The Ashford Book of Spinning

The Ashford Book of Spinning
by Anne Field

If you are an absolutely new to spinning, the book thoroughly covers every aspect step by step. If you are experienced, then this is a good reference guide to keep to hand and dip into when needed.

Introduction from Richard Ashford, Learning to spin, Wool, Carding, Wheels, Other spinning techniques, Novelty yarns and other fibres, Questions and answers, Wool dyeing, Felting, Patterns for homespun yarn
Appendices: Sheep breeds and wools, Ashford wheels and accessories, Ashford distributors, glossary, bibliography. (160 pages)

Style

It is difficult to give written instructions for practical techniques, but Anne Field does it very well. Her style is friendly, very clear, easy to follow and there is a little humour.

The book was first published in the eighties (and has been revised several times) but the illustrations do give the book the feeling of being written much earlier. That's not a problem at all, they are plentiful, very clear and illustrate the text very well.

Thorough guide

It is surprisingly easy and quick to read cover-to-cover for such a thorough guide. It's generally logical and well-ordered, which is important if you're dipping in for that vital piece of information (which you will do) but there are some strange inconsistencies - for example, "How do I use a drop-spindle" is in the FAQs chapter in the middle of the book, when the drop spindle is also dealt with near the start of the book?

All aspects of spinning are well-covered. The book also introduces related topics such as dyeing and felting. Dyeing is a very natural progression, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that will be starting to experiment as a result of reading the chapter.

I'm not sure that the felting chapter needs to be included, but I am sure that it will be a bonus for those who'd enjoy trying something else with their cloured fleece.

Free patterns are always welcome and provide inspiration, particularly those that are designed with handspun yarn in mind, but patterns are a very personal choice, and also date very quickly. I'm not sure that it's entirely appropriate to include some in a book like this, but as with the felting chapter, a bonus if you like the patterns. They include patterns for knitting, crochet, even lampshades!

It is the closest thing to a spinning bible that I've seen.

Shiela Dixon, 5 January 2009