The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning: Being A Compendium of Information, Advice, and Opinions On the Noble Art & Craft

by Alden Amos

Alden Amos shares his deep knowledge of wheel mechanics, spinning fibers, wheel construction, and yarn, as well as a wealth of spinning history and traditions. Every aspect of handspinning is explored, including dissolving lanolin, washing fleece, rotating wheel position, and choosing types of wool. Also discussed are various hand positions, which can result in everything from smooth, fine thread to funky, bulky yarn.

Genres: Crafts, Reference, Knitting, Nonfiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.I do not want a spinning wheel.

Shoot I want a spinning wheel.

I also want to grow a patch of flax in my back yard, soak in in a baby pool, put it through a hackle, and make linen.

DANG YOU ALDEN AMOS!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any spinner that wants to be worth his or her weight in cashmere needs this book. Even knitters could benefit from this book. BBH has not left my bedside table in almost a month. Lucky for me I got my own copy for Christmas--I can return the (I believe) sole copy to the library now.

[Bébhinn Ní Riain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really want a spinning wheel after reading this!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

My head burst from the amount of information packed into this book but I finally got the answers to some nagging questions so it was worth it.

Absolutely full-coverage of anything you ever wanted to know, needed-to-know, didn't know you needed-to-know of spinning and everything connected to spinning.

This covers everything from growing your own fiber (hemp, flax, etc.) to making the tools (by hand) needed to prepare the fiber (by hand) for spinning. (By hand.)

Cost analysis for preparing your own fiber vs. sending fiber out to be processed are included, formulas for figuring grist, twist, and more than I can understand at this point are covered well.

This might rate 5 stars, but I don't know enough about spinning to do that. Compared to other books it's amazingly complete. If I get into spinning this will be on my bookshelf as a reference.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy of all holy help me how to so stuff books! It's like YouTube! Except pages! And no crashing or lagging computers! Oh joy! My ascent to the world of backward and old fashioned And silly and why don't you just buy what you need naysayers has brought me here In a hand knit scarf, with two angora goats beside me, hopes for alpacas and a Navajo spindle in my hand as gifts of my lack of knowledge but willingness to learn. What I lack in skill at this point I have 10 fold in enthusiasm. Been hugging this book for days!!!

[Dara Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is the handspinner's bible! Pretty overwhelming to try and read the whole thing as a novice, particularly the more highly technical later chapters which get into wheels, flyer mechanisms, plying, etc. but a very thorough and clear reference throughout. Sitting down to read this cover to cover is a bit like reading the condensed Encyclopedia Brittanica, though!
Definitely a great reference to have and use if you're really into handspinning or getting into it and want to make well-informed choices from go.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

For handspinners, this book is a “must have” reference. It is biblical in content and length with footnotes and references that cover nearly the expanse of materials, wheels, treatments, and formulae. With the inclusion of extraordinarily witty remarks throughout, it was a pleasure to read. The writer was a great genius and wheelwright.

[Renee Huttle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super dense reference. It is a necessary addition to any spinner's library.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely technical details mixed with strong opinions. A good reference if you ignore his assertions about how spindles and double-treadle wheels are essentially useless.

[Laura Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have taken a spinning class, and done a LOT of thinking about what my first (and last, please) wheel should be like. He walks you through Every Step, anticipating problems and questions, and then he answers them.

He says on the cover that these are his opinions, and his style and persona reinforce the picture of a one-on-one master class on everything he knows. Necessarily idiosyncratic. He shows his work as he steps you carefully through the reasoning for things that he has taken the time to think through the process' physical and mathematical results. You may use a table to remember some quality of the fiber/yarn, but you should have a passing familiarity with where the numbers came from and what you did to them. He is very detailed, but he starts from a big-picture point of view, so it is very easy to follow him right into the detail weeds.

I have been taking notes on my first read through. It is an amazing resource. Though, as with many things, probably not the only book in a handspinner's library.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the book provides a lot of useful information. However, Alden definitely expresses his opinions and personal preferences about spinning and spinning wheels through. For example he expresses a strong distaste for double treadle spinning wheels. This tends to be more of a personal preference among experienced spinners than a hard fast rule.

This book is not for beginning spinners. More experienced spinners will be able to not only better understand and appreciate the technical information of both spinning and spinning wheels in the book, but also realize when Alden is expressing personal opinion and judge accordingly.

But the book definitely made me think about my own personal spinning preferences as well as take a closer look my spinning techniques as well as giving me a better understanding spinning wheel mechanics.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Color in Spinning, this book was above my head in many ways. Combines history and practical information along with the real nuts-and-bolts nitty-gritty of the way that spinning and its associated tools and arts work. (My wheel seems to be single-drive, flyer-lead.) A great deal of math included in the book. Around 43% I started skimming through to the end since the library won't let me re-renew it. :P

The biggest thing I'm taking away from it is that one should start spinning SLOWLY on a wheel (moving the wheel by hand rather than by treadle if necessary), and that YOU CAN'T TREADLE YOUR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE. I hope to have some time with my wheel in the near future to try these out.

[Cayenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished! What a tome. This book took me at least a year to read, but it was worth every minute. I learned so much about spinning, preping, and scouring fiber. There are all these awesome diagrams at the back for building your own tools and a great glossary. The tongue and cheek humor is enjoyable and made even the long math parts pretty interesting. This author definitely knows his stuff.

[Katrina Bergherm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely NOT a book for beginners but it should be on the shelves of every handspinner. A great resource for every little technical thing you might ever want to know about making yarn. At times it felt like reading a textbook and I expected to have questions at the end of each chapter (which actually might be a good idea). But the author is humorous and knows his stuff. I skimmed some sections but I'm sure that I'll be reading this book over and over throughout the coming years.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

the depth of information in this book suggests that it should be incredibly boring and dry, but alden amos ia an apparently awesome guy who writes with dry humor and considerable technical expertise. there are times when technical information in this book would probably overwhelm many of the crafters i have met, but for anyone technical minded, it is a great book for better understanding the art and craft of spinning yarn.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of technical spinning information (yes, a lot of it comes down to mathematics; why didn't we get problems like THIS in high school?). I came away with useful information on grist and plying. Probably other info as well, but the vocabulary does not immediately spring to mind.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible amount of information on the art of spinning. Takes you through the complete steps of making yarn from shearing the sheep to the very end. Even has instructions on how to make some of your own tools.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting even if you're not a spinner, and jam packed with info if you are. Written in the engaging personal style of the author, which includes ample footnotes that, at times, completely diverge from the topic at hand. I loved it.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

To dry for me to read cover to cover so I skimmed it. Should return to it when I have a wheel perhaps.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told that this book was a little dry...not true! Well, maybe a couple of bits, but not many. The giggle factor is amazing!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commenced this and finding the style informative and entertaining

What a fascinating and informative book.
Instructions both entertaining and practical love it.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource, particularly for those who are interested in the science and math that goes along with fiber arts.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like a text book on spinning. I skimmed the entire book and focuses on the plying chapters for now. I plan to go back as needed to review.

[Demarus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little wordy, wouldn't suggest this book if you want a quick read. A good book for the trivia lover.

[Elie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much that I read every foot note and most of the glossary... I never, never read the glossary. But that's how interesting Aldon Amos is.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a master class on spinning and though I joking refer to it as "everything you never cared to know about wool," it will be joining my collection as soon as I am able.

[Katrina Stelzner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best reference books for spinners.