Spin It [Paperback]

Lee Raven (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Here are step-by-step instructions and illustrations that explain how to make yarn from scratch using handspindles—simple tools used to turn wool into yarn. Designed to appeal to the beginning spinner, tips and hints are provided that illustrate how easy, enjoyable, and relaxing spinning can be. This manual also includes complete instructions for five simple, appealing projects: a woven sleeve, a knitted bunny bag, a knitted baby hat, knitted fingerless mittens, and a crocheted hat.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Spinning instructions in this book start from putting twist into a strand of fibre using only your hands, then a hooked stick, only moving onto spinning with a homemade spindle after having explained drafting, twist, tension, how lumps in the yarn occur (and how to avoid them). Making a handspindle from CDs is explained, then how to spin and how to ply. Carding and combing wool follow, and scouring fleece rounds up the skills taught before ending with a handful of simple knit, weave and crochet patterns. Excellent tutor book for beginners who haven't spun before and want to make yarn on a spindle.-Yarn Maker

About the Author

Lee Raven is the former editor of Spin-Off magazine and the author of Hands On Spinning. She lives in Berkeley, California. Traci Bunkers teaches knitting, crochet, spinning, and other fiber-related classes and is a contributor to Spin-Off magazine. She owns Bonkers Handmade Originals, where she sells her hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931499365
• ISBN-13: 978-1931499361
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #890,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great introductory booklet for new spindle-only spinners, May 13, 2007

By 

novaluna (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spin It (Paperback)

I picked up "Spin-It" along with several other new spinning books to add to my library (the others being "The Spinners Companion" and "Spin to Knit" -- both excellent books). I was very surprised when I opened the box and found that what I thought was a reasonably sized book was in fact a twenty-five-ish page booklet.

The content is good and mainly covers the mechanics of spinning. It also includes a good how-to on how to make a CD spindle, although you can find similar instructions for free on the Interweave webpage. The booklet additionally covers a brief introduction to scouring and carding. There were three or four knit projects in the back, although how any spinning beginner could tackle a three ply angora still boggles my mind.

The booklet does not cover anything other than basic spindle spinning. If you need a intro to wheel spinning you would be better off with the author's other intro "Hands On Spinning" or or Shannon Okey's "Spin to Knit." I would actually recommend "Spinning in the Old Way" above this title for new spindle spinners as it has much more information to grow with as you become more proficient with spindle spinning.

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfull!, March 11, 2004

By 

"lizettarose" (LaVista, Ne USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spin It (Paperback)

As I ventured into the world of spinning there were a many books but none interested me as much as this one. The beautifull color pictures and easy to fallow instructions are the best. even the projects in the back have meaning to the beginner spinner. The best part is that there is instructions on how to make your own spindle!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning to Spin, August 10, 2006

By 

Michele (Irving, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spin It (Paperback)

Excellent instructions for preparing the roving for spinning. Up until reading this book I was unable to get the roving to separate and allow the fibers to slip past each other. Great job.