Handspun yarn can be made from many different types of raw fiber. Animal (protein) fibers are those such as wool shorn from sheep, goats or camelids (such as alpaca and llama). Plant fiber (cellulose) examples are cotton, or bast fibers (from the stem of a plant) such as flax (linen) or ramie. Man-made fibers that handspinners use include rayon and lyocell (Tencel).
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- Wool: Breeds of Sheep Maintained at Oklahoma State University. General information, photos, history of breed, bibliographies.
- Wool: Navajo-Churro Sheep Origin, history, characteristics and preservation of this rare breed. Breeder list. Published by Navajo-Churro Sheep Association.
- Wormspit.com Silk work by hand: silkworms, reeling, spinning and weaving.
- Cotton: From Field to Fabric Educational overview from the National Cotton Council.
- Qiviut (or Qiviuk) Luxurious down fiber from the Muskox. Hints on preparing and spinning the fiber; vendors.
- Department of Textile Fabrics Article from the Smithsonian Institution covering the basic natural fibers.
- Soybean Protein Fiber Background on this fiber produced from soybeans, describing the process.
- Fibercritters An email discussion list for anyone having an interest in those animals who provide fiber for fiber artists. Information on how to join; message archives for members only.
- Libeco Lagae: From Fax to Linen Basic history, biology, growing, preparation, and end use. From The Linen House, an online store.