Customer Reviews

The Encyclopedia of Handspinning

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a beginning spinner, I really devoured the info in this book. It covers everything I wantd to know and more. I borrowed it from a friend and am having a hard time returning it because two years later I'm still using it as a reference!

I really wanted a book I could go to as a source of instruction in how to improve both my knowledge of and my spinning itself. This is exactly what it says in the title... an encyclopedia... each entry is only sentences long and from sheep to tools does not give the wealth of information I thought it might from the other reviews. Each entry leaves unanswered most of the questions I wanted answered. It is also a bit outdated as several of the fibers I am spinning are not even in it, ect. Over-all an interesting overview. I would not buy it at anything higher than the original cover price as you can get this information elsewhere, but if you just want a touch on most spinning fiber things this may be exactly what you are looking for, just remember it is an encyclopedia only.

This has been on my "must have list" for a while, as much for the clear illustrations, as for the wealth of information inside it. From ancient to modern, its in there if it has anything to do with hand-spinning, as the book covers techniques, technology, tools and materials.
Set out in alphabetical order, its easy to find your way around, as the cross referencing is excellent. The text is well written and easy to follow, and is accompanied by photos, diagrams and line drawings that let you know what it is, what it looks like, how it works or how you use it, and, in the case of some of the more arcane spinning terms, what it means today.
A technical reference book that the rest of us can understand and appreciate, it has a permanent place in my spinning library and deserves its 5 star rating.

If you're looking for an excellent reference to go along with your other Mabel Ross writings, the 'Encyclopedia for Hand Spinning' is a must. Consider buying her DVD 'Advanced Spinning Techniques' as well. I taught myself to spin using her references and hope she lives to be 200 years old, so she'll write even more.

I don't know about you, but most of the time when I pick up something that claims to be an "encyclopedia," it is far from encyclopedic. With this book, that is not the case.

Mabel Ross' years of experience and her intelligent editorial eye have yielded a helpful, useful, and comprehensive book with many b&w and (some) color illustrations. The close-up technical photos are particularly strong. This is a book from the 1980's so it isn't quite state-of-the-art. However, there's quite a bit of breadth here packed into a 224 page book. I cannot imagine a similar book accomplishing everything that this book accomplishes.