Spin Art: Mastering the Craft of Spinning Textured Yarn
"One of the things I love about Jacey Boggs as a teacher is that she doesn't mess around by saying what she's teaching is quick or easy. She firmly states that you have to be able to spin to make textured yarns, and the better spinner you are the better texture yarns you will make and the more the process will make sense. There are 8 different types of yarn to make with this book, each building on the skill set of the one before it. She starts the book with a basic wrap technique and ends with a three layered yarn that is the spinning equivalent of rubbing your stomach, patting your head and dancing a jig all at the same time. In between she teaches about loop, coils, corespinning, beehives and all of the combinations of skills that make up the yarns that Jacey is known for and has been teaching around the world. There are typically 4-6 photos for each technique in this book and 2 of those are (really gorgeous) beauty shots. The remaining photos exactly illustrate the crux of making each yarn. These process shots were clearly chosen by Jacey herself. Each yarn technique is broken down into numbered written steps and explained in mechanical detail: set your wheel up this way, your fiber hand does this and your drafting hand does this. There is no magic. With this book, you learn yarn making in a way that is a repeatable, intentional yarn. You can look at the pictures and read the words and watch the DVD to have the lessons soak into your spinning mind through a variety of learning styles. The DVD follows each of the yarn lessons in the book -- it's very straightforward. It's great to see Jacey spin at her regular pace and also slowed down, so you can see the steps. I found myself rewinding to watch parts over and over. I will repeat that you have to know how to spin already to use this book; it's not for beginners. Even the most determined beginner might find themselves in a puddle of tears and cusswords if you try to leap straight into this type of yarn making. If you do know how to spin the basics, this book and DVD are an excellent learning experience." - Knitty.com"The production quality of the DVD is great, providing a high level of detail and material that coordinates nicely with the book." -Knitcircus