Book Spotlight: Learn to Spin by Anne Field

We're often asked to recommend a book about specific crafts featured on the George Weil website.

Anne Field's 'Learn to Spin' ticks all the boxes when it comes to learning everything you need to know about spinning a fibre to create a yarn.

With easy-to-follow, step-by-step directions, Anne guides the novice spinner through all they need to know to get started. She explains the spinning process and techniques, including preparation of fleeces, worsted and woollen spinning methods, plying, adjusting tension, treadling, skeining, drafting and blending as well as helpful advice about spinning wheels and how they work. Each section is helpfully illustrated with colour photographs and diagrams making the process of learning so much easier.

Here are some sample pages of the book



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 Ann demonstrates the types of spindle that are available and shows how to ply the spun yarn by rotating the spindle anti-clockwise.



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 There are a number of ways to draft the fibres onto the spinning wheel, here Anne shows the method for medium draft.



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 Anne shows how to prepare the fibre for spinning using a drum carder and hand carders.



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Skeining, plying and the 'Z' and 'S' twist are explained in these pages.

The full range of fibres including wool, alpaca, silk, mohair, cotton, angora, synthetic and blended fibres are featured plus details of the characteristics of each fibre and which spinning method is best used.  After each fibre is examined, Anne offers a knitting project ideal for each yarn spun. 

There are many books on the George Weil website, and further books about Spinning and fibres can be found here.