100 Best Spinning Books of All Time
We've researched and ranked the best spinning books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more
1
Enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to the current trend of DIY crafts, the hand spindle remains one of the most productive, versatile, and convenient tools for creating stunning fiber arts from home, as this beautifully illustrated guide from a veteran spinner and spindle aficionado demonstrates. With step-by-step instructions, this essential manual details the basic steps of spinning and then advances to the more complicated spinning wheel, showing how to use the spindle to make specific types of yarn, explaining traditional spindle spinning techniques, and detailing five simple... more
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For knitters, crocheters, and weavers ready to make their own yarn, this handy guide provides detailed instructions for spinning both on a spindle and a wheel, and offers a special section devoted to troubleshooting and wheel maintenance that keeps projects on track. It offers a comprehensive look at the various available fiber options, choosing and preparing each type of fiber for use, and crafting these materials into ready-to-work pieces. A final chapter on the various uses of spun yarn focuses on project planning, with definitions and context for measuring wraps per inch, determining... more
3
Discover the satisfying fun of spinning your own yarn! This step-by-step guide shows you how to create 80 distinctive yarn types, from classics like mohair bouclé to novelties like supercoils. Covering the entire spinning process, Sarah Anderson describes the unique architecture of each type of yarn and shares expert techniques for manipulating and combining fibers. Take your crafting to a new level and ensure that you have the best yarn available by spinning it yourself. less
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Alden Amos shares his deep knowledge of wheel mechanics, spinning fibers, wheel construction, and yarn, as well as a wealth of spinning history and traditions. Every aspect of handspinning is explored, including dissolving lanolin, washing fleece, rotating wheel position, and choosing types of wool. Also discussed are various hand positions, which can result in everything from smooth, fine thread to funky, bulky yarn. less
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Create your dream yarn! Discover the pleasures of designing and building custom-made yarn by spinning it yourself, choosing everything from color to feel and gauge. Jillian Moreno leads you through every step of yarn construction, with detailed instructions and step-by-step photos showing you how to select the fiber you want (wool, cotton, silk, synthetic), establish a foundation, and spin a beautiful yarn with the structure, texture, and color pattern that you want. In addition to teaching you the techniques you need for success, Moreno also offers 12 delicious original patterns from... more
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This one-of-a-kind encyclopedia shines a spotlight on more than 200 animals and their wondrous fleece. Profiling a worldwide array of fiber-producers that includes northern Africa’s dromedary camel, the Navajo churro, and the Tasmanian merino, Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson include photographs of each animal’s fleece at every stage of the handcrafting process, from raw to cleaned, spun, and woven. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook is an artist’s handbook, travel guide, and spinning enthusiast’s ultimate reference source all in one. less
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If you are interested in exploring the infinite possibilities of making your own yarns, veteran spinner and teacher Judith MacKenzie McCuin offers insight, understanding, and invaluable information about your craft in The Intentional Spinner with DVD.
The Intentional Spinner with DVD is a compendium of spinning wisdom, with a fun blend of technical knowledge, history, tips, and gently opinionated narrative. Yarn making is approached in three fundamental areas:
Understanding Fibers: Compare the rich historic traditions of plant and animal fibers with the... more
The Intentional Spinner with DVD is a compendium of spinning wisdom, with a fun blend of technical knowledge, history, tips, and gently opinionated narrative. Yarn making is approached in three fundamental areas:
Understanding Fibers: Compare the rich historic traditions of plant and animal fibers with the... more
8
You can master the timeless craft of spinning with this clear, easy-to-follow manual. Everything you need to know from set-up to finished product in order to create distinctive yarns for use in knitting, weaving, crocheting, needlepoint, embroidery, and macrame. Author's preface. 33 illustrations, 10 black-and-white photographs. Bibliography. Sources of Supply.
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From soft, bulky single yarns to serviceable three-ply for heavy use, this guide to handspun yarns combines the positive traits of commercial yarns with personal touches. Focusing at first on the spinning wheel, emphasis is placed on the importance of adjusting and customizing the wheel for best results. Instructions on core spinning and less traditional techniques lead off the beaten path to novelty yarns. Each type of yarn is explored in detail with instructions on how to make them. less
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
11
Knitters discover the pleasure and satisfaction of spinning their own yarns. This title guides readers in the fast-track, low-cost, high-quality approach to spinning. less
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Jacey Boggs helps you bring textured and novelty yarns to the next level in Spin Art. Inside you'll learn all the secrets behind her exciting new fusion of traditional spinning and envelope-pushing creativity.
The yarn styles explored in this comprehensive spinning guide are as well made as they are inventive. Jacey walks you through each of her techniques, with a refreshing mixture of quirky, fanciful, and unexpected designs that are always skillfully constructed. Inside you'll discover:
*How to create innovative, eye-catching single and plied yarn styles,... more
The yarn styles explored in this comprehensive spinning guide are as well made as they are inventive. Jacey walks you through each of her techniques, with a refreshing mixture of quirky, fanciful, and unexpected designs that are always skillfully constructed. Inside you'll discover:
*How to create innovative, eye-catching single and plied yarn styles,... more
13
The characteristics of fleece — its structure, grease content, and fiber diameter — vary widely depending on the breed of sheep the fleece comes from. In this comprehensive guide, Beth Smith profiles 21 types of fleece, from bouncy and pliant to lacy and lightweight. A sheep-by-sheep reference describes the best way to wash and spin each fleece into rich, soft yarn. You’ll soon be confidently choosing the right fleece, spinning it to perfection, and enjoying the perfect yarn for your next fiber creation. less
14
With its soothing, meditative effect, handspinning is a relaxing hobby, and the beautiful yarns you create are an even better reward. This visual guide shows you the basics, beginning with the tools and fibers, and takes you through spinning, plying, making novelty yarns, using exotic fibers, dyeing, and more. Whether you use an inexpensive hand spindle or splurge on a spinning wheel, stick with wool or try alpaca, cashmere, or cotton, you'll learn how to create fun, original, one-of-a-kind yarns that you can knit or weave into truly unique, handmade, and all-natural creations.
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This highly readable, authoritative reference provides a comprehensive look at the characteristics of wool of 100 breeds of sheep. Essential reading for handspinners, wool growers, and other fiber craft enthusiasts, this guide gives special attention to fleece characteristics, methods of preparation and spinning, and best end use. Everything from baby-soft merino to silky lincoln to sturdy karakul--the full range of nature's miracle fiber--is represented here with expert advice on selecting top-quality fleeces; cleaning wool efficiently and thoroughly; teasing, flicking, combing, carding, and... more
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Understanding how spinning works, choosing a wheel, building a simple spindle, spinning on a treadle wheel, preparing fibers, carding, twisting, and plying. less
17
Intertwined
is an inspirational handbook for yarn lovers everywhere, created in an eye-popping, showcase style and packed with sparkling, full-color photos. This book will be a delight to the enthusiastic fiber crowd that is growing by leaps and bounds. It captures all the excitement of experimental, handspun yarns, and includes recipes for handspun yarns, project ideas for knitters and crocheters, tips on how to use one-of-a-kind handspun yarns (whether you spin them or buy them at yarn boutiques), and a gallery of handmade creations. The book also features profiles,... more
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Spinning has changed hugely since its upsurge in popularity in the 1970s. These days spinners want to know more than just how to spin an adequate yarn: they want to extend the range of yarns they can produce, to understand what is happening as they spin, and to learn about the raw materials they are working with. The first edition of this book gave spinners, for the first time, a fully illustrated manual that provided straightforward, authoritative advice and information on their craft, while spinning wheel manufacturers developed wheels to meet the changing needs of spinners. This revised... more
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The pleasure of knitting is that much greater when you know you are using the perfect yarn. Here, Lisa Lloyd explores the different qualities of handspun yarns and presents projects that show them to their best advantage. Each of the 26 projects shows the finished item knitted with both a handspun and a commercial yarn. less
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With this compact portable reference in hand, crafters can quickly and easily look up any of 100 different sheep breeds, the characteristics of their fleece, and the kinds of projects for which their fleece is best suited. Each breed profile includes a photograph of the animal and information about its origin and conservation status, as well as the weight, staple length, fiber diameter, and natural colors of its fleece. This is a great primer for beginners, and a handy guide for anyone who loves working with fleece. less
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
21
All you need to know about spinning wool--from sheep to knits!
Spinners have been creating beautiful yarns from wool for thousands of years, but we still have unanswered questions. How do you choose a fleece? Should you process your fleece by hand or send it to a mill? What kind of prepared fibers are available, and what should you do with them? Fiber artist and shepherdess Kate Larson answers these and many other questions in The Practical Spinner's Guide: Wool. Topics include:
An overview of sheep breeds and the characteristics of their fleece more
Spinners have been creating beautiful yarns from wool for thousands of years, but we still have unanswered questions. How do you choose a fleece? Should you process your fleece by hand or send it to a mill? What kind of prepared fibers are available, and what should you do with them? Fiber artist and shepherdess Kate Larson answers these and many other questions in The Practical Spinner's Guide: Wool. Topics include:
An overview of sheep breeds and the characteristics of their fleece more
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This big, beautiful book with 435 illustrations is the clearest and most comprehensive ever published on the subject--explains everything the expert or beginner needs to know on how to weave, spin, and dye. less
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In this complete guide to wool - the most popular yarn around - passionate wool expert Clara Parkes translates the vast world of sheep and their wool into the language and context of knitting.
What is wool? Clara starts with the fundamentals: what wool is made of, how it gets off the sheep, and how it is transformed from a jumbled mass of dirty fluff into a gorgeous yarn that so tempts us at our local yarn stores.
Who makes it? Parkes conducts an inspiring tour of sheep breeds from around the world - introducing us to the animals who give us their wool -... more
What is wool? Clara starts with the fundamentals: what wool is made of, how it gets off the sheep, and how it is transformed from a jumbled mass of dirty fluff into a gorgeous yarn that so tempts us at our local yarn stores.
Who makes it? Parkes conducts an inspiring tour of sheep breeds from around the world - introducing us to the animals who give us their wool -... more
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A one-stop guide to preparing and spinning cotton, flax, and hemp!
Over the last few years, focusing on specific types of fiber or spinning techniques has become more and more popular. In The Practical Spinner's Guide: Cotton, Flax, Hemp, author Stephenie Gaustad offers a detailed overview of each plant, the fiber it produces, and how to properly prepare, spin, and finish yarns made from each fiber.
Cotton, flax, and hemp behave very differently from wool, and special handling is required. Stephenie discusses how each fiber behaves and how best to work with them,... more
Over the last few years, focusing on specific types of fiber or spinning techniques has become more and more popular. In The Practical Spinner's Guide: Cotton, Flax, Hemp, author Stephenie Gaustad offers a detailed overview of each plant, the fiber it produces, and how to properly prepare, spin, and finish yarns made from each fiber.
Cotton, flax, and hemp behave very differently from wool, and special handling is required. Stephenie discusses how each fiber behaves and how best to work with them,... more
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The definitive tool for spinners, this handy pocket-sized guide is filled with common spinning terms, tips on how to maintain wheels, and lessons on how to process fiber and spin yarn. Appropriate for spinners at every level of ability, this book presents clear, concise instruction on topics such as basic carding techniques, how to dress a distaff, and creating uniform yarns. This instructional guide proves as practical as it is comprehensive, making it a great addition to any spinning basket. less
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Spinning is experiencing a resurgence of interest as it moves in a contemporary direction away from its traditional past. The Complete Guide to Spinning Yarn provides a new generation of crafters with all the information they need in one accessible package, starting with tools and equipment, types of fibers, and spinning techniques to making, processing, and finishing off a skein of yarn. Included are actual recipes for making many types of yarn, ranging from boucles, to worsteds, to flecked, and chunky yarns, all shown in full-color close-up detailed photos. Instructions for a small... more
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Ironically, as we move toward a more technologically advanced world, the simple domestic crafts of old are making a comeback. People of all ages are discovering a deep love for weaving, knitting, crocheting and other fiber arts. Along with that has come the desire to create their own one of a kind, artisan yarns.
When it comes to yarn, fiber lovers know that spinning and dying go hand in hand. Yet many books on the yarn craft cover only one topic or the other. In Spinning and Dyeing Yarn, fiber artist Ashley Martineau covers both subjects with rich, illustrative detail and... more
When it comes to yarn, fiber lovers know that spinning and dying go hand in hand. Yet many books on the yarn craft cover only one topic or the other. In Spinning and Dyeing Yarn, fiber artist Ashley Martineau covers both subjects with rich, illustrative detail and... more
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Discover the colorful joys of hand dyeing your own yarn and fleece. It’s easy, fun, and can be done right in your own kitchen! Self-taught dyer Gail Callahan shows you a variety of simple techniques to turn plain, outdated, or leftover yarn into vibrant “new” fibers using ovens, crockpots, frying pans, and other standard kitchen equipment. Detailed advice on color theory, self-striping, “grocery store” dyes, and handmade multicolor skeins make successful dyeing a cinch, even for complete beginners. less
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The author teaches a one handed method of spinning which allows you to spin faster and achieve a softer yarn. Great Appendix.
This book is great for beginners and experienced spinners alike. You'll be able to spin faster and produce the yarn you want.
Paula Simmons explains how to hold your hands and fingers as if she is sitting next to you. She explains how to spin with one hand, and what this will accomplish. She also covers wool prep., wheel requirements and more.
The photography is excellent. The photos of the drafting process are very clear and helpful. less
This book is great for beginners and experienced spinners alike. You'll be able to spin faster and produce the yarn you want.
Paula Simmons explains how to hold your hands and fingers as if she is sitting next to you. She explains how to spin with one hand, and what this will accomplish. She also covers wool prep., wheel requirements and more.
The photography is excellent. The photos of the drafting process are very clear and helpful. less
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
31
With simple directions and tips on how to dye, paint, spin, and knit yarn to create authentic socks, this book offers all the information necessary to fashion socks with personality. Included are innovative patterns and tips for knitting socks with customized fit--even for all ten toes. Safe and easy directions are given on dyeing yarn from pour-dyeing methods to dyeing with Kool-Aid. With photos and illustrations of finished examples, sock patterns such as newborn socks and magic genie toe socks, and advice on how to create one-of-a-kind projects, it will appeal to all levels of knitters and... more
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This inspiring illustrated guide teaches experienced spinners to make beautiful designer yarns and encourages them to be more creative and have more fun with spinning. Handspun yarns can be white, lumpy, gray, and precise—or they can be as colorful and deliciously textured as the spinner's imagination. Presented are instructions on applying dye to fibers in new, exciting ways; predicting how novelty yarns will look in finished fabrics; blending fibers for color and texture effects; spinning singles and plied yarns; and using these fantastic new yarns in weaving, knitting, and crocheting.... more
34
New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women's unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies.
Twenty thousand years ago, women were making and wearing the first clothing created from spun fibers. In fact, right up to the Industrial Revolution the fiber arts were an enormous economic force, belonging primarily to women.
Despite the great toil required in making cloth and clothing, most books on ancient history and economics have no information on them. Much of this gap results from the extreme perishability of what women produced, but it seems clear that until now...
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Expert Beth Smith teaches you everything you need to know to spin your own yarn, from choosing a spinning wheel to every stage of preparing your fiber, plying, winding off, and finishing. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions make it simple and easy! less
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Pairing detailed instructions with clear, step-by-step photography, this dynamic guide of spinning techniques and demonstrations explores an array of fiber possibilities—such as wool, glitz, and sari silk—to create unique yarn for fiber art projects. Designed for the advanced beginner to the intermediate spinner, this reference covers a variety of subjects such as spinning fundamentals, techniques for wool and silk, spinning with nontraditional materials, introducing add-ins, and creating plying effects. Additionally, the comprehensive tutorial offers information on easy home dyeing and... more
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Here are step-by-step instructions and illustrations that explain how to make yarn from scratch using handspindles—simple tools used to turn wool into yarn. Designed to appeal to the beginning spinner, tips and hints are provided that illustrate how easy, enjoyable, and relaxing spinning can be. This manual also includes complete instructions for five simple, appealing projects: a woven sleeve, a knitted bunny bag, a knitted baby hat, knitted fingerless mittens, and a crocheted hat. less
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Complete in one book are the essentials for making you a successful spinner and weaver of handspun wool. By readying Spinning and Weaving with Wool, you can benefit from Paula Simmons's twenty years of experience in spinning and weaving. Beginning with choosing the wool from right off the sheep, she gives you step-by-step instructions of how to car fleeces, choose a spinning wheel, become a proficient spinner of wool, weave handspun yarn, build your own equipment, and eliminate frustrating spinning and weaving problems. Also included are photos and details about more than forty... more
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In her newest book, Hand Spun, art-yarn pioneer and Pluckyfluff creator Lexi Boeger offers yet another exciting collection of new and innovative spinning techniques. This well-rounded book also covers a handful of traditional styles for the spinner to master and then turn on their ear. The many uses of these beautiful one-of-a-kind yarns are demonstrated in Boeger's trademark, surprising, and inventive projects.
Learn the basics of fiber prep, from washing raw fleece to carding techniques. Find out how to adapt basic spinning styles to create cutting-edge forms. Be... more
Learn the basics of fiber prep, from washing raw fleece to carding techniques. Find out how to adapt basic spinning styles to create cutting-edge forms. Be... more
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It's time to look beyond wool, with The Practical Spinner's Guide: Rare Luxury Fibers!
The go-to expert for fiber artists, Judith MacKenzie shares insights into working with uncommon (but readily available) luxury downs in this comprehensive, yet practical, guide for today's spinners. With her natural voice for story telling that is both engaging and informative, she discusses the history of each of these downs, how they are used today, characteristics unique to each, and where to find them. She also dives deep into the specific spinning techniques for each fiber, knitting... more
The go-to expert for fiber artists, Judith MacKenzie shares insights into working with uncommon (but readily available) luxury downs in this comprehensive, yet practical, guide for today's spinners. With her natural voice for story telling that is both engaging and informative, she discusses the history of each of these downs, how they are used today, characteristics unique to each, and where to find them. She also dives deep into the specific spinning techniques for each fiber, knitting... more
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
41
“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river.... more
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river.... more
42
A knitting book focusing on the sheep-to-shawl process by a well-known knitter, shepherd, and artisanal yarn producer.
Gain an insider's view on fiber farming and yarn craft, from sheep to skein, all told through the eyes of shepherd and textile artisan Barbara Parry. Follow her flock over the course of a year and discover all the facets of life with sheep: from shearing day and lambing season, to preparing fiber for yarn. Along the way you'll find projects for the fiber obsessed by top knitwear designers; essays on country life, including planting an heirloom kitchen... more
Gain an insider's view on fiber farming and yarn craft, from sheep to skein, all told through the eyes of shepherd and textile artisan Barbara Parry. Follow her flock over the course of a year and discover all the facets of life with sheep: from shearing day and lambing season, to preparing fiber for yarn. Along the way you'll find projects for the fiber obsessed by top knitwear designers; essays on country life, including planting an heirloom kitchen... more
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Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father's inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty--until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.
When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk--grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh--Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem... more
When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk--grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh--Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem... more
45
For spinners and weavers alike! Get in-depth information on fiber properties and color choices, as well as beautifully photographed samples.
Spin to Weave is not simply a how-to-spin book, but a how-to-spin-exactly-what-you-want book. Weavers who spin their own yarns have the ability to choose fiber type, method of twist insertion (woolen, worsted), twist amount and/or direction, finishing methods, and grist.
Author Sara Lamb focuses on the process of spinning for specific results, providing detailed instructions, a sampling of projects, variations, and a gallery... more
Spin to Weave is not simply a how-to-spin book, but a how-to-spin-exactly-what-you-want book. Weavers who spin their own yarns have the ability to choose fiber type, method of twist insertion (woolen, worsted), twist amount and/or direction, finishing methods, and grist.
Author Sara Lamb focuses on the process of spinning for specific results, providing detailed instructions, a sampling of projects, variations, and a gallery... more
46
A book on spinning basics for beginners from internationally acclaimed spinner and weaver Anne Field. With easy-to-follow, step-by-step directions, Anne guides the novice spinner through all they need to know to get started. She explains the spinning process and techniques, including preparation of fleeces, worsted and woolen spinning methods, plying, adjusting tension, treadling, skeining, drafting and blending as well as helpful advice about spinning wheels and how they work. A wide range of fibers suitable for spinning are featured—wool, alpaca, silk, mohair, cotton, angora, and synthetic... more
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Whether you're just beginning or are already deep in the throes of your spinning adventure, here's a brilliant array of challenges, indulgences, boredom-breakers, and downright just-fun-things-to-try. Dial 'em in, crank 'em out, and check 'em off to join the spinning world's rank of joyful overachievers! less
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Mabel Ross needs no introduction to those who already know her popular basic manual 'The Essentials of Handspinnning'. Here she has given us another excellently illustrated and clearly written practical handbook for spinners who wish to improve their skills and widen their knowledge of the craft.
There is guidance for those who sometimes have difficulty in deciding how to use their yarn and for those who would enjoy being able to plan and spin yarn which is exactly what is required for any knitting or crochet pattern or some weaving project.
Described in detail is how to... more
There is guidance for those who sometimes have difficulty in deciding how to use their yarn and for those who would enjoy being able to plan and spin yarn which is exactly what is required for any knitting or crochet pattern or some weaving project.
Described in detail is how to... more
50
Knitters who want new worlds to conquer can reach for this guide to handspinning their own designer yarns. A rundown on equipment introduces the drop spindle, supported spindle, niddy-noddy, McMorran balance, and yarn meter, while the following sections include choosing wool and other fibers, presenting knitting patterns suitable for handspun yarn, and in-depth profiles of real urban spinners. For crafters who want to experiment with spinning but don't want to sacrifice too much of their knitting time, there are lots of ideas for jazzing up a thrift-store cardigan with handspun trim or... more
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
51
One small boy has a special gift—he can weave cloth from the clouds: gold in the early morning with the rising sun, white in the afternoon, and crimson in the evening. He spins just enough cloth for a warm scarf. But when the king sees the boy's magnificent cloth, he demands cloaks and gowns galore. "It would not be wise," the boy protests. "Your majesty does not need them!" But spin he must—and soon the world around him begins to change.
From author Michael Catchpool and illustrator Alison Jay comes a magical tale about the beauty and fragility of our natural world, and the wisdom... more
From author Michael Catchpool and illustrator Alison Jay comes a magical tale about the beauty and fragility of our natural world, and the wisdom... more
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Inspire and unleash a passion for hand-crafted color!
-Unapologetic- is how Felicia Lo always describes her obsession with color and craft. In Dyeing to Spin and Knit, Felicia, founder and creative director of SweetGeorgia Yarns and highly sought after teacher and lecturer, provides clear and accessible guidance for creating gorgeous hand-dyed yarns and spinning fibers and an understanding of how dyeing affects knitted yarn and handspun yarn.
Fiber artists will learn the fundamentals of how color works, how to combine and coordinate colors, and how to... more
-Unapologetic- is how Felicia Lo always describes her obsession with color and craft. In Dyeing to Spin and Knit, Felicia, founder and creative director of SweetGeorgia Yarns and highly sought after teacher and lecturer, provides clear and accessible guidance for creating gorgeous hand-dyed yarns and spinning fibers and an understanding of how dyeing affects knitted yarn and handspun yarn.
Fiber artists will learn the fundamentals of how color works, how to combine and coordinate colors, and how to... more
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This second volume celebrates the rites and customs of Appalachia, featuring sections on ghost stories, spring wild plant foods, corn shuckin's, spinning and weaving, midwives, granny women, old-time burial customs, witches and haints, and wagon making.
Table of Contents:
Maude Shope
Sourwood Honey
Beekeeping
Spring Wild Plant Foods
Happy Dowdle
Making an Ox Yoke
Wagon Wheels and Wagons
Making a Tub Wheel
Making a Foot-powered Lathe
From Raising Sheep to Weaving Cloth
How to Wash Clothes in an Iron Pot
Anna... more
Table of Contents:
Maude Shope
Sourwood Honey
Beekeeping
Spring Wild Plant Foods
Happy Dowdle
Making an Ox Yoke
Wagon Wheels and Wagons
Making a Tub Wheel
Making a Foot-powered Lathe
From Raising Sheep to Weaving Cloth
How to Wash Clothes in an Iron Pot
Anna... more
55
An account of the year Clara Parkes spent transforming a 676-pound bale of fleece into saleable yarn, and the people and vanishing industry she discovered along the way. less
56
On the subject of handspindles, high whorl and low whorl, Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts is unabashedly opinionated: the high whorl is superior and she shows why in this book.
High Whorling is an inviting book for the new spinner, covering all aspects of spinning with the high whorl handspindle from fiber selection and preparation to detailed spinning technique. It is also the ideal guide for those with previous experience in low whorl or wheel spinning who wish to take up the high whorl. Spinners at all levels will want to study Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts in her (sometimes... more
High Whorling is an inviting book for the new spinner, covering all aspects of spinning with the high whorl handspindle from fiber selection and preparation to detailed spinning technique. It is also the ideal guide for those with previous experience in low whorl or wheel spinning who wish to take up the high whorl. Spinners at all levels will want to study Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts in her (sometimes... more
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The handspindle is the subject of the 28 articles collected here. Information is provided on history, ethnography, construction, and the uses of different types of spindles. less
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Productive Spindling... a 21st century look at top whorl, bottom whorl and Turkish spindle methods to boost your techniques for efficiency and make productivity fun!
Spindlers will find many useful tips for all kinds of fiber, on spindle choice, drafting, joins, plying and finishing. Productive Spindling is packed with photos to show technique, spindles, yarn, and finished items by the author and the worldwide spindling community. less
Spindlers will find many useful tips for all kinds of fiber, on spindle choice, drafting, joins, plying and finishing. Productive Spindling is packed with photos to show technique, spindles, yarn, and finished items by the author and the worldwide spindling community. less
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Needleworkers no longer have to settle for what's available at the local yarn shop! Alison Daykin and Jane Deane, who have decades of experience spinning, weaving, and dyeing, show how easy it can be to create personalized and gorgeous skeins of one-of-a-kind fibers. Designed for complete beginners, this attractive guide offers 30 beautiful projects that teach a repertoire of skills on both the hand spindle and spinning wheel. It starts with simple, basic combing, twisting, plying, and finishing, then goes on to offer a primer on working with fibers. All the chapters are organized by yarn... more
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
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Explore silk--an alluring and exotic fiber for spinners!
The Practical Spinner's Guide: Silk teaches spinners how to create smooth lustrous yarns from a gorgeous but tricky and sometimes intimidating fiber in this second installment in a series of fiber specific books. Author Sara Lamb discusses the various forms in which silk is available--combed top, bricks, noils, hankies, and bells--and how best to card, prep, and spin them, specifically touching on trouble spots such as drafting and adding twist. She also covers finishing yarns--cleaning and degumming,... more
The Practical Spinner's Guide: Silk teaches spinners how to create smooth lustrous yarns from a gorgeous but tricky and sometimes intimidating fiber in this second installment in a series of fiber specific books. Author Sara Lamb discusses the various forms in which silk is available--combed top, bricks, noils, hankies, and bells--and how best to card, prep, and spin them, specifically touching on trouble spots such as drafting and adding twist. She also covers finishing yarns--cleaning and degumming,... more
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The third book from Bette Hochberg concentrates on various spinning fibers, their use and preparation. Chapters on the properties of fiber, wool, silk, cotton, linen and synthetic fibers are included as well as an analysis of yarn structure. less
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Poignant and captivating, Ignatz Award winner Tillie Walden's powerful graphic memoir, Spinning, captures what it's like to come of age, come out, and come to terms with leaving behind everything you used to know.
It was the same every morning. Wake up, grab the ice skates, and head to the rink while the world was still dark.
Weekends were spent in glitter and tights at competitions. Perform. Smile. And do it again.
She was good. She won. And she hated it.
For ten years, figure skating was Tillie Walden's life. She woke before dawn for... more
It was the same every morning. Wake up, grab the ice skates, and head to the rink while the world was still dark.
Weekends were spent in glitter and tights at competitions. Perform. Smile. And do it again.
She was good. She won. And she hated it.
For ten years, figure skating was Tillie Walden's life. She woke before dawn for... more
66
Through riveting narrative and eyewitness stories, young readers learn what it's really like to be caught in a monster tornado. Captivating first-person accounts and news reports detail survivors' experiences of the most destructive tornadoes ever to occur in the United States. And thrill-seekers' reports add to the drama and suspense. Historical perspectives on the human experience of tornadoes and scientific perspectives on why twisters happen and how to keep people safe add to the intrigue of this fascinating topic. Ample back matter will help students find sources to write well-informed... more
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Crafters can explore colors with confidence in a variety of mediums with the advice in this book. The principles of color theory are clearly and simply explained and applied to knitting, spinning, weaving, surface design (including stenciling and rubber stamping), hand and machine embroidery, beadwork, and paper collage. Basic color concepts are presented in sections on color description, values, contrasting and complementary colors, warm and cool colors, undertones, and using color relationships. A pull-out color wheel and handy color chips in perforated format that are easy to remove and... more
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With designs, hints, and techniques from 50 experienced spinners and knitters, this guide offers instructions for handspun yarn and commercial substitutes. less
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Have you ever tried spinning painted top or rovings only to be disappointed with the color outcomes in your yarns or finished projects?
Alanna Wilcox will clearly and artfully walk you through understanding color theory making it less intimidating for both novice and expert spinners alike.
Never before has a book presented the same dyed top worked up into 20+ different approaches accompanied by easy to follow directions so you can see how the techniques look in both a skein and a knitted swatch. Plus there are photos of finished products accompanying the techniques to... more
Alanna Wilcox will clearly and artfully walk you through understanding color theory making it less intimidating for both novice and expert spinners alike.
Never before has a book presented the same dyed top worked up into 20+ different approaches accompanied by easy to follow directions so you can see how the techniques look in both a skein and a knitted swatch. Plus there are photos of finished products accompanying the techniques to... more
70
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
72
Another classic from Bette Hochberg. Learn how to adjust your spinning wheel, tie a drive band, draft your fiber, skein and ply it. Chapters on sheep breeds, selecting fleece, sorting and storing fleece, washing, carding as well as evaluating your spinning wheel. less
74
From New York Times bestselling knitting writer Clara Parkes, comes a new collection of essays and stories drawn from the yarn-loving, stash-collecting, close-knit community of knitters.
This addictive-to-read anthology celebrates yarn—specifically, the knitter’s reputation for acquiring it in large quantities and storing it away in what’s lovingly referred to as a “stash.” Consider contributions from knitting and teaching luminaries, including:
BUST co-founder Debbie Stoller
Meg Swansen, daughter of master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann more
This addictive-to-read anthology celebrates yarn—specifically, the knitter’s reputation for acquiring it in large quantities and storing it away in what’s lovingly referred to as a “stash.” Consider contributions from knitting and teaching luminaries, including:
BUST co-founder Debbie Stoller
Meg Swansen, daughter of master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann more
75
Learn to recycle Rover into beautiful garments and accessories as the authors teach you this wacky new spin on an old craft. Knitting with Dog Hair is the definitive guide to putting on the dog!
In this tip-filled, easy-to-use book, the authors tell:
-How to make Afghan or a beret from your Beagle: you pet can yield yarn
-How to collect, clean, and store your pooch's fur
-How to modify your patterns to accommodate pet-spun yarn
-How to find experienced pet hair spinners, a guide to resources and suppliers
From mittens from a...
moreIn this tip-filled, easy-to-use book, the authors tell:
-How to make Afghan or a beret from your Beagle: you pet can yield yarn
-How to collect, clean, and store your pooch's fur
-How to modify your patterns to accommodate pet-spun yarn
-How to find experienced pet hair spinners, a guide to resources and suppliers
From mittens from a...
76
Every weaver weaves a rag rug - or two, or three. In this long-awaited book, well-known weaver and teacher Tom Knisely shares his knowledge and expertise in this collection of favorite rag rug patterns. Color planning and design advice for rag rugs Step-by-step instructions on warping and weaving for your rag rug More than 30 rag rug projects. less
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With instructions for how to make wonderful projects and plain-weave variations, this user-friendly guide covers choosing, setting up, and weaving on a rigid heddle loom. Both beginners and experienced weavers will value its thriftiness and versatility. less
79
Collectors, antiques dealers, and textile tool lovers will rejoice: Pennington and Taylor are back with another great book about spinning wheels, including over 350 color photos to illustrate their painstaking research. Their emphasis is the American spinning wheel from 1775-1900, with substantial sections on fancy European wheels and the accessories that textile tool collectors crave. Special sections are devoted to Shaker wheels, patent wheels, and famous makers. In addition, there is extensive coverage of chair wheels, Irish castle wheels, double flyer wheels, and an appendix with over... more
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
81
Fanny Zedenius is back and ready to take your macramé further with 20 new projects that will take your knotting to the next level.
Beginning with the basics, Fanny will teach you 30 new knots and how to combine them, and inspiration on displaying your makes and the best way to calculate your rope lengths.
Macramé II, includes a stunning collection of advanced projects such as beautiful wall hangings, an impressive canopy, backpack, vest, and cushion cover. Fanny also provides tips on natural dyeing, weaving, and how to tackle large projects. All the projects... more
Beginning with the basics, Fanny will teach you 30 new knots and how to combine them, and inspiration on displaying your makes and the best way to calculate your rope lengths.
Macramé II, includes a stunning collection of advanced projects such as beautiful wall hangings, an impressive canopy, backpack, vest, and cushion cover. Fanny also provides tips on natural dyeing, weaving, and how to tackle large projects. All the projects... more
82
Delaney, has packed her small book with spindle-spinning techniques, including information on finding materials to spin, making or purchasing a handspindle, spinning and plying techniques, and finishing the yarn. Line drawings and black-and-white photos illustrate techniques for spinning with bottom-whorl, top-whorl, Navajo, and supported spindles. T less
83
Driven by the desire to help her three-year-old daughter settle down into a peaceful night's sleep, Maureen Garth devised meditations that would help her daughter feel secure and cared for. Starbright is a collection of the stories Garth created as her child grew older. These innovative meditations are simple visualizations parents and teachers can read to their children to help them sleep, develop concentration, awaken creativity, and learn to quiet themselves.
"Unfortunately, a lot of children have trouble learning these techniques by the time they are seven or eight,"... more
"Unfortunately, a lot of children have trouble learning these techniques by the time they are seven or eight,"... more
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Textile production and the manufacture of clothing was one of the most essential daily activities in prehistory. Textiles were significant objects of practical use, and at the same time had cultural, social and symbolic meaning, crucial for displaying the identity, gender, social rank and status, or wealth of their users. However, evidence of ancient clothing is scarce due to unfavourable preservation of organic materials. Only occasionally are prehistoric textiles and associated implements preserved, mainly as a result of exceptional environmental conditions, such as waterlogged contexts... more
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In the Shadow of the Moon
When Laura Truitt first sees the dilapidated plantation house, she’s overcome by a sense of familiarity. Inside, the owner claims to have been waiting for years and offers an old photograph of a woman with Laura’s face. Soon afterwards, when a lunar eclipse inexplicably thrusts Laura back in time to Civil War Georgia, she finds herself fighting not just for her heart, but for her very survival…
Whispers of Goodbye
Alone and with nothing left to fear, Catherine deClaire Reed answers her sister’s desperate plea and travels to the cold... more
When Laura Truitt first sees the dilapidated plantation house, she’s overcome by a sense of familiarity. Inside, the owner claims to have been waiting for years and offers an old photograph of a woman with Laura’s face. Soon afterwards, when a lunar eclipse inexplicably thrusts Laura back in time to Civil War Georgia, she finds herself fighting not just for her heart, but for her very survival…
Whispers of Goodbye
Alone and with nothing left to fear, Catherine deClaire Reed answers her sister’s desperate plea and travels to the cold... more
88
In the aftermath of Ireland's financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town. As violence flares, the characters face a battle between public persona and inner desires. Through a chorus of unique voices, each struggling to tell their own kind of truth, a single authentic tale unfolds.
The Spinning Heart speaks for contemporary Ireland like no other novel. Wry, vulnerable, all-too human, it captures the language and spirit of rural Ireland and with uncanny perception articulates the words and thoughts of a generation. Technically daring and evocative of... more
The Spinning Heart speaks for contemporary Ireland like no other novel. Wry, vulnerable, all-too human, it captures the language and spirit of rural Ireland and with uncanny perception articulates the words and thoughts of a generation. Technically daring and evocative of... more
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Handspindles have been in use for at least 6,000 years. There are many different types and styles and ways of using them. Bette Hochberg gives a good background on spindles and spindle spinning. She discusses ten of the most common varieties of spindles, how they were used, and what types of fibers would have been spun on them. Good information. less
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Meet the people, sample the flavor, and experience the kinship through 11 unique events and more than 25 inspiring projectsThroughout history, we've gathered together in the market square. We're there to buy and sell, to get good deals on fibers, fabrics, fruits, vegetables, and bread, but we're also there to see friends, gossip, trade recipes, and admire new clothes. We've got an eye on each other's animals, and we're going to keep them from getting into any trouble. It's our chance to hold someone else's baby or to congratulate a new grandmother. It's a chance to connect, to touch,... more
Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
92
The story of the Chess brothers, who worked hand-in-glove with disenfranchised black musicians, and how their lives entwined with the great blues, r&b, and rock artists who appeared on their legendary record labels. They changed what America and the world listened to, introducing us to Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Etta James and countless others. less
93
Add Shadow Weave to your repertoire with Susan Kesler-Simpson's easy-to-follow instructions. Susan's approach is to first break down the structure of Shadow Weave so that any level weaver can understand how alternating light and dark threads in both warp and weft can present a dominant motif outlined with an identical shadow. She walks you through how the structure builds and weaves, and once you comprehend how the weave structure works, you will be able to weave any of the 25 project patterns in the book. You will also have the knowledge to transform other drafts to Shadow Weave, or to... more
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Learn to hand spin with fibre artist Jo Reeve. This book includes learning to spin from beginning through to more advanced techniques and covers fibre preparation, novelty yarns and five easy projects. Draw on Jo's twenty-seven years of spinning experience and create unique yarns using a wide range of techniques and fibres. Step by step instructions and gorgeous colour photographs take you on a new journey of creativity. less
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If you have ever wished you could show children and teenagers how to enrich their lives with meditation and visualization, this book will delight you. It presents simple exercises in guided imagery designed to help young people ages three through eighteen to relax into learning, focus attention and increase concentration, stimulate creativity, and cultivate inner peace and group harmony.
The use of guided imagery has been internationally recognized as an effective method of "whole brain" learning. The author's approach will have special appeal to parents and teachers who are... more
The use of guided imagery has been internationally recognized as an effective method of "whole brain" learning. The author's approach will have special appeal to parents and teachers who are... more
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In December 2011, Lauren ("LoLo") Scruggs, a 23-year-old fashion journalist, suffered a sudden injury that made headlines around the world. She had been on a short flight to look at Christmas lights and, upon exiting the small plane, was hit by the still-moving propeller blade. A frantic 911 call, several major surgeries, and thousands of prayers later: Lauren lived. But she lost her left hand and left eye. And she had to face some incredibly difficult questions: "What kind of future will I have? Where is God in all this pain? Will anyone ever be able to love me now?" In "Still LoLo," Lauren... more
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Don't have time to read the top Spinning books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.