Provides information about the wool shorn from twenty-one different breeds of sheep, noting the characteristics, history, structure, grease content, and fiber diameter of each.

Autorentext

Beth Smith, author of How to Spin and The Spinner’s Book of Fleece, is renowned for her love of the variety and versatility of sheep breeds, and she teaches the whys and how-tos of preparing and spinning wool from different breeds. For seven years she owned The Spinning Loft, a shop celebrated for its selection of hard-to-find quality fleeces. She teaches internationally and writes for PLY, Spin Off, and Knittyspin magazines. She also sits on the editorial board of PLY magazine. She lives in Howell, Michigan.  

Deborah Robson is co-author of The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook and Knitting in the Old Way. She is a former editor of both Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot and Spin-Off magazine, and she is currently the editor and publisher of Nomad Press, which publishes books on traditional and ethnic knitting and spinning. Robson is also an artist, working in textiles, printmaking, and oils. She lives in Colorado with her daughter.

Klappentext
KNOW YOUR FLEECE BEFORE GIVING IT A SPIN
 
An essential companion for spinners of all levels, this sheep-by-sheep guide provides fleece profiles of 19 breeds and describes the different spinning methods that produce yarns suitable for a wide range of projects - from lacy shawls to sturdy outerwear. You’ll explore the basic characteristics of fleece – crimp structure, lock shape, and relative fineness or coarseness – and learn how they affect the quality of the yarn you spin. Also included are instructions on proper cleaning and processing techniques for different types of fleece and tips for successful spinning.

Choose the right fleece for your project every time, and you’ll have enviable control over each step, from washing to spinning to finished item.

Zusammenfassung
Presents a thorough overview of 100 sheep breeds, including each breed's characteristics and history, a photo of the animal and its locks, the best methods for washing its fleece, and specific techniques for preparing, spinning, and finishing the fleece.

Inhalt
Foreword by Deborah Robson
Introduction: Spinning with Purpose and Confidence
 
Chapter 1
THE VALUE OF RAW FLEECE
                A Consistent Yarn:  Fantasy or Possibility?
                An Introduction to Hand Scouring
 
Chapter 2
BUYING A FLEECE:  DOS AND DON’TS
                Deciding How Much to Buy
                First Consideration
 
Chapter 3
GETTING TO YARN
                Spinning Yarns for Knitting or Crochet
                Spinning Yarns for Weaving
                Spinning Singles
 
Chapter 4
FINE WOOLS
                Washing Techniques for Fine Wools
                Preparing to Spin Fine Wools
                Spinning Flicked Locks
                Merino
 
Chapter 5
LONGWOOLS
                Avoiding Stereotypes
                Appreciating Yarn Differences
                Washing Longwool Fleece
                Combing the Longwools
                Making Top after Combing
                A Short Lesson in Worsted Spinning
                Wensleydale
                Romney
                Lincoln
                Bluefaced Leicester
 
Chapter 6
DOWNS AND DOWN-TYPE BREEDS
                Skirting a Fleece
                Scouring Down-Type Wools
                Handcarding Techniques
                Drumcarders
                Suffolk
                Southdown
                Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset
                Black Welsh Mountain
 
Chapter 7
MULTICOATED BREEDS
                Working with the Multicoats
                American Karakul
                Scottish Blackface
                Shetland
                Icelandic
 
Chapter 8
OTHER BREEDS
                Hand Prepping Your Fleece
                California Red
                Jacob
                Tunis
 
Glossary of Terms
Metric Conversions
USDA Standard Wool Specifications
Reading List
Resources
Acknowledgements
Index