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The Intentional Spinner by Judith MacKenzie McCuin

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intentional

 Attention spinners! If you are interested in exploring the infinite possibilities of making your own yarns, veteran spinner and teacher Judith MacKenzie McCuin offers insight, understanding, and invaluable information about your craft in The Intentional Spinner.The Intentional Spinner is a compendium of spinning wisdom, with a fun blend of technical knowledge, history, tips, and gently opinionated narrative. Yarn making is approached in three fundamental areas.

  • Understanding Fibers: Compare the rich historic traditions of plant and animal fibers with the fascinating scientific advances in synthesizing fibers.
  • Managing Yarn Structure: step-by-step instructions and photographs demonstrate the range of possibilities in yarn, from sturdy plied yarns to playful novelty yarns.
  • Practical Uses: learn how to make yarns that precisely match your needs with decision making and planning to create the exact project you want from the beginning.

The Intentional Spinner also includes four projects that demonstrate how handspun can be used in weaving and knitting. The projects explain how to choose material, techniques, and finish the processes.

Blending technical expertise and fascinating lore, The Intentional Spinner is a must-read for every spinner.

Who wants this book? I’ve got one copy to give away, leave a comment telling me why you wanted to start spinning!

 

Comments

  1. Ooo! Because I just got an Ashford Traveller and I desperately need more educational resources! I don’t even have one book, let alone this cool one. 😉 *wink wink* This looks like a great read.

  3. I started spinning because i fell in love with knitting and wanted to learn every aspect! (from shearing, dying, spinning) I still feel like i am learning and plan to seek someone out to try and fine tune things this winter! But a resource book would be wonderful!

  4. When I learn something new I usually jump into the deep end and either drown or come up sputtering. I’m just learning to spin with spindles, and hope to move to a wheel. Maybe this book would be like a life preserver? I hpe so!

  5. I always wanted a spinning wheel and my brother knew this. So when the old lady living near him was down sizing, with a beautiful spinning wheel to sell, he bought it as a gift for me as a thank you for my help with my disabled sister in law (now deceased )So I am now in possession of this beautiful machine and can’t use it yet.

    Thank you

    Jean Cly

  6. I always wanted a spinning wheel and my brother knew this. So when the old lady living near him was down sizing, with a beautiful spinning wheel to sell, he bought it as a gift for me as a thank you for my help with my disabled sister in law (now deceased )So I am now in possession of this beautiful machine and can’t use it yet.

    Thank you

    Jean Clay

  7. I have been fascinated with spinning ever since I learned to knit and crochet. Plus, I just found a local source for natural fibers that I could spin myself. This would be a great resource!

  8. I learned to use a drop spindle because a wonderful friend kept pushing and pushing until I finally gave in. Of course I knew part of the motive was all the roving for sale in the shop, but I’m still glad I learned.

  9. I am interested in that book because of friend of mine is a farmer and she doesnt know how to use sheep wool practically. so together we can learn something useful and new.

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]