Table of contents for Winter 2026 in Spin-Off

This article completes a trilogy of reports that began in Spin Off in 2019 (see Resources) on my excursions into the world of creating dyes from plant materials gathered in New South Wales. My fascination with the processes of foraging dyestuff, natural dyeing, spinning, and knitting has resulted in a total of 126,351 meters (78.51 miles) of singles that ultimately became 42,117 meters (26.17 miles) of three-ply yarn! By the time my most recent stash of colorful tops weighed around 13 kilograms (28.7 pounds), it became clear that I had to draw a line and start using the fiber. As I tackled the spinning, and even more so during the knitting, I began to wonder whether this time I had bitten off more than I could chew! COMBINING COLORS FOR…

eventsinestes.com/estes-park-wool-market/ Celebrate the Tradition of the 2026 Estes Park Wool Market June 11–14, 2026 | Estes Park Events Complex Mark your calendars! The Estes Park Wool Market returns June 11–14, 2026, continuing a beloved tradition in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. For over 30 years, this annual event has celebrated the journey from sheep to shawl with workshops, demonstrations, animal shows, a fiber show, and a vibrant vendor marketplace—all set against the stunning backdrop of Estes Park, Colorado. Workshops will be held June 11 & 12, offering hands-on classes in spinning, dyeing, weaving, felting, and more. Then, on June 13 & 14, enjoy the Vendor Market, Fiber Show, and Animal Shows, featuring fiber animals, fleece competitions, and handcrafted goods from artisans across the country. Whether you're a seasoned fiber…

Mutton wasn’t a sheep, but a Coast Salish Woolly Dog who died young and whose pelt sat untouched in a drawer at the Smithsonian for 160 years. When Harbour Publishing first sent me a copy of The Teachings of Mutton, I had to know—who was Mutton, and what can he teach us? Alongside Coast Salish co-authors, author Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa untangles the many mysteries of the Woolly Dog and pieces them back together, repairing the story with essential Oral Histories, sophisticated scientific analysis, and research into extant written and textile records. The result is a rich and complex view into the history of the Woolly Dog, and it is a must-read for spinners interested in history. We are thrilled to share an abridged excerpt of The Teachings of Mutton here. What…

Llamas have been part of my life since the late 1980s, and I knew right away that I needed to learn to spin their fiber. Traditionally bred as pack animals, llamas can produce a wide variety of fiber qualities, ranging from fine to coarse. While not considered breeds, there are llamas that are considered ccara or classic llamas, light-wooled llamas, and heavy-wooled llamas. Our llamas are the ccara type and have distinct guard hair. While that’s never stopped me from using their fiber, I wondered about the best way to remove the guard hair and what effect that would have on the overall feel of the fiber. STARTING POINTS In my initial experiments, I tried three methods for dehairing scoured llama fiber (see next page), using fiber from two llamas—one white…

1 Keep your yarn organized with this stylish and wobble-free yarn bowl from Charan Sachar. A cutout for your yarn at both ends of the oval shape lets you use your yarn bowl for two-at-atime socks. creativewithclay.com 2 Dip your toes into supported spindling with an Orenburg-style spindle from CaptainKsWorkshop. Longtime favorites among beginning and experienced spindlers alike, these nicely balanced supported spindles are both beautiful and functional. etsy.com/shop/CaptainKsWorkshop 3 Made from irregular growths on Australian tree trunks that regrow after harvest, burlwood spindle bowls from Cardinal Woodwork are unique and delightful treats. Each bowl has a recessed dimple, carefully carved to enhance the wood’s beauty. cardinalwoodwork.com 4 At alk&me, color chemistry and artistry blend to create brilliantly beautiful color possibilities. Treat yourself to a luxurious blend, such as this…

How did you get into your craft? When you talk to many fiber artists today, working with yarn started early for them. I was 8 years old when my grandmother taught me to crochet. I was 9 when I got my first loom, and by age 13, I had learned how to spin. And the magic is still there. How did you shift from hobby to business? My fiber arts focus is on spinning. I am enthralled with taking raw wool fleece and turning it into yarn. This all led to a wonderful and hectic chapter of my fiber life: I raised Romney sheep. Throw in a few Angora goats and some alpacas—what a way to really learn about fiber! I sold merchandise from Ashford and Louët, gathered my freshly…

I fell in love with natural dyeing, not because I am a great gardener or have a lot of access to beautifully foraged goods, but because I’m a bit of a mad scientist. I want to throw things in a pot, do experiments, and generally make a mess—safely—in my apartment-sized kitchen. As I researched natural-dye techniques, I kept seeing the bright and beautiful hues we often associate with acid dyes but struggled to replicate those colors at home. My experiments became a combination of research, troubleshooting to identify some of the problems I was having, and building my skill set. When we’re talking about natural dyes, there are two sources for dye materials: those local to you, obtainable by foraging or growing, and those obtained from afar. I started experimenting with…

Although most of the dyeplants I used were familiar from my earlier projects, there were two new ones that provided pleasant surprises. The first was St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) flowers. The WeedWise website of the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries lists among the plant’s effects that it competes with pastures, can poison livestock, and can reduce property value. There are parts of the state in which it cannot be sold. Because it is so invasive and easy to recognize, there was no problem in locating sources! In her book Eco Color, India Flint gives clear instructions on how to extract three colors (bright green, maroon, yellow) from St. John’s wort.1 The second was a fungus discovered in abundance in the sandy soil next to a roadside path.…

Who doesn’t love a guild challenge, especially when it involves the community? The Atlantic Spinners and Handweavers Guild (ASH) was inspired by the theme “species at risk” for our 2025 guild challenge.1 With very few rules and a lot of discussion, spinners and weavers of ASH embraced the challenge and started projects that will be featured in a public exhibit. This project was the catalyst for us to learn more about our local environments, deepen our understanding of local species, and foster emotional connections to the environment. SPECIES AT RISK As textile artists, we often find solace in our craft. Similarly, immersion in locally distinctive elements of place, a relationship called endemophilia, can positively influence mental health.2 Understanding species at risk is part of that relationship. At the onset of this…

Was a knitter’s first instinct in tvåändsstickning wrong—or the right method for her knitting style and yarn? I recently discovered the role of twist and balance in twined knitting, also known as tvåändsstickning or two-end knitting, a historical method that dates to the mid-sixteenth century in the Swedish county of Dalarna. In twined knitting, two strands of yarn are twisted around each other between stitches. For my first project, I picked up two yarns in my right hand and quickly fell into a rhythm of using my fingers to alternate yarns, always picking up the new yarn from behind that of the last stitch. All was going well—my yarns were balanced and created a lofty, warm hat. Wondering what other knitters had to say about twined knitting, I went to…

Whether you are new to spindle spinning yourself or are looking for ways to help teach spindle spinning to others, a technique often called park and draft is one of the best tools for slowing down the process. Usually, the goal of drop spindling is to do two things at once: keep the suspended spindle rotating as you draft the fiber into yarn. Park and draft breaks the process into more manageable steps. My advice is to get started with a clean, highquality roving. Here, I’m using a Border Leicester roving with a staple length of about 4 inches (10 centimeters). This means the individual wool fibers are about 4 inches long. (Staple lengths of 3 to 4 inches are easy for many people to begin with on drop spindle.)…

Safety First Natural doesn’t always mean nontoxic. Be sure to follow all appropriate safety measures while handling mordants, natural dyes, and assists. Check with your municipality for instructions on disposal of any materials that may be considered hazardous. Use Dedicated Equipment While many of the tools used for dyeing can be found in your household kitchen, once a tool is used for dyeing, it should no longer be used for food preparation. Know Your Materials Different fiber types require different mordants, modifiers, assists, and even some dyes. Understanding whether you’re using a protein or cellulose fiber goes a long way in choosing the right materials and processes. Easy Cleanup For her natural-dye experiments, Andrea likes to use fillable, compostable tea bags to contain her natural dyestuff. She recommends adding as…

When I was learning to weave cedar and Elder Sarah said to me “Hey, Violet. I heard you’re weaving.” I nodded, yep. “And did you learn how to pull the cedar from the tree?” Yes, I did. She motioned for me to come sit with her. So I went and sat with her and she said, “I want you to understand what you’re asking from a cedar tree when you pull its bark.” I said, “Okay.” And she said, “It’s like me asking you for your skin.” Okay, like that this is a serious thing I’m thinking. She said, “So now when you go gather cedar, you put your hand on the tree and you just feel it. Does it feel okay? If it feels okay, you introduce yourself to…

While there are plenty of tools that rug hookers use, all you need to get started is some backing material, an embroidery hoop, a hook, yarn, and scissors. Here are some tips to get you started: • When drawing your designs on your backing, be sure to use a marker that won’t bleed. • Mark the outline of your project by following the warp and weft threads of your backing. Be sure to leave 3–4 inches of backing on all sides for hemming. • When rug hooking, your working yarn stays at the back of the work. Pull a tail up to the surface with your hook. Holding the working yarn in one hand at the back of the work, and holding the hook in your other hand, push the…