Everything you need to know from set-up to finished product in order to create distinctive yarns for use in knitting, weaving, crocheting, needlepoint, embroidery, and macrame. Author's preface. 33 illustrations, 10 black-and-white photographs. Bibliography.

Understanding how spinning works, choosing a wheel, building a simple spindle, spinning on a treadle wheel, preparing fibers, carding, twisting, and plying.

Provides easy to follow step-by-step tutorials for preparing, dyeing, and spinning different fibers.

Expert Beth Smith teaches you everything you need to know to spin your own yarn, from choosing a spinning wheel to every stage of preparing your fiber, plying, winding off, and finishing. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions make it simple and easy!

Over 350 color photos illustrate the American spinning wheel from 1775-1900, with substantial sections on fancy European wheels and accessories. Sections on Shaker wheels, patent wheels, famous makers, chair wheels, Irish castle wheels, double flyer wheels, and an appendix of 1000 makers and their marks. The pictured items are from important private collections that have never been seen before.

For knitters, crocheters, and weavers ready to make their own yarn, this handy guide provides detailed instructions for spinning both on a spindle and a wheel, and offers a special section devoted to troubleshooting and wheel maintenance that keeps projects on track. It offers a comprehensive look at the various available fiber options, choosing and preparing each type of fiber for use, and crafting these materials into ready-to-work pieces. A final chapter on the various uses of spun yarn focuses on project planning, with definitions and context for measuring wraps per inch, determining yards for specific projects, and choosing a yarn size.