The Spring 2010 Issue

I was out in my garden with my daughter Hannah (age 4½) this weekend looking at the tulips that are pushing up from under the snow. We marveled at robins who were gathering twigs to weave their nests and uncovered piles of worms blithely turning our compost into soil (Hannah's favorite part of gardening—the worms). It's definitely spring in Colorado—but that doesn't mean we won't get a lot more snow before spring is really here to stay.

In the meantime, there are spinning projects that are calling my name—several in the Spring 2010 issue of Spin-Off that is just now arriving in mailboxes across the United States, and soon, throughout the world. The Frosty Mornings Cowl is tempting me—cowls are so practical, they have all the comfort of a scarf without the loose ends to manage. This issue also features the results of our call for entries for Button-Up Neck Warmers—they're lovely! I've been wondering—what do you prefer? Cowls or scarves? And why? Tell me in the comments. Carol Rhoades' Cozy Crocheted Cuffs look like they are knitted, but they are brilliantly crocheted—perfect for keeping the chill of early spring at bay. And I've been tempted by the ramie necklace and earrings project simply by the pearl beads alone.

I missed the Great Yarn Caper at Spin-Off Autumn Retreat (SOAR) 2009 that Linda Ligon orchestrated, but reading about it in the Spring issue, I almost feel like I was there amid the frenzied spinning hilarity. We received an e-mail this morning from a reader about her guild's spinning antics—spinning while wearing a pillowcase on one's head. Amazingly, one can spin a decent yarn this way.

Maggie Casey wrote a great short article providing a quick list for maintaining your spinning wheel—as she says, "a little oil and a lot of love will go a long way." I'm envisioning a spring cleaning session on the back porch with my wheel.

—Amy