Spin It, Making Yarn from Scratch by Lee Raven                                                  ISBN 1-931499-36-5, Softbound, 33pgs, $9.95(US), Interweave Press, Interweave Press, 201 East Fourth Street, Loveland, CO 80537-5655 USA, www.interweave.com, 1-800-272-2193 (USA), 970-669-7672 (International)

I have been a member of my local Pinellas Weavers Guild for many years and yet never thought of actually hand spinning.  I watched many demonstrations by members using the spinning wheel; however, I was not ready for the expense or space for a spinning wheel and never gave it another thought.  Then Interweave advertised Spin It and I saw the knitted baby tornado hat by Dustin Wedekind; I really wanted to make one of those hats, people size.  I did not need to spin my own fiber to make the hat, but the idea of spinning was now growing in my mind.

The next day I went to my local yarn store, Uncommon Threads, and was looking around when I found the hand spindles.  They were beautiful and I love beautiful tools, especially those made of wood.  The owner, Rosemary, told me there was a beginner spindle class the next month.  I signed up immediately.

I obtained a copy of Spin It and took the time to work some of the basic practice lessons so I would have an idea of what I would be doing.  Instructions are provided to quickly assemble a spindle with a dowel, metal hook and compact disk, however, you can learn to spin with only a piece of wire coat hanger shaped at one end like a hook.  This is what I tried first.

I gained the rudimentary skills to prepare my fiber and spin it.  I made all kinds of booboo’s and ugly messes and also a few successes.  Spin It became my carry along book everywhere I traveled.  It feels pretty strange when you first try to spin; the more you practice, the better you will become.  I then went to my class and was provided a spindle made of a dowel and compact disk, just like the example in this book, and begin to spin much faster.  I dropped my spindle many times and was all fumble fingers, just part of the learning process for a craft new to me.

With Spin It, you will learn the difference between the S-twist and Z-twist, what slubs are and how to correct big lumps from forming between thin spun fiber unless you want them there; preparing your yarn after you spin it; plying one fiber onto another; and all the other basics needed for hand spinning.

Information about hand dyeing fibers and carding fibers is covered.  I did not get into those chapters because I cannot do either due to allergies.  There is a complete description of various fibers you can spin. You will also learn how to care for and what to use for cleaning your hand spun fibers.

After you learn to spin and make some yarn, you can use your yarn to make one of the five project patterns at the back of this book.  There is a knitted bunny bag, knitted hand warmers, crocheted felted hat, woven scarf and knitted tornado baby hat.  I have not made the knitted tornado hat yet, however, I have made small baskets, a hat and a scarf using my spun yarn.  Eventually I will make a Dustin tornado hat too.

There are step-by-step photo illustrations for each technique you learn.  This is the only book you need to learn the basics of spinning with a drop spindle.  Spin It is a great book for beginners and does not include complex projects or instruction that beginners would find overwhelming.

By the way, I became an avid spindle collector and have now spent as much money as it would have cost for a spinning wheel.  I do love handling those spindles.

I absolutely love spinning with a hand spindle.  I am still a novice and eventually I will be more adept at spinning.  Hand spinning is more than making yarn; it is a life experience, bringing peace, harmony and relaxation to the spinner.