Favorite Reference Books About Yarn: All Your Questions Answered

Next to needles, yarn is the most fundamental material any knitter needs. But something as seemingly simple as yarn is actually quite complex. Many knitters experience frustrations with unexpected pilling, garments that grow unexpectedly once wet, or yarns that look beautiful wound up, but feel scratchy or rough next to the skin. In this article, we will review a few of our favorite reference books about yarn.

These helpful guides are essential sources of information about yarn that will help knitters of every level untangle the mysteries of yarn!

The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Clara Parkes’s The Knitters Book of Yarn is one of our favorite books in this category. It’s a must-have for anyone interested in how to read a skein to figure out how that particular yarn will behave when worked into fabric. The book includes in-depth information about different fiber types, spinning methods, ply constructions, and more, plus designs specially commissioned to highlight the strengths and minimize the drawbacks of various yarn types. This book also includes valuable information on how yarn is made, who makes it, and how it gets to you.

Clara has a companion book to Book of Yarn as well as many other books on the knitting life. The Knitter’s Book of Wool goes in-depth on the most popular and original fiber – wool! You’ll want these books side-by-side on your knitting reference shelf.

Related: Clara Parkes: The Yarn Seer

The Yarn Garden: 30 Knits Using Plant-Based Fibers

For those vegan knitters among us, or those simply looking to try something new, plant-based fibers are where it’s at. They are also increasingly popular for knitting in the hot weather of summer. But plant-based yarns have their own unique properties that can be a little intimidating at first. J. Marsha Michler tells us all we need to know in The Yarn Garden: 30 Knits Using Plant-Based Fibers. This book includes patterns along with information about the properties of plant-based yarns. You’ll learn about their characteristics and how they are manufactured, and how to care for finished objects made with them.

Another great book with patterns and a trove of information on plant-based yarns is Knits From the Greenhouse: Knitting Patterns for Plant-Based Fibers by Cornelia Bartlett.

Related: Characteristics of 3 Summer-Friendly Plant-Based Fibers

The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn

The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn, by Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson, is a unique encyclopedia that showcases over 200 animals and the fleece they produce. This book profiles fiber-producers from around the world, from the North African camel to the Navajo churro. As you flip through the book, you will see many pictures of each animal’s fleece at every stage of production, from raw to cleaned, spun, and woven.

The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs: Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns

Speaking of spinning, for those feeling like they might want to try creating their own yarn, there is no better reference than The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs: Techniques for Creating 80 Yarns by Sarah Anderson and Judith MacKenzie. With this book, you can discover the satisfying fun of spinning your own yarn! There are detailed instructions on how to create over 80 distinctive yarn types, from the classics to more novelty styles. You will learn the architecture of each type of yarn as well as find out about expert techniques for combining different fibers and how to manipulate them.

Did your favorite yarn book make our list? Share books you love in the comments below.

Fairy Godfather knits and designs in Toronto, Canada. IG: @fairygodfatherknits

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