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Book Review

Creative Fibre's new President, Pat Old, has somehow managed to write and publish a book on spinning, 'In A Spin', during the first year of her term of office. This is quite an achievement and she is to be congratulated.

The book is crammed full of useful information - and reads as if you have Pat at your elbow, encouraging you in her very personal style. The book ranges from information on equipment, and the care of it, explains ratios and their application and covers concise and clear information on wool characteristics, including how to deal with a fleece and spinning a woollen yarn, semi worsted and worsted yarns A section covers other fibres; alpaca, silk, cotton and even possum, as well as working with sliver. Her years of experience offer great advice on plying and finishing techniques for all kinds of yarns.

What distinguishes the book from the general run is the section on Yarn Design, where we are treated to so many developments that Pat has pioneered and explored in depth. Her 'diz-designed yarns', plastic bag dyeing and novelty yarns are all generously shared, with plenty of coloured illustrations scattered all through the book. Have fun with your versions of her 'Mainland Jazz', 'Thrum Yarn', felted yarns and 'allsorts blends'. It concludes with a chapter on 'How much is enough?' - every spinner needs to know this.

I think it is a 'must have' for every spinner, new or more experienced.

Anne Percival