The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn

By Judith MacKenzie McCuin

Book Overview

Offering a blend of technical knowledge, history, and easy-to-use tips, this inspiring collection of spinning wisdom deftly explores the three fundamental areas of yarn production: understanding... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596680806
• ISBN13: 9781596680807
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Interweave Press
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

One of my favorite spinning books

I've been spinning for over 30 years and seldom purchase "how to spin" books anymore. But this one has found an honored place in my bookcase. And I've been recommending it to all my spinning friends, many of whom have taken classes from the author. I don't recommend it to absolute beginners, but to anyone who has been spinning for while and wants to get beyond being a purely intuitive spinner (which is where I am coming from).

Almost like being in class with Judith

This book has great information for the spinner that wants to learn all about fibers, their history and how to prepare, spin and finish them. Everything is covered to enable you to spin the yarn you want and to help you understand what yarn will be best for your intended project. The basics are well presented and also beyond basic, covering designer yarns like boucle, slub, wrapped and inserting exotic bits for fun. I am an average spinner and this book will be a well used, "go to first" book in my spinning library.

a class with Judith in your home

This book will save you airfare and hotel costs. It discusses everything she teaches in her classes. You have to read it slowly and carefully because it is so packed with information. I don't recommend reading it from cover to cover...pick out the sections that are relevant to the spinning question you are asking, and read it at the wheel. Know also that there are other ways to do the things that Judith doesn't teach that are good alternatives. Most of us do a short woolen draw that isn't forward. She doesn't endorse that. But it works. She is one of the most knowledgeable spinners of our time. Her book is a necessary addition to the spinner's library.

A must have for spinners

This book does a great job of taking the next step from the many beginning spinner books out there. She clearly addresses the technical/mechanical aspects of spinning and helped me understand how to step back from the "intuitive" yarn I've been making (which is pretty good yarn) and pay attention to the details so I can repeat my successes. A lot of the information she provided on fibers is excellent and the details there answered several questions I had. She has raised a storm in the spinning community with the sideways drum carding idea... but that is NOT addressed in this book.

A spinner's spinning book

This is the second book by Judith MacKenzie McCuin. The first being, "Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning". The first book was a good overall introduction with many techniques that are touched on but was not intended to be an in depth study of spinning and fit the format of the Teach Yourself Series. With this new book the author's own voice is on every page and her hands are in the photos. This is a month long workshop in book form and not to be missed for new and advanced spinners alike. Sometimes one idea or photo is worth the price of admission and with this book there is something on every page that makes the book a worthwhile purchase. As from the title, Intentional Spinner, the information in this book seems designed to allow you to start from the raw fiber and to produce the yarn that you need for the project you desire to make. I have quite a few spinning books on my shelves that are good books but too dense to get a good reading. This format is open and easily accessible for quick reference and later study. Many tools for spinning are shown and discussed. Fiber types and history are covered and the types of spinning used on each fiber is included. There is a wonderful chart on woolen vs worsted spinning that clarifies the characteristics of each type. I would like it engraved on my wheel! This may not be the last word on spinning but it is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the use of fibers and using fiber for many purposes, from spinning to knitting to weaving. Anyone who is interested in how fiber is processed to become so integral in our daily lives will enjoy this book.