The first Craftside Wednesday Giveaway of 2012 is... a copy of the super cool and inspiring book Hand Spun: New Spins on Traditional Techniques!
To get yourself in the running for the first book giveaway of the year, simply answer the question:
What was your favorite book of 2011? What book did you make something from, become inspired by or otherwise savor?
Leave your answer in today's comments section by midnight ET on Wednesday January 25, 2012 and you are in the running!
And this wouldn't be Craftside without an inside peek into Hand Spun. Check out this tutorial on how to spin yarn with extreme tails:
Click on these pages from Hand Spun to enlarge and read the full directions on how to make extreme tail spun yarn.
More about the Quarry book:
Hand Spun: New Spins on Traditional Techniques
by
Lexi Boeger
Hand Spun contains a collection of never-before-published spinning techniques along with interesting, creative, hip projects. The essential momentum behind this book is to satisfy fans of the author's first two books in their desire for new materials to learn. As Intertwined becomes more well-known, these handspun styles are flooding the internet craft community. Hand Spun offers fresh, new, and exciting material for these spinners to move on to. Where Handspun Revolution, the author's first book, was the spark that ignited the genre of Art-yarn, and Intertwined is considered the bible of creative spinning, Handspun builds upon the now common knowledge of novelty spinning, digging deeper into the traditional underbelly of spinning, not as a means to teach traditional techniques, but rather as a way of turning very traditional forms inside out: Using time-tested techniques to deliver cutting-edge forms. This book also covers fiber-preparation processes, from scouring raw fleece to several carding techniques.
Pluckyfluff creator Lexi Boeger has forged a new genre in the craft of handspinning. She has been a working artist, writer, and designer for 20 years and brings the perspectives and knowledge gained in these fields to the craft of spinning. She has brought creative spinning to the attention of the international art world through art yarn exhibitions and workshops, and has helped to permanently blur the line between art and craft. Boeger currently produces new works from her studio in California.
My favorite book has been Adventures in Bookbinding. In fact, it is sitting next to me right now! So many great ideas.
Posted by: Janel | January 18, 2012 at 07:06 AM
My mom called me at 11:30 (PM!!) two nights ago to tell me she had bought a spinning wheel! I'm fairly certain she has NO idea what to do with it, so this book would be awesome for her!
I'm a busy (homeschooling) mom to three little ones, in my spare time I try to maintain a paper craft blog. It has been a long time since I've made time to read a book, an adult book! So when my girlfriend offered me "The Help" I was determined to START AND FINISH it! I'm glad I did. I spent several nights with my cell phone's flashlight under the covers! I felt like a kid again!
Thanks for hosting a wonderful giveaway!
Posted by: Jessica Griffin | January 18, 2012 at 07:47 AM
i love granny square love..got me back into crocheting :)
Posted by: lorraine | January 18, 2012 at 09:17 AM
My favorite book last year was Zen Quilting by Pat Ferguson CZT. I have done a wall hanging and drawn enough wall paper to be the back splash in my new kitchen.
I am a spinner and have just started spinning again after a long dry spell. But that is another sad story. Gin
Posted by: jVirginia Biltgen | January 18, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting by Rosemary Drysdale would be my favorite from 2011. I love doing entrelac! I also love spinning my own unique and free to be me yarns! thanks for a great give-away!
Posted by: Donnely Barber | January 18, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Spinning
I just started and am in love.
Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning by Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Posted by: K Smith | January 18, 2012 at 03:31 PM
My favorite book of 2011 was
The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs by Linda Schapper
I actually love all her books!
Posted by: MarieAnge B | January 18, 2012 at 05:00 PM
The one I go to most often right now is the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook! I have also referenced The Intentional Spinner and Spin Art, and I have made yarn using all 3 books.
Posted by: Knitmomma | January 18, 2012 at 10:11 PM
New favorite book of 2011 is Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Knit One, Knit All." Old but still forward-thinking and forward-looking knitting designs, open to adaptation - and it's inspiring to think one can be creative to the grave - and beyond! (This is a VERY posthumous book)! I don't know whether you meant best reading or best crafts book - but this is simply both.
Posted by: Karey Solomon | January 19, 2012 at 03:06 AM
I use the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook all the time and also enjoyed the Knit Noro accessories book...and can't wait for the new Pluckyfluff book, of course!
Posted by: Jan | January 19, 2012 at 03:32 AM