Hand Spun: New Spins on Traditional Techniques [Paperback]

Lexi Boeger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2012

In her newest book, Hand Spun, art-yarn pioneer and Pluckyfluff creator Lexi Boeger offers yet another exciting collection of new and innovative spinning techniques. This well-rounded book also covers a handful of traditional styles for the spinner to master and then turn on their ear. The many uses of these beautiful one-of-a-kind yarns are demonstrated in Boeger's trademark, surprising, and inventive projects.

• Learn the basics of fiber prep, from washing raw fleece to carding techniques.
• Find out how to adapt basic spinning styles to create cutting-edge forms.
• Be inspired by a stunning gallery of hand-spun yarns that combine various techniques shown in the book.
• Get complete instructions for 20 fashion-forward, yet accessible, projects including chunky scarves, fabulous hats, a belt, a rug, boas, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pluckyfluff creator Lexi Boeger has forged a new genre in the craft of handspinning. With the publication of Handspun Revolution (self-published) in 2003, and Intertwined (Quarry, 2007)) a small cult interest has literally become the revolution it was rumored to be. Lexi Boeger has been a working artist, writer, and designer for twenty years and brings the perspectives and knowledge gained in these fields to the craft of spinning. She has brought creative spinning to the attention of the international art world through art yarn exhibitions and workshops, and has helped to permanently blur the line between art and craft. Boeger currently produces new works from her studio in California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Crazy Carding

Crazy carding is the perfect way for spinners, including novice spinners, to make highly unusual and creative yarns easily. The concept is to put as many different colors, textures, and materials as possible into one batt, then spin it into a simple thick-and-thin single. Very little skill is needed on the spinning end, and creating the batt is a fun and liberating exercise.

Crazy carding integrates absolutely any fiber or material that will fit through the carder’s drums, including silk waste, felted wool, tinsel, sequins, fabric bits, plant fibers, yarn, sparkle, silk noil, cotton, or anything else you could imagine. Be prepared to push your carder’s capabilities to the limit. It is normal for the machine to card very clumpy at first, and it will be hard to crank.

Make a sandwich!

The basic process for crazy carding is to combine several different ingredients at a time and send them through the carder in a thick clump. This will cause the materials to be minimally blended together and will preserve many heavy textures.

Short-fiber materials tend to get caught up in the teeth of the small drum and usually do not make it into the batt. To avoid this, sandwich all the short fibers, or other unusual materials, between layers of longer-stapled fibers such as mohair or processed roving. Visualize making a sandwich: spread a flat layer of mohair or roving out first as the bread, add uncarded locks (lettuce), semifelted wool (tomatoes), sparkle and silk noil (salt and pepper), top with another layer of mohair/roving (bread), and send it through the carder!

Repeat this process adding different fixings in each sandwich. Sandwiches should be about 3" to 4" [7.5 to 10 cm] thick. Card until the large drum is full.

Spin!

Remove the crazy-carded batt from the carder. Starting from the outside edge, pull off spinnable strips and spin a simple thick-and-thin single; do not overdraft. Allow the lumps, bumps, tangles, and textures to remain.

Tip: Card the batt only once. Overcarded batts tend to lose their interesting textures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (February 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592537626
• ISBN-13: 978-1592537624
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Spinning
  • #63 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Weaving

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New Spins and ReSpins February 6, 2012

By YfkeLeeuwarden

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are looking for some new spinning techniques this book has some new ideas. It builds on the techniques found in the previous book by Boeger called, "Intertwined" by adding some twists on the techniques in that book. Handwoven is full of "how to" details with great photography and illustrations.

I admit I was a bit disappointed seeing several sections from the Intertwined book were printed in "Handwoven" with the same exact photos. Upon closer inspection, I saw the reprinted sections do offer more tips on spinning that yarn and expanded techniques were added (great indepth details for "how to")...but they could have at least changed the photos! I am sure Lexi Boeger has mounds of beautiful yarns laying around to show off!

Handspun is full of beautiful photos and lots of tips and techniques. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to spin art yarns! It is an EXCELLENT addition to my library.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Guide for all those cool art yarns February 3, 2012

By Carrie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great how-to for making awesome art yarns. From basic corespinning to advanced cabling and combining techniques, this is a great guide for creating your own works of art. It's easy to understand with great photos. I like how it included finished products, both for art yarns and for other fibers.

If you've ever looked at a crazy beehive yarn and wondered how the heck it was made, this is the book for you!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars inventive March 16, 2012

By K. Platt

Format:Paperback

Following on from Intertwined, this book has beautiful examples of techniques for spinning yarns. There have been at least two other spinning books recently, however I feel this one has the edge because it contains good projects. Includes fibre preparation - even crazy carding, fabulous yarns that any yarnie would die for, features spinners and projects. Twists, tails, core spinning and more. Great photos, great content that should be in every spinner's hands. This review first appeared on yarnsandfabrics website.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice library addition for art/textured yarn spinners March 7, 2013

By Chandra Rogers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think this is a good book for people interested in art and textured yarn creation. There are books out there that are more instructional, but the photographs are fantastic and the interviews with other spinners is helpful. Sometimes it's not so much technique from other spinners that helps you learn more, it can be attitude and approach. For me, the attitude and approach were the selling points.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful photos, great ideas May 6, 2013

By Jean

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Being new to spinning, these photos got me really thinking about the opportunities available. This is a very nice and well photographed book. A treasure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring April 19, 2013

By Jen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Lexi does a great job once again putting together a book with beautiful photos, great interviews and awesome projects using artistic hand spun yarns. Very inspiring!

5.0 out of 5 stars lexi spinning book January 22, 2013

By JQ

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

lexi is wonderful. i have taken her workshops and learned so much. the book is great to refer back to, often....

5.0 out of 5 stars hand spun January 8, 2013

By navbp

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

this book is fabulous. it is a treat just reading it. there are so many types of yarn, i won't know which one to make first.