Spin to Knit

The Knitter’s Guide to Making Yarn

by Shannon Okey

$21.95

October 2006

Take your knitting to a new level with the addition of handmade yarn! Spinning is easy to learn, handspun yarn is hot , and with Spin to Knit everything you need to create fun, funky, one-of-a-kind designer yarn is right at your fingertips.

Spin to Knit teaches you all the details about fibers, tools, and materials for getting started spinning, and offers a substantial selection of simple patterns for knitting with that fabulous yarn you've created all on your own. Don't want to spin a lot of yarn? No problem, you'll find lots of ideas for combining your precious handspun with commercial, mill-spun yarns or for accenting sweaters and accessories you already own.

Urban spinner Shannon Okey, author of KnitGrrl, answers all your burning questions about spinning basics. For instance, what fibers are good for close-to-the-skin projects, what’s good for layering, and what on earth can you do with dog fur or recycled fabric? Find out the basic tools you need to get started spinning, whether you should begin with a drop spindle or a wheel, why “lumpy bumpy” yarn is your friend, ways to un-lump your yarn, and how to control singles, twist, and ply. Incorporating color in spinning is also introduced, from “dishwasher dyeing,” to incorporating beads, thread, or other media into yarns for visual interest.

Inventive patterns include a "cardiganized" thrift shop pullover with a gorgeous handspun buttonband, a faux Fair Isle pullover that combines millspun and handspun yarn, a traditional lace shawl, a shrug based on a woven Swedish heart, a silky sweater made entirely from hairdresser's rayon, and much more.

A great feature of Spin to Knit is the addition of in-depth profiles about urban spinners from all over the country. Learn the personal stories of how these spinners got started, and their insider tips for spinning with style.

Are you bored with commercial yarns? Dare to be different and accessorize all your knitted garments with handmade yarn. Become a full-fledged fiber fanatic with Spin to Knit, the easy guide for any knitter to easily transform into a spinner!

Shannon Okey learned to spin in 2002 after many years as a knitter and artist. She has appeared on the DIY Network’s Uncommon Threads and Knitty Gritty, and HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast. Her books include Knitgrrl (Watson Guptill, 2005) and Knitgrrl 2 (Watson Guptill, April 2006). She is a city coordinator for national indie craft show Bazaar Bizarre and lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Paperback, 8½ x 9, 128 pages, ISBN 10: 1-59668-007-5, ISBN 13: 978-1-59668-007-4, 150 Photographs and 25 Illustrations