Fiber Arts

This is the updated version of their classic encyclopedic guide to knitting. It contains over 1,600 full-color illustrations and covers all basic techniques, a stitch dictionary, correction of errors, following patterns, knitting supplies, and so on. To many it is the knitter’s bible. Beginners can teach themselves how to knit, while experienced knitters use it as a reference for unfamiliar stitches and techniques.

An excellent book for the fiber artist using chemical dyes. Covers batik, dip dyeing, overdyeing, color gradations, fabric painting, and more.

This is an excellent introduction to the art and craft of weaving on a treadle or table-top loom. Several weaving guild teachers have recommended it as the single best reference for learning how to weave. It is well illustrated and guides the beginner through a variety of exercises designed to teach weaving, as if the reader were taking part in a comprehensive class.

This is an excellent introduction to spinning. It covers everything from simple hand spinning with crude hand-made instruments (or no instruments) to spinning with traditional spinning wheels. It is well written and illustrated with clear simple drawings, and includes instructions for several projects. Active spinners’ guild teachers, on opposite sides of the country, have recommended this book as the single best introduction to spinning. The author helped found the Bay Area Spinner’s Textile Study Group and is a former editor of Spin-Off magazine.

This is a collection of projects from fifty expert knitters and spinners, ranging from simple beginner projects to advanced designs. Filled with instructions, tips, helpful hints, and techniques. If you wish to try your hand at knitting practical items with homespun, get this book.

This encyclopedic volume is a true sewing bible. Copiously illustrated it covers everything from beginning techniques and learning how to sew, to advanced seamstress tips, tricks, and techniques. From bachelors to dress designers and county fair prize winners, this is a great reference to have on hand.

This excellent book illustrates quite a variety of weaving methods and equipment, including simple Navajo and Hopi looms. If you wanted a single comprehensive backup book in case you needed to spin a skein of yarn, weave yourself a bolt of cloth, or perhaps fashion your own simple equipment, this would be an excellent reference. The other recommended books provide clearer learning instructions for their covered topic, but this is a good all-around guide. This book is well illustrated, lists many different sources for materials (though it hasn’t been revised since 1983 so it’s somewhat out of date), and provides reasonably clear instructions.

This is really a fascinating little book about many useful plants and plant applications. In addition to plants for natural fibers and dyes, it covers plants for soaps, scents, insecticides, and useful textile tools. Buchanan is also the author of A Dyer’s Garden: From Plant to Pot, Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers.

Master knitter Elizabeth Zimmerman is credited with developing simple mathematical formulas that opened up a new world of sweater design and flexibility. Her book, Knitting Without Tears, is not a standalone beginner’s knitting handbook (I would be totally lost if I only had this knitting book), but it is a valuable addition to a knitter’s reference library. It contains techniques and directions for knitting garments to fit all sizes. Once you have learned the basics of how to knit from other sources, use this book to help you to knit customized garments that fit well.

Crocheting resembles knitting, only you use a single needle with a hooked tip rather than two or more smooth-tipped knitting needles. This book offers clear instructions for beginning to advanced crocheting. Very readable and accessible, even if you have never crocheted before.