Despite the fact that I have been actively using yarn for nearly a decade, I still use the cheapest yarn I can find in the local chain craft store. A few years ago I decided I would raise alpacas for fiber and offspring sales. But that is still in the future. So I have taken on the mission to find out everything I can about turning that fiber I will be shearing off my future alpacas (and since then I have added fiber goats and sheep to my dreams).
I went to the library and checked out three books on handspinning and dying fiber. I just finished the first book this morning. It is called by Judith MacKenzie McCuin. Now, I haven't much experience actually using this book so at the moment this in purely a "reader's review".
I found Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning a very excellent and informative book. There were great pictures detailing each section. It not only covered spinning on a wheel or drop spindle, but also covered a little on dying and spinning exotic fibers. There was also a section on how to cable, ply and create different artistic effects while spinning yarn. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning to handspin. I plan to use this book when I actually attempt to teach myself to spin my own yarn.
Now I know what questions to ask the people who are in the handspinning competition at County Fair! Until next time! God Bless!
