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

Alden Amos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Just when double-treadle spinning wheels had become popular, Amos caused quite a stir by suggesting that they were not necessarily God's gift to the handspinner. As the owner of a double-treadle spinning wheel, I couldn't resist looking to see if his opinion had changed in the intervening years. Nope. Amos argues here that you don't really need this type of wheel unless, among other things, "you are such a klutz that you cannot keep the wheel going with one foot." Amos, who has been making spinning wheels and studying handspinning for more than 40 years, has finally distilled this experience into a definitive book deserving of its title. Even the most knowledgeable spinner will learn something and will be entertained in the bargain. This major contribution to the literature should be in any library where there is demand, though small public libraries may prefer less comprehensive books, such as Lee Raven's Hands on Spinning (1987) or Connie Delaney's Spindle Spinning: From Novice to Expert (Kokovoco, 1998) to offer beginners.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Just when double-treadle spinning wheels had become popular, Amos caused quite a stir by suggesting that they were not necessarily God's gift to the handspinner. As the owner of a double-treadle spinning wheel, I couldn't resist looking to see if his opinion had changed in the intervening years. Nope. Amos argues here that you don't really need this type of wheel unless, among other things, 'you are such a klutz that you cannot keep the wheel going with one foot.' Amos, who has been making spinning wheels and studying handspinning for more than 40 years, has finally distilled this experience into a definitive book deserving of its title. Even the most knowledgeable spinner will learn something and will be entertained in the bargain. This major contribution to the literature should be in any library where there is demand, though small public libraries may prefer less comprehensive books, such as Lee Raven's Hands on Spinning (1987) or Connie Delaney's Spindle Spinning: From Novice to Expert (Kokovoco, 1998) to offer beginners." - Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc., Library Journal

"A great and entertaining read...Informative and funny...[despite] the very technical nature of the book." — Spindle and Wheel online magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883010888
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010881
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not For Complete Beginners, January 16, 2007

By 

Kati d'Esprit - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning: Being A Compendium of Information, Advice, and Opinions On the Noble Art & Craft (Hardcover)

This book should be read with a critical eye. Some of the information in it is flat-out wrong. One example (not the only one by far, but a potentially disastrous one) is that Mr. Amos recommends winding off a drop spindle by hanging it from the ceiling and then routing the yarn down to a chair and through the top rail of the back, so that the yarn pulls off the end of the spindle. Please do not do this. Every time the yarn comes off the spindle tip, a twist will be added or removed, depending on how you've wound the yarn. This is the same principle that a Great Wheel works on. On some yarns, the extra or reduced twist won't matter. On others, it can either unspin it until it drifts apart, or twist it until it starts kinking. At the very least, winding off the end is inviting tangles and frustration. Drop spindles are best wound off from the side.

Besides incorrect information, there are also a number of omissions in the book. My personal favorite (again, not the only example by far) is when Mr. Amos is discussing umbrella swifts. He states that plans to build one are included later in the book. The book has no plans for any yarn swift, umbrella or otherwise.

The book is poorly laid out. Information on equipment is spread between 3 or 4 places at least. Similar with discussion of twist and related properties. On the other hand, the break between chapter 4 (Determining Character of Yarn) and chapter 5 (Accurate Measurements) seems completely arbitrary. Mr. Amos also has an annoying, and perhaps unethical, habit of plugging his own products -- without noting that they are his. He also often goes out of his way to avoid mentioning a competitor by name (i.e. referring to "a certain nearly ubiquitous New Zealand manufacturer" instead of using the name Ashford), UNLESS he is criticizing said competitor. Then he'll drop the competitor's name with no trouble whatsoever. I was also less than impressed when he spent the better part of two pages complaining about specific previous customers.

This is not to say that the book has no good information. It is worth reading if a spinner has enough experience or has read enough other material to be able to judge the value of each bit of information. It has the best explanation of a long draw I've seen yet, and his idea of storage bobbins is so brilliant and yet so obvious that I'm shocked it isn't standard practice. I don't think the book is worth owning, however, because of the omissions and errors. And, of course, nothing in the book should be taken at face value. See if your library has a copy, and judge for yourself before you buy a copy.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Amos pats himself on the back, February 14, 2008

By 

K. Milani (MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning: Being A Compendium of Information, Advice, and Opinions On the Noble Art & Craft (Hardcover)

I was expecting a useful compendium of information to help me to become a better spinner and to be able to better evaluate the differences and limitations of various spinning wheels, however, Mr Amos seems to be more intent on patting himself on the back for his own achievements (footnotes abound) and gets so technical with the rest of his info such that only production spinners would find it useful. For example, in one paragraph he writes off all castle wheels as useless (his reason is that they are not useful for production). He also disses double treadle styles as being something of a morphodite set-up (as mentioned by another reviewer).

He allows a "generous" two pages each explaining bobbin-lead vs flyer-lead and scotch tension as compared to about thirty pages extolling the virtues of the double drive system (can you guess which one he prefers). He then devotes another two chapters to the mathematics of whorls, ratios, grist and twist in relation to, of course, the double drive system (without a lick of info regarding how to keep consistency using a single drive system).

All in all, though the book is full of worthy information, if and only if you have a double-drive, saxony-style wheel, the presentation was annoying and biased. I really feel that it didn't impart the knowledge that I was expecting at all. I'm glad I checked this book out from the Library, as I will NOT be purchasing it.

51 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bound to be a classic, May 26, 2001

By 

Sarah Bradberry (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning: Being A Compendium of Information, Advice, and Opinions On the Noble Art & Craft (Hardcover)

Whilst the writing style can be slightly overwhelming at times this book is one of those "Must Haves" that everyone will wish they had purchased once it goes out of print.

I'm still only 1/5th of the way through (it has 500 pages!!!), but I've already come across much information that I wish I had known before and have applied it to my spinning technique with great success.

One of the most interesting sections of the book contains schematics for making your own tools (niddy noddy, nostepinne, drop spindle, among others). Now I just have to find myself a woodworker to make them for me!