Abby Franquemont

Respect the Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns with One Amazing Tool by Abby Franquemont
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When you know an addition to your bookshelf will change your life and make something you enjoy doing much more enjoyable and easier, how do you write a proper review?

When I first started spindling I was very shy and scared and really really bad at it. Some people I asked for assistance had a very anti-spindle bias; they saw a spindle as a stepping-stone on the way to a wheel. I knew show more that was silly and that for many cultures there were spindles, not wheels doing the yarn production. I am very lucky that I have some very good friends who love spindling *and* wheels and they helped me get on the right direction. I'm still not very good.

When I heard Abby was writing a book I was thrilled. I found her articles and blog posts informative and very helpful over the years. A few months ago she had posted a video tutorial that introduced me to the concept of winding a butterfly and my spindling immediately got easier (there's a photo tutorial on p 86).

When I finally got my hands on a copy (thanks to a surprise gift from my husband) and I actually had a chance to sit and read through this book while fondling holding my spindles I was thrilled and thankful.

This is a soft cover book, so it is light and could be taken along in a bag. It's not spiral bound, but I don't find I care about that in my spinning books. The photos are clear and if a technique is being demonstrated it is done so with very precise steps and I'm very thankful for the plain background and Abby's simple clothing.

Just reading this book will not make you a better spinner overnight, you still need to practice but I think Abby has written a superb book. This book is valuable for anyone, whether you spindle or not, thought if you aren't interested in spinning you might only like the first 47 pages of history, science, and other knowledgeable things. I think this will help me if anyone wants me to try to explain the basics of spinning to them. I wouldn't go out and ask to be hired as a teacher, but when you spindle in public, people are interested and this book should help me figure out a clear and concise way to explain what I'm trying to do.

The most amusing part of the book was seeing two different ways to wind a cop and realizing that my other life prepared me for this one. I used to make my own bassoon reeds and the thread knotting method for that is very similar to winding a cop using the crossing method. I love it when my life experiences overlap! show less

This book has a lot of interesting information about spindles, their histories, and the history of textiles. But as an instruction how-to manual to teach beginning spinners I find it lacking. I routinely teach myself different crafts through reading books, which is how I have learned origami, knitting, and bobbin lace. I bought this to learn special techniques or which types of yarn can be made with a spindle. My largest pet peeve about this book was that it kept repeating that any type of show more yarn can be made with a spindle or spinning wheel depending on the spinners expertise and skill level. There was too much general information and not enough special techniques. show less

Obviously, I wouldn't have bought this if I didn't want to spin, but it has intensified that desire. Now to find my spindle - or a new one and try it out. I'll update when I know if it took.

It took. I am having a wonderful time with my spindles and various wools, etc.

Update 2015. Still spinning, and although I now have a wheel, I use that mostly for plying. I hadn't remembered most of what this book has to offer. Her best advice is that you need to find what works for you to make the yarn show more you want to spin. If that isn't the way someone else does it, who cares? I find that several things I do are the opposite from what she does, but I also understand why my method works for me. Confirming 4 1/2 stars. show less

Superb book, not just about spindles and creating yarn by spindling but about the cultural background and history, what wheels change about the culture. Something like the differance between swords and guns.

Don't think I will ever make the effort to learn to use a spindle well, but at least I know why not.