Spinning in the Old Way: How (and Why) To Make Your Own ... (ISBN 0966828984)

yay! spinning in the old way!:
this is the best thing ive ever bought on the subject in book form and im thrilled that i bought it! i would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn to spin!

Warm, Fun, and Informative:
I taught myself to spin with a high-whorl handspindle using this book. It is not only informative but gives the feeling of a friendly chat over spinning. The drawings are delightful and evocative of the culture of high whorl spinning. The writing is clear and detailed enough to be useful but doesn't bog down in overly technical explanations.

Thoroughly readable and informative:
I am new to spinning with a top whorl spindle, and got this on a whim. I found it fully digestible, with loads of well-written information. The illustrations are clear and useful, covering types of spindles, preparation of purchased fiber, woolen vs. worsted preparation and spinning, direction of spin, plying, cabling, and finishing. It also covers using a nostepinne as a tool for plying. Ms. Gibson-Roberts is clear, concise and logical about her preferences, but adds other alternatives so that the reader can choose her methods or alternatives, understanding why each might be useful or problematic. She is thrifty, encouraging a minimalistic approach. A list of suppliers is provided at the end, many of whom can be found on the web. This is an excellent introduction for the novice "spindler".

Must have for book for users of high whorl spindles:
This book covers almost every aspect of using a high whorl drop spindle. It is well written and easy to follow for the beginner and a good reference for more advanced spinners. I rate it as a must have book for any spinners. PGR gives more than 1 way to do each action and encourages you to use the one that feels right for you. There are always more than "1 way to skin a cat" and most books don't tell you that. The pics and tables are great. Both eastern and western styles of spinning are discussed. There are very good sections on cop building, plying and yarn finishing. PGR also tries to give the reader many low cost options and shows how portable using drop spindles can be (also how it can be used to allow many to spin even if they have physical difficulties with their hands). I use both spinning wheels and drop spindles and always have a little carry bag with my drop spindle and fiber to take with me whenever I am out and about. As she says, it is amazing just how much yarn you can spin in short periods of time. The only problem I have had with the high whorl spindle is convincing my cats that it is not a toy for their amusement!

Fantastic:
Gave a wonderful overview of hand spinning, making a strong case for the top whorl spindle. I had been trying to learn by myself, with a starter spindle a friend gave me, and found myself spinning better within hours of reading! I love the drawings, the connections to tradition, and her helpful sharing of various techniques.