Spin It: Making Yarn from Scratch

by Lee Raven

"Here are step-by-step instructions and illustrations that explain how to make yarn from scratch using handspindlesùsimple 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 a woven sleeve, a knitted bunny bag, a knitted baby hat, knitted fingerless mittens, and a crocheted hat."

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts

33 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kalessin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice book, but it was not for me. The focus is not only on spinning yarn but also on how to prepare fibers for spinning. (I would guess that it is more common in the US to buy unprocessed wool fresh from the sheep. Also, from what I've seen and the vocabulary in each language, english-speaking countries seem to have more types of carded wools while in german(y) combed wool seems to be standard.)
The spinning section does mention spindles without a hook (like mine) but clearly focusses on spindles with a hook.

I have only skimmed over the projects. They look very nice though are not things I would make or use.

[Meagan Condon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I was a little disappointed with this title. Page one covers drafting and twisting, the two most important elements of spinning, with very little detail and then escalates into more complex details.
However, Raven does a good job of repetition, first talking about adding twist without a spindle, then using a spindle. A fourth of this 33 page book is dedicated to projects and includes three knit, one crochet, and one weaving project to use your handspun yarn. I feel like Raven tried to cover too much in a very short text.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good first book for a beginning spindler, but it doesn't go into too much detail. It gives a good grounding of the basics, but to really know what you're doing and make the kinds of yarn you want to make, it doesn't do much.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you hit the wheel, you have to get the feel.

O.K. so you have read all about it and you may even have watched videos. Bus as with most all things until you try you will never truly know. There are many neat tricks of the trade packed in this thin book.
It may be stretching the amount of information that can be packed in one book as we see different spindles and different fibers; there are tricks for handling the fibers such as using a chair back for a skein-winder. We see the different uses for carded and/or combed fiber. Well, I do not want to go through the whole book but are even projects that you can do with your newly spun fiber.

The author Lea Raven does have a book on wheel spinning also.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book! As in-depth as it gets for having only 33 pages (the last of which is literally printed on the inside of the back cover). All the practical info with none of the extraneous fluff.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book. Short, well-written, cheap, with good colour photos and a friendly style. This book was the first spinning book I ever bought, and I used it to teach myself to spin. If you want to learn to spin on a budget, this is the book to buy!

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, informative, lots of pictures, explains how to improvise almost every tool or how you can get by without tools. Great read if you wanna just play around at this and not invest any actual money in this hobby.

[Martine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginners book-has the basics includin make your own drop spindle from a CD, carding wool, drafting wool etc

[Another · Rating 4 out of 5]

basic instructions on making spindles, using them, finishing yarns, cleaning wool, carding. good basic info. More a booklet than a book. 32 pages

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never could get the hang of it... spinning yarn may be something you should see in person rather than from a book. It was hard to get from a book and I gave up.

[Leslye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick little beginner read with some good basics about spinning on a spindle and wool prep.