You’d be surprised at how much it helps!!! Navajo plying has turned into my favorite technique. Once I got the hang of it, I feel like is a much more active way to ply. My one big crash since it all came together I believe happened because I had some rather poor BFL which relaxed more than expected after a soak and whack. Stick to it, you may start to enjoy it given time!

Oh, baby, I’m with you. I want so much to be good at Navaho plying, and it just ain’t happening. I suppose it’s probably one of those things that gets better with practice, etc., etc., but I have to tell you, I think I’m too old for that. I just really want to be good at things, and the idea of being sucky for a long time while I learn to get good just doesn’t appeal to me. However, if you learn some magical way to get really good at Navaho plying really quickly, I hope you’ll keep me in mind.

If it makes you feel any better I suck at N plying too. I hates it.

Whacking will help. Also, I like to let my singles rest for a long time–at least a week is best–before N-plying. That helps keep the curlies at bay.

i move the lazy kate way far away from me, behind me to the right. i let the singles rest for at least a day before i ply (mostly because i’m too eager to try something else out before i get to plying). i make sure the tension on my lazy kate is comfy and isn’t breaking the ply or letting out too much of the single. i then do the slip knotting with my right hand and pinch the twist with my left hand. i slowly move my left hand down to almost meet my right hand, use my middle finger to pull a new loop through and start over again while letting the yarn take up on the wheel. i’ll shoot you a vid tomorrow when it’s light out. have patience, it’s fun! heck if elemm can navajo ply on a spindle, we can do it on a wheel!