How to Spin

by Smith, Beth

• ISBN13: 9781612126128
• ISBN10: 161212612X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-03-08
• Publisher: Storey Books

Summary

Expert Beth Smith teaches you everything you need to know to spin your own yarn, from choosing a spinning wheel to every stage of preparing your fiber, plying, winding off, and finishing. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions make it simple and easy!  

Author Biography

Beth Smith, author of How to Spin and The Spinner’s Book of Fleece, is renowned for her love of the variety and versatility of sheep breeds, and she teaches the whys and how-tos of preparing and spinning wool from different breeds. For seven years she owned The Spinning Loft, a shop celebrated for its selection of hard-to-find quality fleeces. She teaches internationally and writes for PLY, Spin Off, and Knittyspin magazines. She also sits on the editorial board of PLY magazine. She lives in Howell, Michigan.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction
                Take the Spinning Plunge
 
Chapter One: Spinning in a Nutshell
                Typing on a Leader - Treadling - Drafting
 
Chapter Two: Wheels and How They Work
                Spinning Wheel Parts - Types of Wheels - Drive Systems - Tension and Tension Adjustments - Spinning Wheel Maintenance
 
Chapter Three: Fiber Preparations
                Carded Preparations - Combed Preparations - Short Fiber Preparations
 
Chapter Four: Drafting Methods
                Woolen Versus Worsted - Short Forward Draw - Short Backward Draw - Supported Long Draw - Long Draw - Spinning from the Fold
 
Chapter Five: Perfecting Your Skills
                Joining New Fiber - A Matter of Twist - Tricks for Improving Consistency
 
Chapter Six: Plying
                Lazy Kates - Choosing the Right Whorl for Plying - Choosing the Number of Plies - Rewinding Bobbins - Holding Singles for Plying - Plying from a Single Bobbin - Plying from Both Ends of the Same Strand - A Matter of Balance - Winding Off - Measuring the Length of a Skein
 
Chapter Seven: The End Is in Sight
                Finishing Techniques - Drying Your Finished Yarn - The Importance of Samples
 
Glossary of Spinning Terms
Index