SOAR 2025: Meet Instructor Julia Gomez

A life-long educator, Julia Gomez found a passion for colcha embroidery in 2000 when embroidery artist Beatrice Maestas Sandoval invited her to El Rancho de las Golondrinas. Julia fell in love with Churro sheep and the breed’s long history as she spent many happy hours at this living history museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Julia studied colcha embroidery with Beatrice, and she was also learning to spin wool and dye the yarn—all using materials grown on the ranch.

A Tribute to the Animals" by Julia Gomez. Can you spot the churro sheep?

Julia loves sharing the history of colcha embroidery, which uses vibrantly dyed Churro singles to create incredible tapestries using one single embroidery stitch. (It’s true!) This couching-style stitch is easy to learn, which opens up so many options for making it your own, exploring pictorial motif in a rainbow of colors.

A palette of Julia's colors in naturally dyed handspun Churro singles.

We are delighted to welcome Julia as a SOAR instructor this year. Her half-day workshops will provide kits with the embroidery yarns and ground cloth so you can focus on learning colcha-embroidery techniques and hearing about the history of this Spanish-American tradition. You’ll also have an opportunity to get a close look at Julia’s embroidered works and hear about her journey as a noted textile artist.

Julia spins and dyes her embroidery yarns from Churro fleeces.

What Else Can I Expect at SOAR?

For more than 40 years, the Spin Off Annual Retreat (SOAR) has been a beloved institution, gathering far-flung spinners every fall. Like many long-running events, it can mean something different for each attendee. It can be a chance to see friends each year or an opportunity to learn from instructors from around the world. It can also be an escape and a great shopping experience. Here's a peek at a past SOAR:

Will We See You at SOAR?

Classes are filling up! If you’re considering joining us, note that only a handful of spots remain. With fewer than 80 spaces in the retreat, you’ll want to make sure to register soon. We can’t wait to see you at SOAR!

Get your SOAR tickets today!