Creative Spinning

Discover your creativity with the ancient art of spinning. Ideal for beginners and more experienced spinners alike, this exciting new title in the Gaia Traditional Crafts series will teach you everything you how to spin using drop spindles and spinning wheels and how to control singles, combing, twists and ply.

The book is divided into chapters according to yarn type and each section includes projects with simple step-by-step instructions and illustrations. Once you have learnt the basics, 30 exciting projects show you how to experiment with spinning anything from angora to silk, to bamboo or possum fur.

Sumptuous life-size photograph samples of the raw fibres, spun yarn and swatches show you what the yarn looks like when it is knitted and provide all the necessary inspiration to get started.
30 exciting recycled spinning projects, inspired by nature.

No complicated equipment needed - a simple spinning wheel or spindle is all you need to know how to learn to spin.
Experiment with a whole range of materials, from natural fleeces to vegetable fibres.

Alison Daykin has been teaching spinning, weaving and dyeing since 1983. While studying for her HNC in Hand Woven Textile Design at Bradford in 2004 she won two prizes in the Bradford Textile Society Design Competition. She now runs Alison Yule Textiles, producing bespoke hand-woven fabrics and tutors a range of workshops in spinning, weaving and dyeing across the UK and in The Netherlands. She lives in Derbyshire.

Jane Deane is a spinner, weaver and dyer with 30 years’ experience. She works with natural and synthetic dyes and runs a bespoke yarn and fibre dyeing service. Jane is member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and runs workshops at Leawood in Devon.