Hemp

Spinning and Weaving with Hemp

As we approach National Hemp Day this February 4th, learn how to spin and weave this versatile fiber that has been used for clothing, textiles, sailcloth, and more throughout history.

Devin Helmen

What Are Natural Fibers?

We gathered some fibers we had on hand for this introduction to natural fibers. The list is nowhere near exhaustive, but it provides examples of common plant and animal spinning fibers.

Amy Clarke Moore

Color Transformation in Naturally Colored Cotton

How you treat your cotton can affect its color over time.

Stephenie Gaustad

Long Thread Podcast: Stephenie Gaustad

Season 4, Episode 8: From her first treadle sewing machine to her houseful of beautiful, useful fiber equipment, Stephenie Gaustad has turned her dreams of textiles into the fabric of life.

Anne Merrow

Straight Talk on Hemp: Legends and Truths About the Forbidden Fiber

February 4th is national Hemp Day, so we thought we'd share this article from 2015 by Stephenie Gaustad and the late Alden Amos in celebration of this bast fiber.

Stephenie Gaustad

Alden Explains It All: What’s the Difference between Plied Yarn and Rope?

Alden’s endlessly curiosity about machinery and textiles was infectious! Here he describes the differences between plied yarn and rope.

Stephenie Gaustad

Hemp and the Farm Bill

Hemp is a truly amazing plant. It grows fast, requires very little water and is easily grown without pesticides. Different parts of the plant can be used for soaps, paper, building materials, and, most importantly for us, textiles.

Christina Garton

Learning to Spin Flax

Have you tried spinning flax? I love opening a new strick and imagining all of the textile possibilities for the long, lustrous fibers.

Kate Larson

Exploring Bast Fibers: Lemongrass

There is a curiosity in the fiber arts; regardless of age, skill level, or purpose, we want to understand how yarn behaves in our knitted, woven, or crocheted projects. In the last few years, my curiosity has led me to bast fibers and the process it takes

Meagan Condon

Say What? Secret Handspinning Terms Decoded

Listening to spinners speak to each other feels like trying to understand a foreign language. Here’s a list of my favorite handspinning terms.

Elizabeth Prose

Roving Reporter: How I Tackle a Textured Spinning Batt

Kate Larson

Natural Fibers: Free Spinning Projects on Alternative Fibers and More

Learn how to prepare and spin natural fibers for spinning in this exclusive, FREE eBook that includes free projects on alternative fibers and more.

Spin Off Editorial Staff