We all need inspiration, whether it comes from a walk in the forest, a trip to a gallery, a seminar or workshop or putting your feet up with a cup of coffee and a great book.
I have selected for you here what I believe are either inspirational or truly practical books, that will deepen your knowledge of spinning and the fiber arts.
Judith MacKenzie McCuin – Intentional Spinner
Judith is one of my favourites, simple, stylish and unpretentious.
What I learned from Judith –
I love to watch her effortless style at the wheel and her fluid and harmonious movements as she manipulates the fibre are a pleasure to watch on the accompanying DVD. If I could only have one spinning book, this would be it.
Lexi Boeger – Intertwined
This is a coffee time book. You pick it up and flip it open to any page to find something completely original. Great photography and chock full of inspiration.
What did I learn from Intertwined?
It changed the way I perceive things around me. Even the most mundane or seemingly useless items can be embraced in the spinners art.
Alden Amos – Big Book of Handspinning
Alden is to fiber and fiber art what, Carla Emery is to homesteading. (Carla has compiled the hugely successful Encyclopedia of Country Living for many years).
Alden considers every little fibre preparation gizmo and yarn care knick knack, every spinning device and type of spinnable fibre and entertains the reader with their history and uses.
What did I learn from Alden?
A huge heap of information! That’s what I got from this book. Alden doesn’t just document boring facts though, she entertains the reader with her easy brand of humour, throughout even the dreariest topics.
A good read and a great reference book.
Ann Budd – Sock Knitting Master Class
(Caution – Knitting socks can become addictive!)
Ann Budd cleverly guides her readers through the basics of constructing a shaped sock all the way to colourful designer garments.
If we have enough Sock-fans out there we’ll have to hold a Bootcamp workshop just on footwear. What say you?
Deborah Robson – Handspinning Rare Wools:
How to Spin Them, Why We Should Care
I might have learned through experience the differences between spinning one sheep and another and even thought I was knowledgeable about the different varieties of sheep, but this book knocked me down a peg or two and opened my eyes to the numerous rare breeds of sheep and the equally numerous qualities of fibre. I’m hooked.
There’s no doubt in my mind that our new Fibre Arts in BC Centre will be looking at maintaining herds of different heritage breeds of fibre producing animals.
The Fleece & Fibre Sourcebook
More than 200 Fibres, from Animal to Spun Yarn
Whilst raising funds at a large exhibition recently, we were approached again and again by people with stashes of dogs hair, cats hair, weird and wonderful sheep breeds and even buffalo hair and they all wanted to know if it could be spun into yarn. The answer is, of course, yes! You can spin virtually anything of a fibrous nature into yarn. The real question is though, will the yarn be any good? Is it worth the time and energy in preparing and spinning the fibre?
Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius are probably the most knowledgeable people on Earth, when it comes to the subject of spinning different fibres. With several book titles securely under their belts, this particular book is, in my view, the definitive guide to spinning unusual fibres. Just about every breed of sheep in existence has found its way into the book, along with llamas, alpacas, camels, dogs and yes, even the buffalo. Whatever you have stashed away in a cupboard and want to know how to spin it, it’s covered in this book.
I certainly don’t have the experience of handling so many different fibre types, but whenever I encounter a new one, this is where I go for guidance.
Calling All Fiber Artists - all proceeds from the FAB Fiber Arts Store go directly to help the Llama Sanctuary