By Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius. This exhaustive reference on animal fibers is written by two experts in the field: Deborah Robson, former editor of Spin-Off magazine and Carol Ekarius, author of Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep. The book is divided into two parts. The first, comprising about 3/4 of the text, is dedicated to sheep. The breeds are grouped by family, describing the qualities of the breeds within the family and comparing and contrasting them. The specifications of the wools include fleece weight, staple length, fiber diameter, lock characteristics, and colors. Tips are given for fiber preparation, spinning, dyeing, and use for each breed. Large color photos show the fiber raw, clean, and spun for each, along with images of the sheep.

The final fourth of the book covers other fiber-producing animals, including goats, camelids, bison, dogs, musk oxen, and rabbits. The same kind of descriptions of fiber qualties and uses are given for these animals.

This book is an invaluable resource for spinners, dyers, and anyone interested in animal fibers for use in textiles.

Hardcover, 438 pages