The Field Guide to Fleece ~ Book Review

The Field Guide to Fleece

100 Sheep Breeds & How to Use Their Fibers

By Deborah Robson 

& Carol Ekarius

ISBN: 9781612121789

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Publication Date: 27 Aug 2013

RRP: $14.95 US

   

If you read my blog you'll know that in 2014

I started learning to spin.

As part of this new journey I decided to buy some fleece

so that I could try the process from start to finish.

As part of that this book was on my wish list.

This book is ideal for any spinner or anyone just interested

in sheep and their fleece.

It is packed full of soo much information yet

it's in a brilliant handy size that will fit in your

handbag or pocket.

It only measures 7" (18cm) x 5" (13cm).

Each of the 100 breeds covered in the book

have their own detailed set of pages

to help you with learning about their fleece

and how it spins, dyes & what it's best uses are.

At the start of the book you learn all about what fiber can tell you.

You learn all about crimp, length, diameter, coat & wool (kemp).

The breeds are in alphabetical order so it's

really easy to find the breed you are looking for.

With the clear pictures it's also easy to find

a breed just by what they look like.

When I was actually reading this book a sheep was on

a television program.

The program didn't tell you what the breed of sheep was.

I flicked through the book and within 30 seconds

I knew what breed of sheep they were.

I was amazed how easy it was to find out the breed of sheep.

It was a sheep milk farm and the breed of sheep was

the British Milk Sheep.

It's amazing the amount of information is

given for each sheep and their fleece.

At the start you are given a general description

including the best was to prepare the fleece.

Then you have information about how the fleece

is affected by dyes.

Then it details what the best use of the fleeces are. 

There is also a picture of the sheep so you can identify them.

On the other page you have a picture of the fleece,

including staple length.

You also have detailed some general information;

Origin

Fleece weight

Staple Lengths

Fiber Diameters

Natural Colours

& a space for you to enter field notes.

You also have a little note on each breed

with some quick useful information.

I have to say I love this book.

I already feel more confident about dealing with the

fleeces I have purchased.

I think I will use it more and more as I go on my journey with my spinning.

Even if you don't want to buy the fleece untreated

the guide is brilliant for detailing what you can

do with the wool, how easy each breed fleece is to dye

and what the best uses for the fleece are.

Sometimes when you are looking at wool it's confusing

what wool you should buy for which project.

This book gives you all the information to make the right decision.

I would highly recommend this book.

It's well written, perfectly set out, a brilliant size & very useful.

   

I received this book to review.

However all opinions expressed are my own.

Affiliate links are included on the post.

No monies were exchanged.