Almost all fabrics, whether woven or knitted, are produced from spun thread. However, this thread or yarn, produced by the spinning operation, either by a hand spinner using the simplest drop spindle or spinning wheel, or spun on the latest automated spinning frame, is rarely in a form suitable to be used immediately for producing a fabric. A broad range of tasks must be undertaken before the actual fabric production is reached. "Yarn Preparation" is concerned with the preparation of yarns which have been spun from staple fibres, and describes the post-spinning processes prior to fabric manufacture, such as yarn doubling, winding and spinning. Covers the operations to consider when producing a fabric by even the most basic of techniques. The information on basic processes, machinery and equipment should assist those people involved in the production of fabrics by showing ways to improve the quality to the end product. Includes a list of suppliers, sources of further information and a reading list. This is a valuable book which fills the need for a practical manual specifically about yarn preparation. Much has been published about the main textile areas of yarn manufacture and fabric production (both weaving and knitting), because yarn preparation tends to be a series of link operations, there have been very few books specifically directed to this area of processing. The "Small-Scale Textiles" series aims to present basic information about all aspects of small-scale textile manufacture from raw rmaterials to finished products, and will be of use to fieldworkers, development agencies, and those starting small-scale manufacture or attempting to improve or extend manufacture.

John A Iredale