The Spinner's Book of Fleece

July 7, 2014
It takes a particular kind of obsessive to spin her own yarn. And it takes an even more particular kind of obsessive to write a book about choosing yarn to spin. Luckily, Smith is that kind of obsessive. This is the perfect guide for serious spinners to use before they ever ogle a particular breed of sheep and its wool. The author walks readers through each category of fleece, from fine wools to long wools to multicoated breeds and beyond, including freshly sheared “wool in the grease.” Smith instructs readers on how to judge a skirted fleece, how to clean said fleece, and how to solve fleece problems before proceeding to the appropriate uses for each kind of yarn. In-depth information on sheep breeds, , accompanied by dignified close-ups, is provided. Smith assumes its audience has a background in spinning and knitting/crochet, but she includes information on essential tools every spinner will need. Novices and experts alike will respond warmly to her take on selecting yarn for knitting or crochet projects.

August 1, 2014

Smith, a longtime spinning enthusiast and teacher, brings her love of handspinning to a wider audience in her first book. She presents a comprehensive guide to selecting, preparing, and spinning a variety of different types of wool yarns. Smith advocates for purchasing whole fleeces rather than commercially prepared fibers because they give spinners additional control over the finished product, as well as a more direct connection to the animal itself. As such, the author provides ample information about cleaning and preparing fleeces of a variety of types, and gives advice on what to watch for when purchasing a fleece direct from the producer. The wools are divided into four basic types--fine wools, long wools, downs, and multicoated breeds--with a fifth type ("other breeds") for those sheep that are unusual and have characteristics from multiple groups. The chapter for each wool type includes specific tips for fiber preparation, profiles of the sheep breeds whose fleeces fit into the wool type, and spun and knit samples (often in a variety of plies and thicknesses) of finished yarns. VERDICT The information included is extensive, and readers interested in preparing their own wool for spinning will find this manual especially useful. Novice spinners looking for more of a how-to guide may prefer Judith MacKenzie McCuin's The Intentional Spinner or W.J. Johnson's Yarn Works, both of which focus more on the act of spinning yarn than on sheep breeds and fleece preparation.

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