Start Spinning: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great Yarn

On first opening this book I was intrigued and excited. It has a lovely size and layout which encourages you to delve in without being overwhelmed by information. The clear type and pictures encourage you to keep browsing. This is a book you can read cover to cover or just dip in. There are a lot of clear photos to show you the details of a process or the difference between major types of spinning wheels albeit some of the process photographs are not as comprehensive as I would like. The pictures of the carding process left me bemused and I know how to do it – or so I thought! I particularly liked the large print statement on the side column of many pages which re-emphasise the key points from the text to give you a sense of overview. Maggie takes you through the steps of spinning in her particluar style which I did not find the most logical path. I did miss the extension of the process beyond wool fibres but maybe that is a step too far for many beginners. The book includes lots of troubleshooting points to help you when things look quite different from how you imagined and there is a lovely philosophy which runs throughout the book which encourages you to enjoy the process, relax, practise and take your time. As an Interweave book it has the usual US bias for details of yarn and needles, but overall I found this book to be a fun read and one that would encourage many a beginner to develop their skills. –Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Winter 08