if necessary.

[Granny]

Mabel--I was taught to pull one strand at a time and reconstruct. The thread lies flatter and more uniform that way when you are stitching.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I know but sometimes I get impatient...

[Pengwenn]

I use the Y method of dividing threads and I don't have two many problems, with one strand, two or even three. What I do first is take the end of the threads and flaten it out between my fingers then rub it a little bit. Usually the thread will "sort themselves out" meaning there are two threads that kind of stick togethe. If I need two I pull those two threads out. I do 20-30 inch lengths and just pull steady and slow and allow the bottom part of the Y to spin around as I pull. Does that help?

[SusanF]

I know but sometimes I get impatient...

Me too and yet I know when I do it it will probably go wrong - then I curse myself for being so stupid when it ends up in a knot

[nicgoss]

I usually separate the 1 thread keeping it taut and then pull the rest down. I've found this is the fastest and best way for me!

Hope that makes sense?

[mlbailey]

I starteed out using the "Y method", sometimes resorting to holding the stem of the Y in my teeth! I've found it much easier (and less silly looking) to remove a single strand by just pulling it out as the others bunch up. As others have said, the bunched threads can be smoothed right out, once the single strand is out.
Mary Lou in Maine

[coffee_freak]

grab the length of floss between your thumb and forfinger of one hand.
seperate one strand from the rest slightly.
pinching slightly with your thumb and forefinger, use your other hand to gently pull straight up and away!
sorry it's a bit blurry..

http://s881.photobucket.com/albums/ac15 ... D00001.flv" target="_blank

[carolynbb]

WOO! I tried it that way last night and it really worked well. Thanks Rose, CF, and everyone!

[Arianwen]

I use the 'Y' method as well and rarely have any problems. I split the single thread off to about an inch down from the top, then grasp the single thread in thumb and forefinger of my right hand, my other 3 fingers hold the rest of the skein.

Then I take my index finger and place it between the single thread and the rest of the skein, and wrap my hand round the loose ends, slowly drawing my hand down. I leave the skein loose so it can unwind.

Its kinda hard to explain but it works for me. Sometimes I will just pull the thread out vertically but not often.

Glad you found a method that works for you

[stitchingmae]

Not my video but does this help???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1l447qnPY" target="_blank

[lag28wa]

The Y method never worked for me, I could never get anything to work at all except pulling all my threads one at a time with the "bunch" method like Mabel and Susan are talking about.