Spin to Knit: The Knitter's Guide to Making Yarn

by Shannon Okey

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 knitting a boatneck pullover in a combination of commercial and handspun yarns. Methods for incorporating beads and threads into yarn and a technique for dyeing yarn in the dishwasher are also featured.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, How To

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Shannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, comic book artist Tamas Jakab and their furry "children," a dachshund and 2 cats who have made several appearances in her books.

Shannon runs her own publishing company called Cooperative Press, which publishes both books and Knit Edge magazine. She writes...a lot.

Reviews

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing for me.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spin to Knit is a semi-useful introductory book, but rather light on spinning technique (particularly for wheel spinning). For instance, the author doesn't even mention the difference between spinning woolen and spinning worsted. The sections on preparing fiber for spinning are pretty good. However, I would seek out a more detailed book to learn and master the various techniques of spinning (or check out some of the very informative YouTube videos on the subject.)

The book does include some wonderful knitting projects using handspun yarn, which vary in difficulty as well as type and amount of yarn: hats, scarves, wristlets and even sweaters. Most are associated with a short feature about a the spinner or designer.

Bottom line: Definitely aimed at knitters who want to learn to spin (as opposed to weavers), but you'll need more instruction in spinning than this book provides.

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping the book would live up to its title and cover more on the actual spinning of yarn to be knitted. The first 49 pages cover learning to spin and tools associated with spinning, which is better covered in more depth in other books. The actual information on knitting yarn is covered in 2 ½ pages with another four pages covering yarn weight and stitch patterns (which has some very good information). The remainder of the book consists of patterns for using hand-spun yarn (also very good information and a good jumping off place for modifying other patterns for hand-spun yarn).

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basic intro to spinning and plying, plus some up-to-date projects and profiles of young spinners. This book is great because it blows some of the wheat germ and soybean dust off the hobby of making your own yarn.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a book that addressed some of the more technical aspects of spinning for knitting vs. knitting for weaving. That was not this book. It looks like a good general spinning/knitting reference, but wasn't quite as advanced as I was hoping for.

[Hilary]

I'm teaching myself how to spin yarn using roving and a drop spindle. Don't cry for me, I'm already dead. ;)

[Kristine]

great intro for spinners, both spindles and wheels. some interesting patterns including : the laurabelle shrug has faux entrelac, that is, basket-weave strips!

flipped thru again, 7/21/2015.

[juliegoonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative!