Spinning Formulas, Measurement Tools, and References – all in my pocket! Really handy! – iSpin Toolkit Review

After looking up formulas in books and losing my protractor for the zillionth time, this handspinning app showed up and put the tools I need all in one place. I LOVE this app! It is cleverly put together with a very easy-to-use interface by an already proven app writer (KnitGauge & iKnit NeedleSizer). There are so many wonderful things in this “spinners’ swiss army knife” that it is a huge bargain – I’ve paid more for just one of the plastic twist angle tools or wpi measurers that don’t really work as well for me. Plus, my iPhone is with me everywhere – the tool or formula I need doesn’t get left at home when I take my wheel to spin with friends. Some of my favorite things about the toolkit are: 1) A brilliant twist angle measuring tool! Hold the yarn steady around your phone and easily move the angle to align – a readout gives you the exact angle. How cool is that? It also lets you change the color from white on black to black on white so you can most easily see what you are doing (this is true of the TPI measuring screen as well). AND you can measure either S or Z twist angles. The app remembers your angle so that when you are checking for consistency later in your project just come back and hold up the next piece of yarn. 2) The many formulas in the thirteen (13!) calculators are from some of the most respected spinning writers and are documented thoroughly. These are not some pulled out of thin air calculations – you can see the formulas and sources for yourself. 3) WPI gauge for superbulky yarns down to the finest lace – with very simple, specific instructions for getting it right. For accuracy on the tiniest of lace threads, the gauge is measured using 5 wraps of the yarn. 4) A project estimator!!!! This is SO helpful I can’t believe how easy it is to use. Every time I buy fiber is an ordeal of “how much should I get?” Now it is no problem to figure out what the right amount of fiber for a given project should be. It is a close estimate because many factors can affect the weight, but is much, much better than a wild guess. 5) There are many more things I like about this app, but I'll quit here. You just need to try it for yourself. A spinner friend played with this app a bit - now she says that this is one of the top two reasons she wants an iPhone. I don't blame her a bit!
Review by TangleGirl (ravelry) on iSpin Toolkit.