[.ca] The Weaving, Spinning, Dyeing Book (ISBN 0394715950)

Utterly useful!:
This book includes wonderful information on primitive looms, reducing the expense of getting equipped to weave and making it more accessible to all income levels. The drawings are clear and informative and provide a real understanding of weaving and weaving equipment. Highly recommended!

Save your money!:
If you are looking for information on spinning with a wheel - don't buy this book! It sets you up to fail. If you are a beginner, please keep looking for other resources.

Do you know the difference between Woolen and Worsted?:
This is a very detailed and all comprehensive book on "Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing." It is packed with technical drawings that are mostly geared toward Native American craft; yet it also shows other traditional methods and equipment. On the historic part of the book we learn that the existing spinning devices of the time of Leonardo Da Vinci had a drawback of having to stop on each spun length and wrap it around a spindle. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the "Flyer". With this the spun yarn could be taken up at the same time as the spinning. However his invention was not used until 1530. We also find that even this book has some interesting outdated history of interest. In the spinning section, under hair fibers they describe "Quivit" as Musk Ox hair that is not available to any but the natives of Alaska. Yet I have quit a bit and it is readily available. There are several detailed pages on how to set up spinning wheels of different types. The book alone is worth knowing descriptions, such as Woolen vs. Worsted.

A great present:
I was given this as a birthday present. It contains a fascinating array of material - from Leonardo Da Vinci's design for a spinning wheel onwards. It gives projects for 5 (I think) different kinds of loom - but not the type I own (a rigid heddle) but they're adaptable. It contains a lot of material really only relevant to US readers (for instance a HUGE list of suppliers, discussion of US plants to dye wool with, typical US laws if you're thinking of setting up your own business.) Not something I'd have bought for myself - it's encyclopaedic and immensely interesting rather than immediately useful (but, in my opinion, that's one of the things that makes it a good present).

The closest thing I've found to a textile lover's Bible!:
After having perused several books on the individual topics of weaving, spinning and dyeing, it was a complete delight to discover this magnificent tome! Rachel Brown's well-illustrated presentation of these crafts is a godsend for the new "fiberholic" and an invaluable reference for the experienced weaver or spinner. The explanations are thorough and easily understood. A must-have