I  guess if you HAD to get rid of one, it would be the first one - the paragraph description. But I REALLY would prefer both of them to be there.

(And without the word "attenuated"!  I'm well educated, read nightly and people always consult me for correct spelling. But "attenuated" is one I'm going to have to look up in Webster's!)  :)

I agree with Autumn Spinner. I like both too. I like to know how a yarn was made so that I can either copy it or do somthing different to get the effect I want. I also like the spects so that if I have a skein of yarn that was spun earlier I know if it will work or not.

I like both too.  A new spinner may be intimidated by ratios, ply direction, tpi, etc.  A written description is more approachable.  The box is useful for more experienced or more technically oriented spinners.  

I like the box because it provides specific information if I want to duplicate or come close to the yarn mentioned. However, I think that newer spinners are less likely to be intimidated by the written description.

I would prefer them both, but if I had to eliminate one it would be the Project Notes Box.  Knowing what wheel it is spun on is not real helpful as most of us only have a couple of wheels and we are not going to run out and purchase the one the yarn was spun on.  Many spinners don't even understand tpi and the other measurements and if they do, they can figure out from the description what they want their own yarn to be.  How about reducing the box and eliminating some of that information such as wheel, ratios etc.

Along with the other commments - I like both - but if I had to choose one, it would be the paragraph not the project notes.  I like to know what others have done and the basis behind their work, but prefer to design my own projects - use my intelligence and my learning - not follow a recipe.  And, with apologies to Autumn Spinner, I do like words that are appropriately used - even if I have to look some up on occasion.

I can't adequately tell you all what it means to me to be able to have this kind of conversation about what some would think is the minutia of magazine making, but what is really, really important in our little world. It is great to have your various viewpoints, thank you for weighing in.

I like both but find the technical information in the box to be more useful than the paragraph's prose. I don't know if it's strictly necessary to include wheel and whorl info - tpi, twist angle, and wpi are more crucial to anyone who wishes to spin a yarn similar to that in the article.

I've always thought that the point of offering this sort of information was to allow spinners to stretch a bit and learn, whether it's technique or terminology, so please don't take away the informaiton we need!

Having both is nice but if one must go, then I vote for keeping the "project notes" box.

The paragraph simply does not give the complete information needed to duplicate the yarn.  The project notes box does.

I prefer the first, but thats probably due to the fact that we use metric measurements in Australia and I'm a bit lazy about translating from Imperial, lol!

I have a hand-crafted wheel from an unknown maker so much of the info in the box is irrelevent.  I cannot even buy the tops or roving mentioned locally, so the prose is of far more use when I try to spin something similar.

Thats not to say the box is irrelevent; there are many spinners who will find it easier to use and for whom the references have meaning, so as long as space is not at a premium, can we have both please?

Hi

I prefer having more information - you can always take what you find useful and ignore the rest.  True, there may be more information than beginners can use initially, but later on, as they expand their knowledge base this information can be very useful.  Even when you plan you own projects, if you want to be able to duplicate you own yarn, knowing what this terminology means can be very helpful.  

To keep the magazine interesting for more than just beginners, I would keep information that is useful to multiple levels of spinners.

I often find myself going back to old issues re-reading articles that did not seem relevant to me in the past - but now I am exploring different arenas and find the technical stuff useful - even if only as a point of departure.  (OK - so I'm a bit of a tech-y.  Sometimes I count treadles...).

Peace.

I find the notes box more useful than the paragraph simply because it's laid out in a more graphic manner. It's just like how a man can't seem to ask for directions;  I would rather have you draw me a map. I need to have some kind of visual to help me out. I am still a fairly new spinner and I have to go back and look up some of the terms used

I would prefer the notes box.  I find the information really useful particularly the yarn weight and the length used in the project.  It helps me to decide whether I would consider doing the project and how I could change it to suit my personal preferences.

I prefer both, as well, but I find the notes box to be more informative and useful.

Hi,

I prefer both, as wll,  But  in the box are so many informations of others expériences , wish are really helping to progress is spinning, even if we dont do the same project.

For my part it offer me  a time of reflexion about my onw expériences, and help sometime, understanding errors. I could made,.II also provide interessing informations for further projets to do ,with more confidence.

Sorry for my english, I'm french canadian.

The main information I like to have is the fiber type (breed, if possible, and $ blend) and preparation (top, roving, batt, locks), spinning style (worsted, woolen, semi-this or that) and direction, TPI and WPI. It's handy to have TPI and WPI on both the single and the plied yarn, if it's available.  That's usually what I read the project notes for.

Actually, a yarn close-up like those in Handwoven would be perfect, but I realize it isn't always possible.

The information on wheel, ratio, etc. is okay, but as Gwen pointed out, I'm going to use the equipment I have, so mostly I look at that as entertainment -- "oh", I'll say to myself (not out loud!) "they plied at a lower ratio than they spun the single; I wonder if they treadled faster or not?"

Like many of the others, I'd keep the box with the specs, because that's more detailed and useful. However, some of things there aren't necessary:

-Wheel used (for reasons previous posters mentioned)

-Wheel system (same as above)

-Ratio (If you understand the other stuff, you can make a good choice yourself)

- Singles direction spun (unless it's a novelty yarn, it's probably not very interesting)

- Plied direction spun (unless it's a novelty yarn)

- Yarn classification (can figure it out from YPP and WPI)

While it might be interesting to add the singles WPI, I think if you eliminated the other categories you might have room for the paragraph, which would hopefully give insight into why the spinner made the choices.

I also like both.  I like the paragraph because I enjoy the personal touch and it gives different information than you can glean from the project box.  I like the project box because it gives pertinent info about the project that isn't always included in the paragraph... but I don't always use all the info in the box.  Perhaps you can condense some of the info in the box to make it smaller and keep both?

I didn't feel like the paragraph added much so I would leave that off. It seemed too basic... things that shouldn't really have to be detailed in a summary. The panel looked to have better depth of information and even if I don't know what everything is at first read, I can do some work and find out. That would certainly help me grow. Maybe a techniques and glossary section on this web site that includes each panel subheading would be really great. Once everything is documented and standardized, the panel would be very useful to everyone.

I too, like both to be included.  Though I'm inclined to agree, that we aren't likely to run right out and buy the wheel cited in the summary, it is interesting to hear what tools (including wheels) that others are using. I felt comfortable purchasing my Kromski wheel after reading about the family business and the history of their quality wheels in SO. Even though we don't buy a wheel often, it is helpful to have been exposed to what others are using.

I would even go a step further and add yet another visual, using something like the "Spinner's Control Card" (advertised in Spring '09 SO on page 22) showing a life size diagram of the widths of the singles while under tension, and the finished yarns.  I know that this can be figured out from the wpi info (at least the final version), but since this is a magazine that instructs spinners of all levels, it would offer an incredibly useful visual.  And for many of us, a picture is worth a thousand words.  It is nearly always surprising to me to see the difference in the diameter of my yarns under tension, and the final result so different, all plump and soft.  I think this would especially help beginning spinners.

Thanx for asking,

Midori