3 Spin Off Magazines That Changed My Handspun Yarn

In 2005, I was working on a farm in northern Vermont milking cows and managing a grass-fed flock. Once a week, my soon-to-be husband and I would drive to Burlington to have a restful day of bookstores and cafes. While I slowly sipped coffee, I would read each issue of Spin Off from cover to cover repeatedly. Spin Off quickly became a vital connection to a community of people who love what I love: glorious handspun yarn.

Kate still loves Spin Off and coffee as a welcomed break. Photo by Kate Larson

While there are articles and projects (even ads!) in every issue that influence my handspun yarn, some articles have served as watersheds in my fibery education. Here are just a few:

Kate knitted this pair of socks after reading the article by Janel Laidman. Sock photo by Kate Larson

1) “Fractal Spinning” by Janel Laidman in Spin Off Summer 2007 taught me to take my top-splitting preparations more seriously.

Kate experimented with the active twist in her yarns. Swatch photo by Kate Larson

2) “Swoopy Skirts” by Kathryn Alexander in Spin Off Winter 2008 taught me that not only is plying not a requirement but that the twist energy of singles can do amazing things!

Kate spun a harmonious palette after reading Elizabeth Johnston’s article. Bobbin photo by Kate Larson

3) “Blending & Spinning for Fair Isle Knitting” by Elizabeth Johnston in Spin Off Summer 2018 encouraged me to drop a bit of natural color into my carded blends to harmonize colorways.

My subscription to Spin Off meant that a new batch of curated spinning articles would come my way each season, challenging me to try new things and find answers to questions I didn’t even know I had. Our community continues to thrive, always moving forward. Become a subscriber and join us for the journey!

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Kate Larson, editor of Spin Off, teaches handspinning around the country and spends as many hours as life allows in the barn with her beloved flock of Border Leicesters.

Originally published October 25, 2018; updated August 12, 2024.