From: About.com Knitting
Many knitters get really inspired by the fibers they get to play
with as knitters, and that obsession leads pretty naturally into a
desire to spin your own yarn. While spinning is a little bit beyond
the scope of this website, so many knitters do it -- or have an
interest in learning more about it -- that it makes sense to me to
take a closer look.
Start Spinning by Maggie Casey. Interweave Press. Spinning is
probably easiest to learn from another person or a video, but just
like knitting it can be learned from a book as well. And there are
a lot of great resources out there for new spinners and those with
more experience, several of which we'll...
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More Spinning Help
As I mentioned at the top of this week, I don't really have the
skills or the right website setup to devote a lot of resources to
sharing information about spinning yarn, but because there are so
many knitters who are interested in learning more about spinning I
thought I'd put together a little resource roundup of websites and
publications you might want to check out if you're already a
spinner or if you'd like to learn more. The world of spinning can
be a bit confusing for knitters, and a big reason for that is words
like worsted and woolen that mean one thing for knitters mean
something completely different for spinners. So I whipped up a
brief spinning glossary to provide a little more insight into the
vagaries of definitions that should make it a little easier to
understand what spin...
Spindle Spinning
Most spinners start off spinning with spindles, but many people see
them as a way to test the waters, a method of ensuring that you
like spinning before you make the investment of buying a wheel.
Respect the Spindle by Abby Franquemont. Interweave Press. But Abby
Franquemont says spinning with a spindle can get you any kind of
yarn you want; a spinning wheel never needs to be in your house if
you don't want it. She makes this argument -- and proves the point
nicely -- in her book Respect the Spindle. The book explores the
many different types of spindles used around the world, the basics
of making yarn on them and th...
Spinning What You Want
I don't own a spinning wheel, but I know from my limited experience
with spindle spinning that I have a "just dive in there and see
what happens" kind of technique. I don't know much about which
sorts of fibers do best with different techniques, or even if there
are different techniques for spinning with a spindle.
The Intentional Spinner by Judith MacKenzie McCuin. Interweave
Press. When it comes to spinning on a wheel, things get much more
complicated much more quickly. How the fiber was prepared and what
sort of fiber you're working with can greatly influence the
technique you use to spin the fiber before you ev...
Do You Spin Yarn (and How)?
Because we're talking about spinning this week, I'd love to know
how many of you out there have spun yarn, are spinners for part of
your livelihood or are interested in spinning but haven't taken the
plunge yet. That's a lot to cover in one poll, so it accepts
multiple answers as to whether and how you have spun yarn in the
past, what your preference is when it comes to how you spin and, if
you're not already a spinner, whether you have any interest in the
craft. As for me, I have spun a little bit using a drop spindle and
I have really enjoyed it, though I haven't gotten enough practice
in to get any good at it. My yarn is very thick and thin (which the
person who taught me spinning wisely said to enjoy because it's
really difficult to make that sort of yarn when you're tryi...
What to Knit with Your Homespun
Spinning your own yarn is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be
difficult to decide exactly what to do with it once you've made it.
Most knitting patterns are written with a particular yarn in mind;
they don't take into account the vagaries and inconsistencies
inherent in making your own yarn.
All New Homespun Handknit by Amy Clarke Moore. Interweave Press.
But if you'd like to knit up a pattern made especially for
handspun, check out Amy Clarke Moore's All New Homespun Handknit.
This book features 25 patterns made with handspun yarn, and each
gives a ton of information aobut how the yarn was made so you're
sure to be...
