The Practical Spinner's Guide - Cotton, Flax, Hemp

The Practical Spinner's Guide - Cotton, Flax, Hemp PDF

Author: Stephenie Gaustad

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2014-02-27

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1620335158

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A one-stop guide to preparing and spinning cotton, flax, and hemp! Over the last few years, focusing on specific types of fiber or spinning techniques has become more and more popular. In The Practical Spinner's Guide: Cotton, Flax, Hemp, author Stephenie Gaustad offers a detailed overview of each plant, the fiber it produces, and how to properly prepare, spin, and finish yarns made from each fiber. Cotton, flax, and hemp behave very differently from wool, and special handling is required. Stephenie discusses how each fiber behaves and how best to work with them, specifically touching on trouble spots such as drafting and adding twist. She also covers finishing yarnsâ€"cleaning, setting twist, and plying--as well as what dye processes are best for adding color. Finally, she includes a discussion of spinning for both knitting and weaving, covering fabric properties of each fiber, and what spinners need to take into account when using the yarn in a subsequent project.

The Practical Spinner's Guide - Rare Luxury Fibers

The Practical Spinner's Guide - Rare Luxury Fibers PDF

Author: Judith Mackenzie

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2015-06-23

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 1620337746

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It's time to look beyond wool, with The Practical Spinner's Guide: Rare Luxury Fibers! The go-to expert for fiber artists, Judith MacKenzie shares insights into working with uncommon (but readily available) luxury downs in this comprehensive, yet practical, guide for today's spinners. With her natural voice for story telling that is both engaging and informative, she discusses the history of each of these downs, how they are used today, characteristics unique to each, and where to find them. She also dives deep into the specific spinning techniques for each fiber, knitting and weaving rare fibers, and dying them once spun. From angora to bison, camel to cashmere, there's a whole world of rare luxury fibers just waiting to be spun!

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Handspinning

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Handspinning PDF

Author: Judith MacKenzie McCuin

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-06-28

Total Pages: 603

ISBN-13: 1118153103

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With its soothing, meditative effect, handspinning is a relaxing hobby, and the beautiful yarns you create are an even better reward. This visual guide shows you the basics, beginning with the tools and fibers, and takes you through spinning, plying, making novelty yarns, using exotic fibers, dyeing, and more. Whether you use an inexpensive hand spindle or splurge on a spinning wheel, stick with wool or try alpaca, cashmere, or cotton, you'll learn how to create fun, original, one-of-a-kind yarns that you can knit or weave into truly unique, handmade, and all-natural creations. Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review The skill demonstrated is defined and described Detailed color photos demonstrate each step Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo Helpful tips provide additional guidance

The Practical Spinner's Guide - Silk

The Practical Spinner's Guide - Silk PDF

Author: Sara Lamb

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2014-05-31

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 1620335204

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Explore silk--an alluring and exotic fiber for spinners! The Practical Spinner's Guide: Silk teaches spinners how to create smooth lustrous yarns from a gorgeous but tricky and sometimes intimidating fiber in this second installment in a series of fiber specific books. Author Sara Lamb discusses the various forms in which silk is available--combed top, bricks, noils, hankies, and bells--and how best to card, prep, and spin them, specifically touching on trouble spots such as drafting and adding twist. She also covers finishing yarns--cleaning and degumming, setting twist, and plying--and even touches on what dye processes are best for adding color, as well as how to blend silk into other spinning fibers. Sara includes brief discussions on spinning for both knitting and weaving, the properties of woven and knitted fabric, and what the spinner needs to take into account while creating yarn for a subsequent project.