Buy now from Offhand Designs

Loaded with generously sized pockets (5 on the outside, 4 on the inside), the bag has room for a good-sized sweater project on the needles, as well as all the pattern pages and accessories you'll need. A snap closes the bag -- no zippers to snag yarn here. And as shown below, the bag easily sits open on its own so that you can access everything inside without struggling.

As shown, the bag comes in a thick, shimmery blue fabric with soft green details and sage green shoulder straps, and as you can see on the Offhand Designs site, many more limited edition textiles in a variety of colorways are available to order.

Offhand Designs bags are collectible, and her styles and fabrics sell out and therefore change frequently. If the Iris is your kind of bag, grab it now while it's still available!

AS

Buy now from Knitifacts

Shimmeringly simple stitch markers with a little bling, but none of the dangle that can get caught in your work.

Confession here: I've had these to review for more than a year, and saw them again at TNNA and was reminded that I'd never yet written their review. A few products have had this happen to them in my care -- products that are SO INSTANTLY USEFUL that they put themselves into service in my knitting projects and I forget that they're to be reviewed. Knitifacts' Ringlets and Ringers are such a product.

That should speak volumes for the utility and quality of these markers. Not one has broken or bent in all the time I've been using them. They are, however, pretty and shiny and make me happy as my fingers move them from one needle to the other.

Worth every penny. I love them.

AS

You may have seen the legendary Puppy Snips at your LYS, and perhaps you even own a pair.

I have a few. They're insanely useful. I make no claims for what you may experience, but I have never had a TSA agent even look at these, let alone confiscate them. Teeny-tiny bladed scissors that look more like candy than anything dangerous. And they're not dangerous at all. They're merely super useful.

Well, now the puppies have company. Due to popular demand for equal time, HiyaHiya has released their new Kitty Snips, and they're just as cute, just as small, just as TSA-ignorable, and just as useful.

I have used mine for every possible knitting task, and they even work for removing labels from new clothing bought on a trip (because I hate labels in my clothes).

My pro tip: choose where you want them attached permanently and then squeeze the ball-chain clasp closed on both sides so it can't open any more. I'm sure they're quite secure without doing this, but after I did this, I've never had to worry about losing my Snips, period. And I like to attach them to my zipper pulls for project bags, so they serve double duty. Securing the ball-chain clasps with a pair of jeweler's pliers makes sure they don't go anywhere.

AS

A fun little project!

The kit includes enough Tilli Tomas silk yarn, a rhinestone and three “rondelle” beads to make both styles of bracelet. The thinner one can also be worn as a necklace.

They’re easy and quick knits – only the most basic knitting skills are required, and they work up in a couple of hours.

A choice of 10 colors means there’s one to suit all tastes, and the kit makes a super gentle introduction to working with beads and knitting jewellery.

The packaging is cute and clever, and the kit itself would make a great gift. The finished projects themselves are lovely – brilliantly and elegantly simple.

Chic indeed!

KA

Handmaid is a clever and natural line extension from the Heel foot cream. After all, it’s true that hand-knit socks feel better on soft and well-cared for feet – and it’s even more true that knitting those socks is more fun with soft and well-cared for hands!

It’s lovely hand cream, light yet well-moisturizing, featuring a selection of 3 of Soak’s signature fragrances, and Amy's favorite Scentless. It absorbs quickly, so it doesn’t muck up your knitting or needles.

We love the travel-smart 3 oz bottle size. Perfect to put in your purse, and you won't have to surrender it at airport security!

KA

Hadaki made another great showing at this year's TNNA. Lots of new products, but first I want to review something I've been hoarding (while testing it) like a knitting miser for a while. Because it's that good.

I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture, but this pouch is made of a laminated fabric. I love laminated fabrics...they last longer and resist messy people problems like spilled coffee or being ruined after a drop in a puddle or on a wet bus floor.

This bag is absolutely awesome. It's big enough for sweater parts and the accompanying bits, and it's durable enough to stand up to needles trying to poke through. I've been using mine for a year and with absolutely zero sign of wear. It looks brand new.

The bags are lined in a complimentary colored nylon with matching drawstrings. Eyecatching, and you'll always know which one is your bag out of the pile at your knit night.

I want one of these in every color.

AS

Sajou is brilliant.

Okay, perhaps I should explain why I make this statement. It's simple: the new Sajou has resurrected an historic company and the best of their historic products, including the absolutely exquisite packaging design. And now we get to enjoy the same quality products that our grandmothers might have used (especially if our grandmothers were French).

This time, let's look at their little round tins. Each has a unique decorative label on top and a functional label on the bottom that describes the contents. Soon enough, I could note at a glance that the juggling court jester tin was the one that held the T-pins.

So yes, each tin has different contents, from a variety of dressmaker's pins in different weights, mending threads in pale and bold colors, T-pins, hooks and eyes, snaps, and even little buttons. And the tins are well made, with a little lever on the side to help you open it with a minimum of fuss.

These would make a great gift for a crafty friend, or a useful treat for yourself.

AS

New at this year's show were the tiny, clever knitting patterns from Blue Sky Alpacas. Shown at left in their custom rotating rack (recreated from a vintage piece, and available for yarn shops who carry the range), these 7 patterns are designed to make perfect use of one or two balls of the Blue Sky Alpacas Royal Petites (100% Royal Alpaca, 100 yards/35 grams).

Styled like a vintage sewing pattern, what you get is a heavy cardstock folder with two large pockets, one on each side. In one side, an alpaca trading card (!). In the other, a large, fold-out-able pattern with a picture of the item on one side and full instructions on the other. They've even thought to print a ruler on the pattern instructions so you don't have to search for one.

Good design of a printed thing can add to the enjoyment of owning and using it. The care and attention to detail that has been put into these little patterns will make knitting from them a perfect little joy.

AS

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Buy now from Amazon

June Hemmons Hiatt’s “The Principles of Knitting” is the knitting textbook. It’s startling in both its breadth – everything from casting on and binding off to steeks to knitting with beads to twined knitting and beyond – and its depth – 23 pages on picking up stitches, more than 30 methods for binding off, and a whole chapter on hems, facings pleats and tucks. The chapters on Gauge and Schematics and Measurements are unparalleled in their clarity and depth of analysis. Any question you might ever ask is answered. And a hundred more.

The first edition of the book was published in the 1988, and was revered at the time. It went out of print in the mid-1990s, and used copies of that first edition would sell for hundreds of dollars. Ms. Hemmons Hiatt has been revising the book for years, and knitters in the know have been waiting eagerly for this new edition. It took significantly longer to revise than anticipated, as the original source files had been lost. Although a massive setback for the author and for the knitters eager to buy the new edition, I believe this worked to our benefit, as every single word had to be retyped and therefore revisited; every single illustration and photograph recreated. As a result, the book has been significantly expanded, with over 100 new illustrations and scores of pages of expanded material.

As in the previous edition, Ms. Hemmons Hiatt is fabulously and unrepentantly opinionated – but she backs her opinions up with facts and reason. You might not agree with her on everything, but you’ll understand why (and how) your opinions differ.

She begins at the beginning, with a detailed discussion of the knit and purl stitches, and an in-depth analysis of different methods of holding the needles and yarn. Although the author says that she feels her book usable by knitters of all levels and interests, this book will be most valuable to and appreciated by curious knitters – those who are ready to learn more, who are keen to understand how and why things work, who relish knowing 10 different ways to do something and the pros and cons of each. If you’re just coming to grips with garter stitch, it would be utterly overwhelming. But once you’re past that and  hungry for more – no matter whether you learned to knit last week or last century - it’s simple: Buy this book. Read it. Reference it. Enjoy it. Treasure it.

My only real criticism of the book is her propensity to rename techniques. If you’re looking for the Twisted German Cast On, for example, you’ll be out of luck if you don’t know how Ms. Hiatt chooses to refer to it (Twisted Half Hitch, by the way, of which there are several methods and variants).

KA

Buy now from Amazon

I am a process knitter. There are many times I don’t really care if a finish a project. I like the swatching and figuring out of all of the bits. When I first heard there was going to be a book with nothing but cast ons and bind offs, I did a little knit-geek dance.

There are 33 cast ons and 21 bind off to sample and play with in this book. The book is divided by cast ons and bind offs, then sub-divided into types – cast ons: basic, stretchy, decorative, circular, double sided, multi color, provisional, tubular and  mobius; bind offs: basic, stretchy, decorative and sewn.

Even though I was thoroughly jazzed to have this book, I kept thinking , “Do knitters really need this many?”. As I read through the book and worked some new-to-me cast ons and bind offs, I discovered the answer is yes, and we probably need even more.

In each section and for each type of cast on or bind off, each individual technique is shown photographed in a line, so you can visually compare them. Each cast on or bind off is then treated individually. The author discusses its characteristics and what each one is good for. Each cast on or bind off is worked in a photographed walk through. I was able to catch all of the twists and turns by following the photos. I loved the addition of a photo that shows what the cast on or bind off looks like from the right and wrong sides.

JM

Buy now from Cooperative Press

The knitting patterns are gorgeous modern classics. Twisted stitches represent ironwork and color knitting represents tile work. The accessories are simple shapes with the colorwork and stitch patterns taking center stage. The Fringe Socks are brilliant – socks mimicking tilework that mimics a woven rug. The Peacock Cowl and Mitts are graceful and beautiful. The garments may seem simple in shape, but Stephannie has taken great care to add shaping to each garment. These are sweaters that a woman will look beautiful in because the design is stunning and because the garment actually fits a woman’s body.  I am in love with the simple Tiles Sweater and complexly wonderful Wrought Cardigan (actually, all of the Wrought patterns).

This is a wonderful book. The author shows equal reverence for designing beautiful knitting patterns and the architecture and craftwork that inspired them.

JM

Buy now from Quince&Co

This is one of those collaborations that was just meant to be. Hannah Fettig has rereleased 9 of her most popular patterns reknit in Quince & Co. yarns.

Her Wispy and Featherweight cardigans are there, knit in fingering-weight yarn. Other knits in dk and worsted are all beautiful and a little bit more substantial than the originals, but still with enough drape to give them that feeling of effortlessness in the wearing.

Hannah adds a succinct but thorough lesson in drape. It was a light bulb moment for my knitting brain.

The styling is Quince-perfect modern vintage, with exquisite photography by Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Even if you’ve knit any of these sweaters, this re-visoning will make you want to knit them again.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Buy now from Cooperative Press

Knitting patterns for boys garments are hard to find. I asked my 8-year-old son to help me review this gem of a pattern book.

Mom: Which sweaters do you like?
Boy: That one because the boy looks fun to play with he looks like he likes Star Wars. And probably Captain Underpants.
Mom: Would you want to wear that sweater or just play with the boy?
Boy: Play

After assuring him that all of the boys modeling in the book like Star Wars, Harry Potter and every manga-based cartoon character that has ever existed, he finally got down to it.

His favorites are Dax – pattern and color (Mom, it’s orange!), any sweater with a zipper (he asked about adding a zip to most of them), Landon and the Epsilon sweater vest.

My kid likes color. Few of the natural colored sweaters made the cut for him, but that is easy enough to change.

From the knitter-for-a-boy’s perspective, the patterns aren’t complex but have interesting textures. The yarns are mostly worsted weight. I might actually finish more than one before he grows out of them. There are great tips for sizing and altering the pattern to fit growing boys.

Final tally, my boy liked and would wear more than half of the sweaters in this book, and I would like to knit any of them. Win!

JM

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Buy now from Amazon

This book is like the first flowers that pop up after a long snowy winter, always a surprise and full of saturated color. Brit-Marie Christoffersson has been studying color and texture through knitting for more than two decades. She works in bright colors and at a fine gauge.

This is a book of swatches and stitch patterns – 23 categories with as many as 5 variations on each. There are photos of some of the techniques used as garments, and a schematic for a basic drop-shouldered cardigan, but no line-by-line sweater patterns.
There are geometric designs, many created in garter or with slipped stitches, which are a knitting interpretation of traditional Swedish textile patterns. 

There are edge treatments, braids, and knitting stitches manipulated in simple but unique ways. There is a section on surface knitting - holes all over, beads, layers.

The color throughout is magnificent, bright and wild. I couldn’t wait to turn the pages to see the next variation. I didn’t realize how sick I was of looking at the same old stitch patterns until I opened this book.

In a knitting slump? Pick up this book and it will be like a shot of caffeine to your knitting creativity.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Buy now from Chic.a

Chic.a's Yarn Keeper (a zip top pouch with a smooth metal eyelet for threading your yarn through) has been such a big hit that they’ve made it into a tote. A Yarn Keeper on the bottom zips to a tote on the top.

I have the 2-yarn tote and it’s great. I’m using it for my Color Affection shawl, which has 3 colors, but having two yarns threaded and one loose has caused me no problems.

The bag is sturdy, made from oilcloth so it’s water resistant too. Good thing since mine will find it’s way to the pool this summer. The material is stiffer than I thought I liked – because I wanted to stuff it into my purse. But I soon realized that the stiffness of the fabric is a big part of what makes this bag great – it doesn’t fall over! If it were made of flimsier or softer material, the bag would fall over or bend over and the yarn wouldn’t spool out properly.

I have had no snagging of my yarn on the eyelet or the bag's fabric. The yarn spools well when pulled from inside or outside the ball. There was no skimping on the zipper. Cheap zippers are a pet peeve – separating or just breaking, and there are some that seem to be magnets for yarn. The zipper in this bag has not snagged, separated or eaten my yarn once.

The handle is shorter than I like, but it’s sturdy enough to clip on to other bags. It comes is a big variety of bright fun fabrics and is pretty perfect for poolside or anywhere type knitting.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Buy now from Amazon

This is the perfect book for crafters new-ish to photography to learn about taking photos of all of the beautiful things they make. Heidi has a way of explaining intimidating photographic concepts in a way that anyone can understand. She is encouraging and supportive in her instructions. She explains how, with no fancy equipment, you can take better photographs (it’s true!).

What this book does that no other photography book does is give tips and examples for specific craft categories: Fashion & Fabrics, Bags, Purses & Accessories, Knitting & Needlecraft, Jewelry, Dolls & Toys, Ceramics & Pottery, Art, Books, Magazines & Stationary, and Home Accessories. Each category has its special issues and problems. She gives tips on set up and composition and interviews a selling superstar in the particular category. 

This is a practical and professional book that is perfect for getting started in photographing your own crafts.

JM

Buy now from Chrissy Gardiner

This book is Chrissy Gardiner’s love song to indie sock yarn dyers. After attending the first Sock Summit, Chrissy knew she wanted to do something do showcase indie sock yarn. That is how this book and its supporting CSK (Community Supported Knitting) group was born. Members of Chrissy’s CSK received a pattern every month, then a copy of the book when it was all done. Now all of the patterns are available to all lovers of unique sock yarn and sock patterns through this book.

The book is divided into 3 sections, Mild, Flavorful and Spicy, spanning the gamut of semi-solid to wildly colorful and strongly variegated yarns. Through out the 24 patterns, Chrissy sprinkles tips and tricks for fit, needle options, resizing and working with variegated yarns. Most fascinating to me was any and all talk about matching stitch patterns to types of variegated yarn. Chrissy has been designing socks for many years and her thought process on this really enlightening. I know now why so many of the socks I’ve knit end up looking like doo-doo - wrong type of color style for the stitch pattern. This would be really useful for anyone designing socks or anyone going freestyle on a colorway for a published sock pattern.

The sock patterns in the book are great. I fell for some based on stitch pattern: Calpurnia, Nuppy Diamonds and Pachinko, and some based on the colorway: Nami, SeeSaw and Soda Fountain, or both like Orange Blossoms

I love that Chrissy took the time and space in the book to give each dyer a full-page profile. Independent dyers and independent publishing at its finest.

JM

I have more than a little crush on Buttonalia’s ceramic buttons. They have that kind of easy, breezy simplicity that I know is not easy to attain in craftwork, and leaves you smiling when you look at it.

The shapes, colors and embellishments are organic with small variations in each button giving tiny bits of individuality.

Each button is handmade, thin enough to be lighter than average, but thick enough to withstand wearing on your favorite sweater. They are glazed on both sides to help make them water resistant and smooth.

They have a flare and a casual grace that can transform an average sweater or be the very inspiration for the design of a spectacular sweater.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

SL

Buy now from Amazon

This book is filled with little bits of loveliness. Things to keep or give that will keep you feeling pretty and maybe a little warmer. Hats, mitts, shawls, bags, even a pair of knitted wool tights out of Koigu!

All the designs are straight forward, but interesting to knit. I’m knit-crushing on the Croissant Bag, LuLu Scarf, Mrs. Lovechild Shawl, Shiraz Slipper –because of that brilliant tab on the back and Daisy Dachshund – a knitted pencil case.

JM

Denise2Go Interchangeable Needle Kit
$49.95
Buy now exclusively from Jimmy Beans

A tiny palm-sized interchangeable needle kit wrapped in happy cotton prints. What’s not to love?
It’s filled with 6 of the most popular US needle sizes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; 1 crochet hook, size US G4 ;3 cords: 14-, 16- and 19-inch lengths; 2 end buttons and 1 extender.

All, of course, work with any other Denise products you have.

A few years back, Denise came out with cords that are different colors. Those are here and match the cotton case, but now the needle tips are different colors, too, also matching the case. Love the quality and the cuteness.

This kit is perfect for travel, to take to classes or as an emergency set in your purse. Mine is already in my purse.

JM

Buy now from Cooperative Press

Tara Swiger has read all of the marketing books so you don’t have to.

This book is a wonderfully distilled way to create a marketing plan for your small crafty business. Along the way, she helps you figure out just who your business self is, what exactly you sell and who and where the tribe of people who will buy your stuff are.

She does it all through common sense and experience with a minimum of marketing-speak. She’s packed the book with worksheets so you can go back and review, build on or change all the aspects of marketing your business.

There is not only one way to do or be successful at business. In our current world, the more personal every piece and step of a business is, the more chance of success it has. Plus it’s more fun.This is one of the few business books I’ve read that is focused on you the maker and how you’d like to do business within the framework of your budgets of time, money and inclination.

JM

Buy now from Fickle Knitter

When you feel in the mood for just a tiny little book of accessories, this is it. Each of the eight patterns are inspired by the shape of a leaf, all of them different. All the patterns are quick knits that advanced beginners can tackle without too much trepidation. Most importantly, these use just 395 yards of yarn or less. Great use of those skeins of sock yarn that you may never turn into footwear.

More experienced knitters will want to make these patterns too, just for the fun of it.

PB

Buy now from Amazon

JM

Alecia at Madbird has a great eye and a knitter’s heart. Her selection and combinations of fabrics are wonderful; things I would never guess coordinate not only do, but look really cool together. Full disclosure: I have stalked her site before I got anything to review. I was already excited about the look of her project bags before one landed in my mailbox. So let’s talk about not just the look, but the quality of the Mini Clutch I got.

There are so many ways to cut corners when you sew, to make it quicker, cheaper. But there are no corners cut with these bags. The fabric used is a tight cotton weave, the bag is fully lined and lightly padded, knitting needles would have to work hard at poking through or be razor sharp. There are no raw seams, and it has a really high quality zipper. Design-wise she didn’t have to (but she did) give the bag a flat bottom (it stands up when it has yarn in it), give the bag a little clutch carrying loop, add a piece of satin ribbon on the zipper (I know!). Even her Madbird tags are cute.

Here’s where the knitter’s heart part comes into the design, this bag isn’t what I’d call mini – mini is just big enough for your stitch markers, tapestry needles and a measuring tape. This bag is 100% perfectly sized for a sock project, plus knitting do dads. Perfect.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

In her first book, The Handmade Marketplace, Kari Chapin and her well-chosen Creative Collective, taught us the how and where of creating a crafty business. In her new book, she and her band of successful merry makers walk us through the nuts and bolts, of maintaining and expanding a craft-based business.

Who wants to think about marketing, P&L statements, licensing, lawyers and business plans? You do if you want to make a living at your business. This book makes it almost painless. You still need to do the work, but Kari has cut through the puffed up, polysyllabic language and posturing that most business books spin that makes it all seem like some secret society.  She makes the big stuff all seem doable. Plus if you are still stuck, she introduces you to a whole bunch of people who can help.

Just like her in her first book, she gathers experts in each topic to share their experience and advice. I love the feeling of working community this gives, that no one is alone doing their work, even if you are in your pjs on the couch.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

A fine book of helpful hints for sock knitting.

While there are no start-to-finish patterns for socks in this book, it breaks down all the parts of a sock and discusses them in detail.

Using color-coded samples, the authors talk about different heels and toes, toe up vs. top down construction, cast ons and bind offs and a lot of sock knitting tips.

This is the perfect book for when a knitter’s sock addiction is starting to fan into a flame and she wants to know and deconstruct all the parts of a sock.

JM

Buy now from the authors

A stunning book created by 5 friends, a talented photographer and a yarn store.

As soon as I pulled this book out of the envelope, I knew it wasn’t just another average independently published knitting book. I’m a sucker for the look and feel of knitting books, fonts, paper, styling, photography, and the knitting designs, all of the bits that make up a book. This book is so lovely, it never made it to the "to review" pile -- I sat down with it instantly.

Look at the cover of the book, clean, modern and engaging. That feeling runs through all aspects of the book, especially the patterns. Each design delivers on the promise the cover makes.

I would knit nearly everything in this book and I would enjoy every one. These are the type of patterns that answer your questions and comments as you read through. You know, this type of thing: "Oh my husband would love those socks, but his feet are so big I hate knitting him socks." The book answers: "the gauge is 26 stitches to 4 inches and the yarn is Cascade 200 – totally doable" or “Wow, I am in love with that cardigan, but Kidsilk Haze with my hot flashes?" and the book's sages reply, "How about a merino or a linen yarn?" The book has answers for lots of things, gifts, variations on color and fit, knits to just sit and be happy with. This is a collection that clearly communicates the joy the designers feel knitting and designing.

More smarts are seen on the book’s web page. Here you can buy the book retail or wholesale, shop the yarn, see variations on the patterns, meet the design team and visit The Yarnery. I wish all books made it so easy to love them!

JM

Buy now from Amazon

This CD, the brainchild of opera singer, knitter and podcaster Melanie Gall (of the SavvyGirls), captures for the very first time on CD performances of WWI-era knitting songs. It’s a fascinating snapshot into a long-ago world, with songs of knitters working for husbands, brothers and sons – or unknown soldiers. It gives you a sense of the world of these women, for whom knitting may have been the only way they could concretely contribute to the war effort, and their sole connection to loved ones far away. But it’s not all melancholy and seriousness: I particularly loved “Knocking at the Knitting Club”, a song about gossiping at a knitting circle.

The instrumentations and performances are period-appropriate – often just Melanie’s lovely voice with jaunty piano accompaniment, and they are all the more charming for it. But this CD isn’t just a historical document. The songs are catchy and fun, and I dare you to not sing along.... “Gertie get on with your knitting, Gertie get on your with socks!”

(Full disclosure: the performer is my husband’s second cousin.) 

KA

Buy now from Laurie Gilbert

Organic and weighty, these fasteners are the perfect accompaniment to any collection of knitted shawls or special cardigans. Inspired by nature, artist Laurie Gilbert is clearly passionate about the work she creates. The knit fasteners in her collection are simple and lovely. All of the edges are absolutely smooth they didn’t even catch on silk yarn. Clearly time and care was spent on each one.

The fastener with closure (shown at right), Wave above, closes like a safety pin and stays closed no matter what. The hook-shaped closure, like Hydrangea (shown at left), uses its heft to stay in place. This closure would be great for cardigan and jacket closures or for heavier shawls. All of Laurie Gilbert’s hook shaped closures can be threaded on a necklace and worn as jewelry – for the days you don’t want to leave them behind with your knitwear.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

This book is a great addition to the library of any spinner wanting to spin art yarns. For the first couple of days, I just looked at the photos, over and over – those alone were huge inspiration to spin! I particularly loved the section on putting techniques from different section (and even her past two books) together.

There are more than 20 spinning techniques to try, many variations, and some that were in Lexie’s last book, Intertwined, but with much more how-to detail this time. There’s a section on fiber prep, incuding a great part about making crazy batts.
There are 18 projects to make with your art yarn, easy to do and all entirely riffable, "wait what if I did..."

For me, this book feels like the Barbara Walker Knitting Pattern Treasuries but for art yarn techniques: how to, stories to go along with the techniques, variety and variation, collaboration, and a great feeling of community.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

Oh, how I love this DVD! I want Interweave to do a whole series of DVDs just like this: one topic and several spinning experts weighing in on how they approach the topic.

For this hand-carding DVD, Carol Rhoades, Maggie Casey, Norman Kennedy and Rita Buchanan demonstrate and dissect their style of hand carding. It is wonderful and fascinating to watch these powerhouses of spinning, one after another, carding with the ease that only experience can bring. Each one does it differently and each one would only do it that way after years of study, practicing and learning at other spinners’ sides.

JM

Buy now from Fleegle

This is the only spinning book devoted to support spindling. It also has information on a whole lot more – spindles aren’t really addressed until over halfway through the book.

There is information on fiber for spinning – wool, non-wool and other – discussion on fiber preparation and color. The book has great photography, gorgeous glamour shots and clear and close up for working shots.

Like all authors, she speaks from personal experience and opinion. I didn’t agree with everything she said in the general spinning part of the book, but spinners not agreeing is standard in the land of spinning!

The book really sings for me when the spindle part starts. Supported spindles (the kind where the tip rests in a bowl to spin, rather than dangles) don’t get much attention in most spinning books. Fleegle corrects that oversight in her book.

It is a comprehensive guide to supported spindles – spindles around the world, spindle makers, how spindles are made, types of supported spindles, spindle bowls, traveling with spindles and a great big fabulous section on how to spin on a supported spindle – complete with video. It is wonderful to have the video option to watch at speed and in slow motion how to get started, draft, spin, wind a cop and ply.

If you spin supported, want to learn or are even curious about supported spindling this book is a must.

JM

Buy now from Amazon

This is a lyrical children’s book featuring a talented spinner and weaver. A boy spins yarn from the clouds and weaves it into beautiful cloth. This boy is careful to use only what he needs, not a puff of cloud more. His yarn is colored by the light of the sun  on the clouds: gold, white or crimson. Enter a greedy king who wants an entire wardrobe from the celestial cloth. Soon his entire kingdom is suffering a drought because of his greed. This book captures the magic of creating. There is no spinner that hasn’t considered spinning clouds.

The illustrations are beautiful, detailed, saturated with a light hand and washed with a crackle effect.

What happens to the kingdom? You'll just have to read the story to find out.

JM