Publications / Complete Catalogue / Hand Spinning and Natural Dyeing
With colour photographs throughout, this practical book is a comprehensive, step-by-step, guide detailing everything you need to know to start spinning as well as dyeing so that you can go on to reproduce your own wool for knitting or weaving. The author starts, as all spinners will do, with the wool. What are you looking for when you choose the fleece? How do you clean and prepare it ready for spinning? How do you use a spindle, how do you make ply yarn, fancy yarns, skeins and what is a niddy noddy anyway? Spinning techniques and tricks of the trade are explained as well as advice on getting hand spun yarn ready for hand knitting and a few patterns are shared along the way. The author has also included sections on the spinning wheels themselves. She give good advice on what to look for when buying a wheel, the operation, how to thread, learning to treadle as well as maintenance of the wheel. Claire uses natural plants to dye her wool and she dedicates a section of the book to recipes that will help to achieve wonderful colours not available through commercially purchased wools. Paperback 128 pages.
