5 comments about Respect the Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns with One Amazing Tool.

1. This book was an automatic choice for me, when I bought my first spindle. As Abby is well respected in the field of spinning, I expected this book to be good. I was not disappointed. It is nice and clearly written, with good instructions.



2. In a departure for Interweave, this is a spinning book that is actually chock-full of information. Not since Alden Amos' Big Book of Handspinning has there been so much excellent reference material in one place, and refreshingly, this book is devoted entirely to the humble spindle. Abby Franquemont draws on a lifetime of experience and appreciation for the simple tool that brought fabric to civilization in this deceptively slim volume. Page after page is packed with science, art, and practical advice. The photos are clear and informative and purely decorative photos are limited to the beginning of each chapter, which is a relief. Ms Franquemont writes with clear and informative language without being overly prosy or pretentious. It's so easy to read you barely know how much you're learning!
   
   If you are interested in becoming a better spinner, in the history of the hand spindle, or in the science behind spinning, this book is for you. I am sure I will return to it time and time again as I seek to become a more accomplished spinner with a variety of tools.



3. I found this book very useful. The pictures were very clear and the wording very understandable. I learned so much in the world of spinning and I would highly recommend this book for a beginner. Excellent!



4. As some one who has been playing with and using drop spindles for over 35 years, going to sheep and wool fests and using fiber just about every day of my life, I can say that this is a fine book, not a GREAT book, but a fine one...for beginners and those who love them. I have somewhat managed to teach my husband the art of drop spinning, although there should be a written credo to marriage...find a teacher to teach your spouse and children and the rest will follow. Read this book in pieces, digest what it says and read some more...have this book in your library as a reference book. I do have hundreds of other that at one time were raved about, including In Sheep's Clothing, which I find horribly lacking, and yet I hold onto that book. There is a time and a place for everything, and for this book too there will be a time and a place! Truly loved and valued books are chewed on, dog eared and wretched in their appearance, but there in lies the beauty of them; someone thought of them to be worthy of their praise! Talk to people about spinning, watch, pick up tips, get old Spin-off Magazines, Betty Hockberg books, Alden Amous, and other authors, and beef up your library with this one. I call it library ballast!



5. I had just made my first drop spindle when I got this book and was trying to teach myself to spin. This book was very clear and full of super great info and very helpful. I would very much recommend this book to anyone starting out with spinning.

5 comments about Start Spinning: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great Yarn.

1. I placed my order, and it came right away, and was in good condition and was just what I ordered.



2. This book has a lot of valuable information. It is by no means the be-all, end-all of spinning books.
   
   Some things are glossed over, like how to pre-draft fiber, and its importance. I would suggest using this book in conjunction with another book or have someone show you the basics if you are absolutely clueless about spinning.



3. It is what it says everything one needs to know, from this one can go on to more things with yarn. Well worth the price. This came highly recommend from spinners to get started. Recommend that one read the complete book before you start to spin. Author knows how to get the information across.



4. I am a beginning spinner...been spinning a bit every day for over a month now. I checked out every book that I could find and "Start Spinning" is the best by far: comfortable writing style, clear directions for everything, loads of clear photo illustrations, instruction on all the stages of preparation, spinning on a drop spindle or wheel, and finishing techniques. Enjoyable and comprehensive and a huge help. I have the good fortune to have some excellent instructors and still found this book invaluable.



5. This is a superior book for the experienced spinner who never had hands-on lessons, or any other instruction. I've been spinning for 24 years and finally understand how and why to draft a certain way, how to control the type and size yarn I want to make, and improved methods of plying. There is a science to all of this, and it's nice to have this excellent reference for getting the job done. I've always wanted to make the yarn for the garment, rather than finding a garment for the yarn I made. Now I believe I can! This book also had less wasted space on drop spindles and types of fibers. Good detailed explanation on the differences in woolen and worsted methods as well as combinations of methods. Very good information on the why and how of plying. Excellent photographs showing close-up detail of drawing methods, manipulating fibers with hands, and .... everything. Lots of excellent photos. As direct result of the two books I purchased at the same time, I bought a McMorran yarn balance to better determine my yardage. This will be my go-to book when spinning, with the other as a back-up.

1 comments about Get Spun: The Step-by-Step Guide to Spinning Art Yarns.

1. I love this book. It is very informative and clear. Has great pictures and easy to read. I use this book all the time!

5 comments about Spin Control: Techniques for Spinning the Yarns You Want.

1. This was a very useful book for me as a newer spinner. I love learning about all the different fibers, and this book had a great section on that. I would highly recommend it. Sheila



2. I am a new spinner and use a wheel. I found this Spin Control an interesting and informative book. I think it would be useful to any new spinner.



3. I was really looking forward to this book. I'm would have bought it sight unseen because of the publisher's pre-release hype, but I'm glad I didn't and first ordered it from my library.
   
   Let me be clear: This is a beautiful book. There is much material here for a new spinner, and I would certainly recommend it to any newbie. Great information about the properties of different fibers, and excellent instructions on basic spinning techniques, all presented very nicely. But for those who have been spinning for a long time, it only skims the surface of "techniques for spinning the yarns you want." That surface is fine, but there's nothing new here for those of us who've been spinning for years. I was just under the impression that there was a finally a new truly advanced book out (and I just love new books!).
   
   I'm glad I had the book for a few hours, but that's about it. So, 3 stars for me. For a beginner, maybe I'd even give it 5 stars.



4. I had looked forward with anticipation to this book and it was exactly what I thought it would be. The writing style is friendly and encouraging for anyone wanting to try a new technique. There are plenty of spinning techniques to try. Lots of great information about sampling and the part about predrafting is just right. Not drafting before you spin as much as improving the prep for a more enjoyable spinning experience.
   The photographs are lovely and helpful.
   This is a book for beginners to intermediate spinners looking for ways to improve their spinning.
   Beyond the intermediate stage there is lots of good reference material here. This book will be on the shelf next to my favorite spinning books that I go to again and again.



5. Given the positive review by Spin-off magazine, I expected to find information not covered by other sources. Good for beginners but nothing new for more experienced spinners seeking to improve their technique.

5 comments about The Whole Craft of Spinning: From the Raw Material to the Finished Yarn.

1. This is a good book for an overview of spinning using drop spindles and spinning wheels. Its diagrams show clearly the parts of a spinning wheel,so a potential buyer knows what is necessary and what is just traditional. As for the contact information being out of date, most people these days can use the internet to find more up-to-date info.



2. I found this book to be very helpful as a novice spinner. I am only using a drop spindle and there was a lot of very useful information in addition to a spinning wheel. I would recommend this for anyone who is just starting out.



3. This is a good, basic, spinning book. However.....
   It need an update! There is a Sources of supply section, at the back of the book. Not one online link! Published in 1981, with no updates on sources? That is my only negative.



4. The book was very basic and an excellent resource for the novice spinner. I was able to teach myself how to use my spinning wheel and how to spin my own wool. Highly recommend this reference.



5. this is a good book for a beginner spinner or for someone who wants a helpful book should they forget the basics. good value.

5 comments about Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning (Teach Yourself Visually Consumer).

1. Lots of information some not so clear. You must have some understanding of spinning before one reads this.



2. this book is one I consider the 'bible' of spinning. It breaks it down into easily understood directions and has pictures so that you won't be left without 'visual' help.
   
   excellent, excellent, excellent book.



3. I just wanted to chime and give my thumbs up for Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning. It has lots of useful information from fibers to yarn, this book takes you through everything you would want to know.



4. This book has been touted as a good hit the deck running book for spinners and potential spinners. That is true; however it is also very useful for people that have quite a bit of spinning under their belt.
   
   It really is the visual that make a difference. The only thing better are the now available DVD's. The descriptions at first may seem a little superficial or curt. However you cannot explain what it takes a book's worth of knowledge in one paragraph.
   
   One may look at page 15 and wonder want a bobbin driven wheel is but this is not a place to go into detail; it is just a preview of what will be explained later in the book.
   
   I can see where it would be easy to learn to spin one way and become an expert, yet still miss some of the finer points and even useful equipment. This is why you may want to read the book from cover to cover before investing time and money. I was glad to see that most of the pictures were of Ashford equipment as that is what I am most used to using.
   
   This is a must for your library. Also even when you know something is nice to have a different view on the subject. Be sure to supplement this book with articles from the author in "Spinoff" magazine.
   
   
   The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn



5. Have to say - I only WISH this book had been available when I began my own Spinning Odyssey some four years ago! The simple TEXT & particularly stunning PHOTOGRAPHY are both easy for the Novice Spinner to grasp & MASTER without getting bogged down & drowned in the mechanics of Spinning.
   
   THIS book should be kept within EVERY Spinner's grasp & considered a Beginner Spinner's Bible & terrific Spinner's mini-refresher course at ANY skill level! Simply put - a MUST NOT MISS addition to any Spinner's reference library!

5 comments about The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn.

1. I really wanted to like this book. But instead, I found it to be a sort of hodge-podge of information that can be found, in clearer forms, elsewhere.
   
   The tone is impersonal, and the information is presented in a very dry tone. But the real problem is all the meandering, confusing passages. I consider myself to be an intermediate spinner; I know how to spin a balanced yarn, I've been spinning for about 5 years, but I am always eager to learn more. The author seems to present each idea in a rambling manner, and I found myself having to read passages more than once, with this odd feeling that I'd missed something, as hardly any practical information is presented in the sections having to do with spinning. Especially in the passages describing "cabled yarns" the information is delivered in the most confusing way possible. She takes three columns of text to say: "Step one: Spin two singles to the right. Step two: ply the singles to the left, over-spinning them so that they're overspun. Repeat steps one and two so that you have two overspun 2-ply yarns. Then ply them again to the right to create a cabled yarn." At least I think that's what she was saying -- she manages to jump from singles to cables without supplying much actual direction. Also, I'm extrapolating that you should "overspin" when making the two-ply; she just says it should be unbalanced, which is confusing, as when singles are spun to the right, and then plied to the left, it usually creates a balanced yarn. But, by her vague mentions of overspinning, I'm assuming that the two-ply is unbalanced because it is overspun so much in the plying that it overcorrects for the balancing usually achieved by plying in the opposite direction your singles were spun in. If any of that made sense, which I doubt, considering I barely understood what I was reading.
   
   The sections about the origins of the different fibers were interesting, and that's why I gave it two stars, although I would have appreciated a bit more information in the way of different sheep breeds. Also, while the art/novelty yarn sections were a breath of fresh air after the cabling section, I've gleaned a lot more comprehensive instructions and examples from other sources.
   
   It strikes me as a case of someone having a wealth of knowledge without the means to communicate it very well, which is again, strange, as I know that she is one of the most celebrated spinning teachers out there. So, maybe it's me; who knows. :)
   
   I would recommend, for detailed (very detailed) knowledge of all things spinning-related: "The Alden Amos Big Book of Hand Spinning," and, for novelty/art yarns: the DVD "Sit and Spin" by Jacey Boggs.
   
   I haven't finished the book yet, so if something happens to change my impression, I'll edit the review.



2. This is the spinning book I'd been looking for: detailed descriptions, lots of information, and the author's pleasant, personal perspective on spinning. The book could probably use more pictures, particularly for the newest of spinners, but I learn best from words and find the writing style particularly effective in communicating techniques. I'm very happy to have this in my small, but growing, spinning library.



3. As a beginner spinner this book was highly suggested by my teacher. I am glad I got it. This will help me learn more about spinning on a wheel and the different fibers I can spin.



4. This is a fantastic book - i read it from cover to cover and savoured all the information about spinning and creating funky yarns. it is a very technically easy book to follow with correct corresponding pictures. a great book, a must for new and intermediate spinners! Thanks...



5. I've been spinning for over 30 years and seldom purchase "how to spin" books anymore. But this one has found an honored place in my bookcase. And I've been recommending it to all my spinning friends, many of whom have taken classes from the author. I don't recommend it to absolute beginners, but to anyone who has been spinning for while and wants to get beyond being a purely intuitive spinner (which is where I am coming from).

5 comments about Spinning in the Old Way: How (and Why) To Make Your Own Yarn With A High-Whorl Handspindle.

1. I haven't read the original edition of this book, so I can't compare the two versions. It is a good, solid book devoted to top whorl drop spinning. The drawings are simple and easy to understand as are the author's instructions. It is a good reference tool.



2. This is very basic and a great tutorial for a beginner handspinner - complete and easy to read.



3. I bought my first copy of this book because I wanted to learn how to spin on a high whorl handspindle. I read the book and easily learned how to spin.
   Now I am spinning fine yarn for socks,( fingering to sport weight). I just got 2 more copies to use to teach other people how to spin, I have a couple other books on spinning but found this the most helpful. This is a book to learn techniques, and then apply on your own to your own projects. There is only spinning covered here, there are no projects for using handspun yarn,however there are other resources for using handspun yarns. I enjoyed this book and found it useful.



4. I taught myself to spin with a high-whorl handspindle using this book. It is not only informative but gives the feeling of a friendly chat over spinning. The drawings are delightful and evocative of the culture of high whorl spinning. The writing is clear and detailed enough to be useful but doesn't bog down in overly technical explanations.



5. this is the best thing ive ever bought on the subject in book form and im thrilled that i bought it! i would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn to spin!

5 comments about The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning: Being a Compendium of Information, Advice, and Opinion on the Noble Art and Craft.

1. Great historical perspective and an admittedly biased tutorial. Refreshing becuse of the admission of his opinion and the wealth of information given in footnotes which are there if you want to read them but not necessary to gai the basic information in the text. Enjoyable and humorous writing style.



2. This book is very well researched and written for anyone at any level of spinning fibers to understand. Since learning to spin on my own, there is a lot of information about yarn construction that has been very helpful. And he was honest about the "opinion" part much of which is very entertaining. Good index to find things again.



3. Best of any I have read on spinning. Accurate, concise, clear. Not a word or sentence wasted. So glad I finally have one. I highly recommend it for novice or experienced spinner. Always something new to learn. Explains the "why" of procedures and materials, equipment which enriches the understanding and improves the technique, the process. Well researched.



4. This is an excellent reference with a writing style reminiscent of the 19th century. (i.e. "being a compendium...") If you already know the basics of spinning and can produce a reasonable useful yarn then by all means add this book to your library. It's full of really neat stuff. (Read the table of contents carefully!)
   This book will not teach you how to spin. It will however give you detailed blueprints for making your own Tahkli spindle from a bicycle spoke. Page after page is devoted to calculating grist. If you're a do-it-yourself kinda person interested in the mechanics of spinning and spinning wheels, and parephernalia this book is for you.
   I cannot give it five stars because the information, although voluminous, doesn't seem to go into enough depth. I wish he had written on fewer topics but more in depth. I can't give it four stars because I feel the title is misleading. A person who has never spun before would never return to the craft after looking at this book.
   I give it three bright and shining stars. It is a wonderful read. Amos' voice is terrific. There are TONS of really useful and interesting information that I don't think you'll find elsewhere (i.e. large section of how to hackle flax and how to build the hackle).
   SO, my advice. Go find a real live person to teach you how to spin. After you can produce something that looks like yarn buy this book. It's a excellent resource to have around. I'm glad I bought it.



5. This is a wonderful, informational book. I really like that it seems (to me), to be written in a way that new spinners will understand and be able to try this wonderful art. The additional historical notes are great as well - you could just spend time reading them. Plans/drawings for making your own (or having someone make) spinning wheel, accessories, are drawn beautifully. Other spinnning books are excellent too (Mabel Ross, etc), but I have found Mr. Amos style of writing very smooth and easy flowing. I highly recommend this book to any spinner at any level.

5 comments about A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns.

1. 4.5 stars
   
   The supposed point of this book is to provide a library of patterns appropriate for handspun yard. The author has photographs of each pattern knit in at least two yarns, one handspun and one factory-made. The subtitle is "knitting with handspun yarns." I guess there are so many knitting books on the market, everyone needs some kind of unique hook. I thought this part of the book book was a bit silly.
   
   However, the patterns are almost universally interesting and knittable. Many of the patterns are cabled, so if you're a fan of Aran knitting you'll enjoy this book. In fact, this is the best book of Aran / cabled style knits I've seen in a good while.
   
   The book is a pleasure to flip through and has great patterns. If the handspun angle interest you, all the better, but the book is great based solely on the great cabled patterns.
   
   I've only knit sock patterns so far, but they were easy enough to follow for someone familiar with knitting patterns. If you haven't knit before, this isn't a great book to start with.



2. Absolutely gorgeous patterns - very intricate and challenging BUT there are numerous mistakes in the text. Be very careful if you buy this book. There are many erratas available online but many have gone offline and are difficult to find. Personally, I borrowed the book from a library to check it out, made two projects and have decided to not buy the book due to the inexcusable erratas.



3. I needed another knitting book like a hole in the head but I am SO glad I bought this one. It is a lovely book. I personally like just about every single project!!! I am not a spinner ....yet but you do NOT have to even want to spin yarn to enjoy and knit from this book. Go for it..you'll be glad you got it.



4. While I really like many of the knitting patterns in this book, the information provided for spinners is skimpy. It is not enough to identify the breed of sheep. I wanted to know if the yarn was singles or plied. I wanted to know the drafting method used. I wanted to know the wpi. Some of this information is provided for some of the patterns. Yes, you can piece together some information from the commercial yarn used. However, as a handspinner, I felt cheated by this book. It would be much more appropriate as a straight knitting pattern book.



5. While the photos in the book are pretty to look at, they're completely worthless for a pattern book. Most of the models are wearing sweaters that are far too large for them. Some of the sweaters have obviously been pinned to give them the appearance of being more fitted or having waist shaping. You can't even tell what some of the sweaters (like October Frost or the bottom half of Harriet) actually look like.
   
   Why even bother to have photos if they're useless or misleading as to what the finished item will actually look like? The person responsible for the photography shouldn't be working with knitting books. People who like the looks of the photos may be disappointed in the results, and people who are turned off by the photos might have actually liked the patterns if they'd been properly photographed. Frankly, I think the book would sell better if the photography showed what the sweaters really look like. I don't like buying knitting books when I can see the photos don't reflect the real pattern. I would never have purchased this book after looking through it. It was only after seeing some finished sweaters from the patterns that I decided I would actually be interested in making some of them.
   
   Photography aside, the patterns themselves are very nice. But be aware that they're very boxy designs (no waist shaping, regardless of what the photos appear to show). If you like boxy cabled sweaters, you will probably love this book. If you prefer waist shaping, you'll need to figure out your own modifications or look elsewhere. The smallest sizes start around 37-38", so it's not good for women who need extra-small sizes unless they like a lot of ease, but they do go up to around 50-52", so it's nice for larger women.
   
   Bottom line: If this style of sweater appeals to you, there are some great designs. If you like fitted, shaped sweaters, you may be disappointed. Either way, ignore the photos and study the schematics.