Spin Off Call for Submissions Summer 2022: Intentional Texture

From super slubby to smooth and silky to soft and fuzzy—spinners love texture! With endless options for manipulating texture in our fibers, yarns, and finished textiles, there’s always more to explore. Some spinners add vibrantly dyed neps and noils to their batts and yarns, while other spinners carefully comb wool locks to achieve noil-free perfection. Both are creating intentional texture.

Do you have a favorite technique for successful tweeds? What yarn structures make gansey knitting patterns pop? Or maybe you want to share a great new shawl pattern that uses a traditional two-ply yarn and a touch of well-placed bouclé. Maybe you think the spinning world should know more about knop yarns. Join us for our Intentional Texture issue!

Spinning a silk and yak blend from the fold using a woolen or semi-woolen draft will allow the yak to bloom and create a fuzzier yarn surface. Photo by Kate Larson

We are looking for articles that explore the finer points of making art yarns and projects that use them to best effect. Tell us about your favorite techniques for accentuating or subduing texture in fibers and yarns to create cloth.

Sometimes consistently spun “traditional” yarn structures are needed to create wonderful textures in finished textiles. From cut pile carpets to the angora halo of Bohus Stickning sweaters from Sweden, we can see that simple two-ply yarns have long created some of the most captivating textures.

Share your article and project proposals with Spin Off as we go in search of intentional texture.

Most Bohus Stickning designs from Sweden have a distinctive hazy surface texture that smooths color transitions and feels totally luxurious. Here is a modern handspun version in yak and Merino. Photo by Kate Larson

Submissions due: August 16, 2021

We are looking for: 

• Feature articles—stories, profiles, history. 

• Handspun projects—instructions using knitting, weaving, crochet, or other techniques with handspun yarn. 

• How-to articles—tell us how it is done. 

Stefanie Johnson’s Rainbow Fish Infinity Scarf from Spin Off Fall 2019 uses two different handspun yarns and a wrapping technique to create texture. Photos by Caleb Young/Goodfolk Photography

Use our convenient online submissions form to send us your article and project proposals and attach photos and sketches, too. Have an idea that doesn’t fit our theme? Send that to us, too! We may be able to use it in an upcoming issue. 

Also, we are always looking for content for our website. If you have an idea for a short piece, about 300 to 500 words, please submit your proposal to us. 

Questions? Contact us at spinoff@longthreadmedia.com. 

Online Submissions Form Spin Off Summer 2022 

Contributor’s Guidelines 

Photo Guidelines

Submissions due: August 16, 2021

We will notify you of our decision in September 2021

Articles and projects due: November 2021 

Do you want to be added to the Spin Off Call for Submissions email list? Sign up here.