Offering a blend of technical knowledge, history, and easy-to-use tips, this inspiring collection of spinning wisdom deftly explores the three fundamental areas of yarn production: understanding fibers, managing yarn structure, and making yarns that precisely meet the spinner's needs. The rich, historic traditions of plant and animal fibers are fascinatingly juxtaposed with recent advances in synthesized fiber and mankind’s use of fibers in the past, present, and future, while detailed, image-laden instructions for four intermediate projects demonstrate the range of possibilities, from sturdy, plied yarns to playful, novelty yarns. Spinners are also offered guidance on planning a project from start to finish, as well as how to care for and store completed projects.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"In this complete overview of the art and science of creating hand-spun yarn, McCuin covers characteristics of different types of fiber, techniques for spinning yarns, and caring for hand-spun yarn and includes a few basic projects." —Library Journal
"Not just a collection of information, but to a large extent a collection of wisdom." —Cast-On.com
"5 out of 5 stars. Fascinating reading. This is an excellent, detailed book with lots of technical information." —Knitting News
"If the words 'warp' and 'weft' spark off a dream of sitting by a spinning wheel on a wintry afternoon, this book can make your dreams come true" —AllAboutYou.com
"Of course it's good! What did you expect? Judith MacKenzie-McCuin + Interweave = spinny goodness." —Knitty.com
About the Author
Judith MacKenzie McCuin is a textile artist with more than 20 years of experience. She is the author of Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning and has contributed to a variety of industry publications, including Handwoven, Interweave Knits, PieceWork, and Spin-Off. She lives in Augusta, Montana.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A spinner's spinning book,
By Constance (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Intentional Spinner (Paperback)
This is the second book by Judith MacKenzie McCuin. The first being, "Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning". The first book was a good overall introduction with many techniques that are touched on but was not intended to be an in depth study of spinning and fit the format of the Teach Yourself Series.
With this new book the author's own voice is on every page and her hands are in the photos. This is a month long workshop in book form and not to be missed for new and advanced spinners alike. Sometimes one idea or photo is worth the price of admission and with this book there is something on every page that makes the book a worthwhile purchase. As from the title, Intentional Spinner, the information in this book seems designed to allow you to start from the raw fiber and to produce the yarn that you need for the project you desire to make. I have quite a few spinning books on my shelves that are good books but too dense to get a good reading. This format is open and easily accessible for quick reference and later study. Many tools for spinning are shown and discussed. Fiber types and history are covered and the types of spinning used on each fiber is included. There is a wonderful chart on woolen vs worsted spinning that clarifies the characteristics of each type. I would like it engraved on my wheel! This may not be the last word on spinning but it is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the use of fibers and using fiber for many purposes, from spinning to knitting to weaving. Anyone who is interested in how fiber is processed to become so integral in our daily lives will enjoy this book.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for spinners,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Intentional Spinner (Paperback)
This book does a great job of taking the next step from the many beginning spinner books out there. She clearly addresses the technical/mechanical aspects of spinning and helped me understand how to step back from the "intuitive" yarn I've been making (which is pretty good yarn) and pay attention to the details so I can repeat my successes. A lot of the information she provided on fibers is excellent and the details there answered several questions I had. She has raised a storm in the spinning community with the sideways drum carding idea... but that is NOT addressed in this book.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a class with Judith in your home,
By Gypsy Queen "Geepsie" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Intentional Spinner (Paperback)
This book will save you airfare and hotel costs. It discusses everything she teaches in her classes. You have to read it slowly and carefully because it is so packed with information. I don't recommend reading it from cover to cover...pick out the sections that are relevant to the spinning question you are asking, and read it at the wheel.
Know also that there are other ways to do the things that Judith doesn't teach that are good alternatives. Most of us do a short woolen draw that isn't forward. She doesn't endorse that. But it works. She is one of the most knowledgeable spinners of our time. Her book is a necessary addition to the spinner's library.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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plying twist, true woolen, consistent yarn, micron count, balanced yarn, true worsted, cabled yarn, crimp structure, attenuated fibers, ply twist, drafting zone, woolen spinning, drafting hand, angora fiber, slub yarn, sock yarn, stitch definition, plied yarn, spun worsted, twist energy, bombyx silk, commercial yarn, worsted spinning, novelty yarns, bast fibers Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, North America, Helpful Hints, Repeat Rnds, South America, Textile World Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
plying twist, true woolen, consistent yarn, micron count, balanced yarn, true worsted, cabled yarn, crimp structure, attenuated fibers, ply twist, drafting zone, woolen spinning, drafting hand, angora fiber, slub yarn, sock yarn, stitch definition, plied yarn, spun worsted, twist energy, bombyx silk, commercial yarn, worsted spinning, novelty yarns, bast fibers Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, North America, Helpful Hints, Repeat Rnds, South America, Textile World Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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