The Practical Spinner's Guide - Wool by Kate Larson

by Kate Larson

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 Wool." Topics An overview of sheep breeds and the characteristics of their fleeceWashing, carding, combing, and blending fibersPurchasing and working with prepared fibersTechniques for spinning and plying wool to achieve the right yarn for your projectsAdvice on caring for fibers to protect them from unwanted pests and other problemsWhether you're working with fleeces sheared from your own flock or spinning indie dyed fibers, you'll find a wealth of useful, valuable, and "practical" information in "The Practical Spinner's Wool."

Genres: Nonfiction, Knitting, Crafts, Reference

Paperback

First published October 5, 2015

Reviews

[Sharon L. S. Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started spinning, I didn’t even know enough to know how to ask good questions. A year in, and now I am ready to know more about types of fiber, methods of preparation, and drafting techniques. This book is a good introductory reference as you progress from “all I want is to get wool onto the bobbin” to “I need to know what to call this thing.”

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for the beginning spinner. If you are someone who was thinking, "oh I know someone with sheep, I'll buy a fleece from them and have yarn in no time!" This is an eye opener. Also, if you were thinking something to the effect of, "That raw fleece is half the price of a prepared fleece, I'll save some money and be able to spin more." This is eye opening. Not that buying a raw fleece is always a bad thing, but after reading this book I have a better understanding of what it really takes to get that raw fleece to a place where it can be spun. I loved the section about conserving your fleeces and what bugs to look for, even though it made me itchy for a while. The history and characteristics of different fleeces was not only eye opening, but though provoking. If you are thinking about getting started in spinning, then this is a book to look at. It really does contain a ton of information and can be pretty overwhelming during the first read. I certainly consider this a staple for a spinners library.