Shannon Okey, "Spin to Knit: The Knitter's Guide to Making Yarn"

Knitters who want new worlds to conquer can reach for this guide to handspinning their own designer yarns. A rundown on equipment introduces the drop spindle, supported spindle, niddy-noddy, McMorran balance, and yarn meter, while the following sections include choosing wool and other fibers, presenting knitting patterns suitable for handspun yarn, and in-depth profiles of real urban spinners.

For crafters who want to experiment with spinning but don't want to sacrifice too much of their knitting time, there are lots of ideas for jazzing up a thrift-store cardigan with handspun trim or knitting a boatneck pullover in a combination of commercial and handspun yarns. Methods for incorporating beads and threads into yarn and a technique for dyeing yarn in the dishwasher are also featured.

From the Back Cover
Take your knitting to a new level with handmade yarn!

With Spin to Knit, you'll learn all the details about fibers, tools, and materials for spinning, and find a substantial selection of simple patterns to knit with that fabulous yarn you've created all on your own.

Don't want to spin a lot of yarn? No problem, you'll find lots of ideas for combining your precious handspun with commercial, mill-spun yarns or for accenting sweaters you already own.

Discover why "lumpy bumpy" yarn is your friend; ways to unlump your yarn; how to control singles, twist, and ply; and ways to incorporate color, beads, and novelties in your spinning.

It's easy—everything you need to create fun, one-of-a-kind designer yarn is right at your fingertips.

Contents

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Introduction  Equipment Overview  Swift and Ball Winder  WPI Gauge  Niddy-noddy  Yarn Meter  McMorran Balance  A Case for Nøstepinne 1 Fiber 101 for Knitters  Spinning Fiber Types  Fiber Breed Characteristics  Fiber Formats  Sheep to Shawl: Or "What Do I Do with This Bag of Fleece?"  Carding   Using Handcards   Using a Drum Carder 2 Spindles  Drop Spindles  Supported Spindles  Make Your Own CD Spindle  How to Choose a Spindle  Make Your Own Spindle Lazy Kate 3 Wheels  Flyers  Wheel Types 4 Getting Started  Before You Spin  The Basic Mechanics of Spindles and Wheels   Start Spindling!   Wheel Spinning  Common Problems  Tips and Tricks  Twisty Dilemmas  Ply Me a River   Center-pull Ball   Andean Plying   Navajo Plying   Make Your Own Wrist Distaff  Finishing Yarn—or "My Niddy-noddy is Full, Now What?"  "M-O-T-H" and Other Four-letter Words 5 Handspun from a Knitter's Perspective  Energized Singles  Taking Your Lumps  Playing with Plying 6 Color and Other Embellishments  Color   Dishwasher Dyeing  Beads  Other Objects 7 What to Do with All That Yarn  Introduction   Yarn Weight   Stitch Patterns  Garter Scarf 1  Garter Scarf 2  Faux Fair Isle Raglans  Profile: Symeon North  Pippi Socks  Profile: Angela Ho  Pythagoras Headband  Laurabelle Swedish Heart Shrug  A Yarn Tale: Spinning Notes from Kristen Welsh  Profile: Holly Klump  Betsey Bag  May Day Hat  Profile: Birkeland Brothers Wool  Broken Cable Keyhole Scarf  Power Station Hat  Profile: Laura Jefferson and Sarah Dunham  Felted Mammoth Tea Cozy  Beauty School Dropout Pullover  Profile: Catherine Goodwin  Profile: Hatchtown Spindles  Mojave Socks  Profile: Elaine Evans  Orangina Scarf  Copper Moose Shawl  Profile: Crystal Canning  Grow Hat  Profile: Lexi Boeger  Star Wristlets  Profile: Jonathan and Sheila Bosworth  Firecracker Hat  Chillicothe  Profile: Lynne Vogel  Mind's Eye Hat  Profile: Sandy Sitzman Glossary Resources Index

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Tags: Crafts, Knitting

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