Call for Submissions Spin Off Fall 2023: Carding Tools & Techniques

Carding cloth—with its perfectly bent, blunt tines arranged in rows—is ubiquitous in our spinning lives. We not only find it on handcards and drumcarders but also on flick cards, blending boards, and giant industrial carding trains. Yet, all of these tools are used in very different ways, create different results, and, boy, do we have opinions about each of them!

This fall, our annual tool issue focuses on all things carding, and we want to know what you think. What’s your best piece of advice for spinners shopping for their first drumcarder? Do you prefer curved or flat handcards—why? Do you have a favorite go-to blend? Do you have strong feelings about using a wool picker before carding?

Stunning punis in Merino and bamboo from Blue Barn Fiber. Photo by Matt Graves

We are looking for projects that make best use of carded fibers. Do you have a shawl design that highlights the complexity of art punis? How do you design sock yarns that last using carded rovings? Show us your fall essentials that make use of gradient rolags, squishy finewools, or funky batts. Join us in the Fall issue of Spin Off as we celebrate carding. We want to hear from you!

—Kate Larson, editor

Coils of pin-drafted roving are as appealing as candy. Photo by George Boe

Share your article and project proposals for the carding issue of Spin Off!

Submissions due: November 21, 2022

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.
Web content—if you have an idea for a shorter piece, about 300 to 500 words, please submit your proposal to us.

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. 

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.