This book is for beginners in the ancient handcrafts of spinning, dying and weaving, and has been compiled especially for those readers who cannot have the benefit of regular personal tuition but must rely on printed words and illustrations. Includes information on the various sheep breeds and the specialized uses to which their fleeces are best suited. The different types of wheels and looms, their respective advantages and limitations for the beginner are fully discussed and illustrated, and lists of points to watch for when buying them will save the purchaser from making costly mistakes. The hand processes involved all along the way from the raw fleece to the final finishing of the woven or knitted article are described with admirable clarity and simplicity. The section on dyeing includes the use of both synthetic and natural dyestuffs, with detailed notes on the plant varieties suitable for the dyer to experiment with. For the weaver, 20 simple patterns, 10 for the table loom and 10 for the treadler, are given, and the beginner who becomes proficient in these patterns will have acquired the basic techniques called for by the whole range of advanced weaving. Numerous photographs and drawings.