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The Spinner's Book of Yarn Design, Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns
From the backflap:
Explore the exciting possibilities in wool and wheel with Sarah Anderson as she invites you into her yarn library and demonstrates how to spins everything from classic fat and fine singles to dozens of boucle variations and one-of-a-kind novelty yarns. Featuring step-by-step instructions on making 80 distinctive yarns, this is the primer every spinner needs to begin building a unique collection of luscious yarns.
The foreword is written by Judith MacKenzie
Explore the exciting possibilities in wool and wheel with Sarah Anderson as she invites you into her yarn library and demonstrates how to spins everything from classic fat and fine singles to dozens of boucle variations and one-of-a-kind novelty yarns. Featuring step-by-step instructions on making 80 distinctive yarns, this is the primer every spinner needs to begin building a unique collection of luscious yarns.
The foreword is written by Judith MacKenzie
255 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
98 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Anderson
145 books23 followersSarah Anderson learned to knit at a very young age and has been hooked on the fiber crafts ever since. She taught herself to spin at 13, but it was not until 1992 that she became serious about her spinning. She developed a new technique she calls “wrap and roll,” which won her a cover on Spin Off magazine in 2008. She has taught at the Spin-Off Autumn Retreat (SOAR), contributed knit designs to All New Homespun and Handknit, and teaches at many venues. She lives near Snohomish, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 29, 2013
The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns by Sarah Anderson
ISBN: 9781603427388 B008NEZROE
I am not a spinner but realize the quality of this book for the yarns I have worked with over the years. So many tips throughout that now answer a lot of my questions about why did the yarn twist when working cables and is the direction important.
There are chapters on: spinning basics, singles for plying, stand alone singles, spiral yarns, opposing plies,
boucles, cable yarns, crepe yarns, coil yarns and novelty yarns. I do think now that after reading this that it does make the light bulb come on for me. If you can understand about the yarn you can select the right yarn for the right project because you understand how it will act when knitted.
Many ways showing the differences between plies of yarn.
To me this book shows how to experiment with yarns to achieve the right balance for the item you are making.
Excellent resource book for anyone that does spin their own yarns, great glossary-very precise and bibliography.
ISBN: 9781603427388 B008NEZROE
I am not a spinner but realize the quality of this book for the yarns I have worked with over the years. So many tips throughout that now answer a lot of my questions about why did the yarn twist when working cables and is the direction important.
There are chapters on: spinning basics, singles for plying, stand alone singles, spiral yarns, opposing plies,
boucles, cable yarns, crepe yarns, coil yarns and novelty yarns. I do think now that after reading this that it does make the light bulb come on for me. If you can understand about the yarn you can select the right yarn for the right project because you understand how it will act when knitted.
Many ways showing the differences between plies of yarn.
To me this book shows how to experiment with yarns to achieve the right balance for the item you are making.
Excellent resource book for anyone that does spin their own yarns, great glossary-very precise and bibliography.
April 6, 2019
Excellent resource on how to spin and ply a variety of different yarns. I borrowed it from the library, and have already ordered my own copy.
March 13, 2013
The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs- Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns by Sarah Anderson took longer than expected to review because it's so good. If you spin yarn, or if you're a knitter or crocheter who is considering learning, you'll want this book.
You won't learn how to spin with this book, what you'll learn is ways to make amazing and unique yarns. The introduction does have a lot of tips for spinning, buying tops and fleece, and even how to pick a whole fleece if you're willing to clean and card it. She also talks about carding methods which is important for both the types of yarn you want to spin and for color work from colored fiber.
She shows ways to create colorways from the fiber batts that are just gorgeous. If color is your passion, you'll love seeing the wild batts she makes and the examples of things she makes from them. Then she gets into various ways to ply yarn to create wonderful textures and appearances.
What makes this book fantastic other than the amount of detail and the well photographed images is her instructions and tips. She writes it very well and engagingly, making it very easy just to read it for artistic inspiration. She also has experimented with various plys and spinning styles to test durability for socks and those experiments are interesting to read. She tested them fairly by knitting a pair of matching socks, one with a control yarn and one with the yarn she was testing then wore them to see which wore out first and how. Those are also very well photographed.
My favorite chapter is techniques that a little beyond my abilities right now. The final chapter combines color and texture to create beehives and other types of really gorgeous novelty yarns that make my fingers itch to want to try in a simple knit design.
You will learn how to make loops, slubs, spirals, and beaded accents on your hand spun yarns and enjoy the great examples of what can be done with the finished yarn. If spinning is something you want to learn, or that you already do, this book is eye candy, inspiration and instruction.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my craft blog- Don't Eat the Paste. I received no other compensation, and my review is my honest opinion of the product.]
You won't learn how to spin with this book, what you'll learn is ways to make amazing and unique yarns. The introduction does have a lot of tips for spinning, buying tops and fleece, and even how to pick a whole fleece if you're willing to clean and card it. She also talks about carding methods which is important for both the types of yarn you want to spin and for color work from colored fiber.
She shows ways to create colorways from the fiber batts that are just gorgeous. If color is your passion, you'll love seeing the wild batts she makes and the examples of things she makes from them. Then she gets into various ways to ply yarn to create wonderful textures and appearances.
What makes this book fantastic other than the amount of detail and the well photographed images is her instructions and tips. She writes it very well and engagingly, making it very easy just to read it for artistic inspiration. She also has experimented with various plys and spinning styles to test durability for socks and those experiments are interesting to read. She tested them fairly by knitting a pair of matching socks, one with a control yarn and one with the yarn she was testing then wore them to see which wore out first and how. Those are also very well photographed.
My favorite chapter is techniques that a little beyond my abilities right now. The final chapter combines color and texture to create beehives and other types of really gorgeous novelty yarns that make my fingers itch to want to try in a simple knit design.
You will learn how to make loops, slubs, spirals, and beaded accents on your hand spun yarns and enjoy the great examples of what can be done with the finished yarn. If spinning is something you want to learn, or that you already do, this book is eye candy, inspiration and instruction.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my craft blog- Don't Eat the Paste. I received no other compensation, and my review is my honest opinion of the product.]
February 3, 2013
What a read! I absolutely loved every minute of it! Soooooo much information! So much new stuff I hadn't known yet. So many things I already knew, but it never hurts to have it all in one place together!
I LOVED THE BOOK!
I think even non-spinners could get a lot of use out of this book, as it really explains fiber and it's manipulation. Knitters and crocheters, that might not really want to spin their own yarn (although I have no idea why one wouldn't) will still learn so much about the yarns available to them and how to use them to their full potential!
This is definitely a book any fiber enthusiast should give a try. Spinner, crocheter, knitter, it does not matter. You will fall in love with the wonderfully easily understandable instructions.
Nothing was forgotten or shortened! Everything from the way fiber behaves (drape, crimp etc.) through carding, to the best methode of spinning with projects in mind!
The information given in such an engaging manner and the tutorials/pictures help a great deal to really make the information accessible and easily understandable even to someone that has never spun before!
Well written and (specially if you are a fiber enthusiast) captivating book and personable! I missed my bus-stop, because I was too engrossed in reading it! :)
I wish there were more "user guides", instruction books like this one!
Thank you so much, Mrs. Anderson, for all this work you did! It is fabulous and greatly appreciate by this fiber-holic!
I LOVED THE BOOK!
I think even non-spinners could get a lot of use out of this book, as it really explains fiber and it's manipulation. Knitters and crocheters, that might not really want to spin their own yarn (although I have no idea why one wouldn't) will still learn so much about the yarns available to them and how to use them to their full potential!
This is definitely a book any fiber enthusiast should give a try. Spinner, crocheter, knitter, it does not matter. You will fall in love with the wonderfully easily understandable instructions.
Nothing was forgotten or shortened! Everything from the way fiber behaves (drape, crimp etc.) through carding, to the best methode of spinning with projects in mind!
The information given in such an engaging manner and the tutorials/pictures help a great deal to really make the information accessible and easily understandable even to someone that has never spun before!
Well written and (specially if you are a fiber enthusiast) captivating book and personable! I missed my bus-stop, because I was too engrossed in reading it! :)
I wish there were more "user guides", instruction books like this one!
Thank you so much, Mrs. Anderson, for all this work you did! It is fabulous and greatly appreciate by this fiber-holic!
February 13, 2013
Totally inspiring book. Full of ideas for yarns, many of which I have never come across before. Beautifully presented, lots of clear photos and wonderful at a glance diagrams that show the construction of the yarns. There is also a fascinating sock-yarn experiment running through the book. In addition to this there are lots of useful small bits of information (even on things I think I know after a few years spinning) that will help me make better yarn.
I've finally put the book down to start spinning a yarn, from this book, that I've never tried before. Spinning through all the different types of yarns will keep me busy for many, many years to come.
I've finally put the book down to start spinning a yarn, from this book, that I've never tried before. Spinning through all the different types of yarns will keep me busy for many, many years to come.
April 3, 2022
First of all, the pictures! This book is absolute yarn porn.
It is also a great reference, even for a beginning spinner, like me, who owns spindles but no wheel. I'm just finished my first read through, and I'm getting a handle on fat singles (and on spinning more consistently in general).
Most of the book is about plying. Not only are there the detailed descriptions of how to ply specific constructions, but there's also discussion of what ply works well for what project, as well as observations about tension and twist. I love this book!
It is also a great reference, even for a beginning spinner, like me, who owns spindles but no wheel. I'm just finished my first read through, and I'm getting a handle on fat singles (and on spinning more consistently in general).
Most of the book is about plying. Not only are there the detailed descriptions of how to ply specific constructions, but there's also discussion of what ply works well for what project, as well as observations about tension and twist. I love this book!
August 6, 2020
Incredibly exhaustive and extensive content! All images are based on using undyed, natural fibers and in the case of some instructional content, incorporating multi-colored hues with greater contrast would have been easier to see the steps. Overall, a wonderful guide that for most will be well supplemented by the Internet for even more in depth images and videos of techniques.
February 27, 2022
Learning
This book comes under the wonderful heading of 'more than I needed to know'. 🙂. I'm just getting back to spinning and weaving after a 25 year hiatus. I got this book for her techniques of plying. It's fun to see all the amazing options, but right now I'm just hoping for yarn that holds together. Some day though....
This book comes under the wonderful heading of 'more than I needed to know'. 🙂. I'm just getting back to spinning and weaving after a 25 year hiatus. I got this book for her techniques of plying. It's fun to see all the amazing options, but right now I'm just hoping for yarn that holds together. Some day though....
September 15, 2023
Wonderful book!
I am very much a novice spinner, having only so far used a bobbin spinner. I loved seeing the possibilities and the gorgeous created works shown here are an inspiration. I would love to find a fiber arts “expert” who would be willing to let me tag along to learn with them.
I am very much a novice spinner, having only so far used a bobbin spinner. I loved seeing the possibilities and the gorgeous created works shown here are an inspiration. I would love to find a fiber arts “expert” who would be willing to let me tag along to learn with them.
February 28, 2021
I wish I'd had this book 20 years ago when I started spinning. It's like a master's class in spinning. I cannot wait to try some of the yarns and I think I'm going to spin my way through the book to sharpen my skills and learn new techniques. Worth every penny!
July 15, 2021
Reading this book made me want to spin all sorts of yarns, but then I realize I can't even make a 3-ply sock yarn of the correct weight yet, nor get the twist right on my guard hair yarn, so I need to take it a bit slowly.
Great resource.
Great resource.
December 22, 2021
great book if you like spinning art yarns and are trying to build your techniques. Unless you really love art yarn, it may be better to borrow this from the library than to buy a personal copy.
September 3, 2023
i have this from the library and have really just skimmed it, and not spun any yarn, but it seems to be a very cool and helpful resource!
September 3, 2024
the yarn designs in this book answered lot of question I would have had to use trial and error on otherwise. I can't wait to try some of the designs with plying S and Z twist!
April 3, 2025
Absolutely perfect reference book for spinning techniques
July 30, 2012
The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns by Sarah Anderson
ISBN: 9781603427388 B008NEZROE
I am not a spinner but realize the quality of this book for the yarns I have worked with over the years. So many tips throughout that now answer a lot of my questions about why did the yarn twist when working cables and is the direction important.
There are chapters on: spinning basics, singles for plying, stand alone singles, spiral yarns, opposing plies,
boucles, cable yarns, crepe yarns, coil yarns and novelty yarns. I do think now that after reading this that it does make the light bulb come on for me. If you can understand about the yarn you can select the right yarn for the right project because you understand how it will act when knitted.
Many ways showing the differences between plies of yarn.
To me this book shows how to experiment with yarns to achieve the right balance for the item you are making.
Excellent resource book for anyone that does spin their own yarns, great glossary-very precise and bibliography.
ISBN: 9781603427388 B008NEZROE
I am not a spinner but realize the quality of this book for the yarns I have worked with over the years. So many tips throughout that now answer a lot of my questions about why did the yarn twist when working cables and is the direction important.
There are chapters on: spinning basics, singles for plying, stand alone singles, spiral yarns, opposing plies,
boucles, cable yarns, crepe yarns, coil yarns and novelty yarns. I do think now that after reading this that it does make the light bulb come on for me. If you can understand about the yarn you can select the right yarn for the right project because you understand how it will act when knitted.
Many ways showing the differences between plies of yarn.
To me this book shows how to experiment with yarns to achieve the right balance for the item you are making.
Excellent resource book for anyone that does spin their own yarns, great glossary-very precise and bibliography.
April 8, 2013
I wish I'd bought this book before buying any other spinning books. A friend of mine that I'd consider a master spinner paged through it and decided she had to have a copy. The amount of work the author put in was amazing. She would spin lots of yardage, then ply each half with a different method and then knit them in to socks. She went to the trouble of using a different colored yarn when grafting to the toe so not only could she differentiate between the sock ply method, but log and rotate which she wore on which foot and thus was able to document how the sock/plying method held up over time. Amazing and dedicated!
The book covers plain utility yarn to all sorts of art/textured yarns. I cannot recommend it enough to spinners. If you don't spin but you do purchase handspun, this book could show you what to look for in handspun yarn so it's still a good asset for any yarnie.
The book covers plain utility yarn to all sorts of art/textured yarns. I cannot recommend it enough to spinners. If you don't spin but you do purchase handspun, this book could show you what to look for in handspun yarn so it's still a good asset for any yarnie.
September 12, 2013
this is a great book, but there are two things i think people should know. #1 - you really need a tensioned lazy kate to do pretty much all the plying in this book. #2 - it doesn't feel like as many yarn designs as it stipulates, because once you know how to make one type of yarn, like a cable, or a crepe, adding in more plies to it or changing the thickness of the plies inside isn't really what i would consider a new design. just personal opinion. the techniques for some of the yarns are really good though. i wish there were more techniques in here, versus less of the filler i mentioned above, because the techniques are great.
(copied from my amazon review)
(copied from my amazon review)
July 8, 2013
This is an amazing book! It's been so long since I've spun wool and this book made me want to run out and buy a fleece or some roving! Lots of pictures make the spinning process super simple--anyone can do it. Wow! So many new ideas for making specialty yarns and the nifty advice that making specialty yarns can bring a high price if you're willing to share your treasure. ;-)
If you spin, knit, crochet, or weave, you'll love this book.
If you spin, knit, crochet, or weave, you'll love this book.
April 23, 2013
What a beautiful book! For beginning spinners (the author explains the difference between an "S" and a "Z" twist, and how to card, draft, and ply) and experienced spinners alike, this book really covers the gamut of possible yarn designs. I was inspired by some of the uses she put the finished results to (cotton wick for beeswax candles), the beauty of her yarns, and by her love of beads ;-).
September 29, 2013
Loving this. Not for beginners - no learn to spin tips here, but also I'm not sure I would have gotten as much out of this without a few years of spinning under my belt.
Crystal clear, makes everything seem doable and makes you see why techniques you may not be interested in personally are still worth learning. Highly recommended.
Crystal clear, makes everything seem doable and makes you see why techniques you may not be interested in personally are still worth learning. Highly recommended.
September 11, 2013
This ultra-comprehensive volume is complete with stunning photography and easy to follow direction. It's now up to the reader to buy their own Alpaca or go to the NY street fair and purchase raw wools. A fabulously inspiring book for anyone interested in a road trip down yarn-maker lane. No tongue-in-cheek; I really adore this book for the information and artistic design presented.
September 10, 2014
Well, I need to own this book. I'm just barely starting with spinning and I admit I'm somewhat dazed at how many different yarns I could make--I had no idea! I only understood every fifth word, but I have a much clearer idea of how spinning works.
Four stars instead of five because the author spent entirely too much time on novelty yarns that I have no desire to knit with, ever.
Four stars instead of five because the author spent entirely too much time on novelty yarns that I have no desire to knit with, ever.
November 14, 2013
I had heard of Sarah through some of her work for Spin-Off and absolutely adored her then. Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear she had written a book sharing her tips, thoughts and theories on yarn construction. Excellent reference for all those plain and fancy yarns you will want to make!
January 5, 2014
Great technique book for spinners.
August 20, 2013
Excellent reference for art yarn spinning-the handy cards are good to take with your wheel when traveling
August 19, 2013
This book is incredibly useful. I'm moving from the "beginning beginner" to the "advanced beginner" level, and this book was perfect for me. Loved it.
January 21, 2014
An essential. My essential book on spinning yarn.
March 8, 2014
Great illustrations and descriptions. Clear and packed with great information. On my list of "must-have" for a spinner.
September 8, 2016
Fantastic spinning book - not really for beginners, but to increase skills.
like it so much I'm running a SAL with a friend!
like it so much I'm running a SAL with a friend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews