Why You Should Join a Spinning Guild (Plus How to Find One)

There’s a little corner in my living room where I like to spin. Early in the morning, after the pets have had their breakfast, I drink my coffee and enjoy the peaceful sounds of my spinning wheel. This ritual is quiet and meditative, and an essential part of my day.

Modern spinners often find spinning to be a solitary craft, but it wasn’t always. Connecting with other spinners is an essential way to learn and grow in our skills and build community. I’ve just returned home from the Spin Off Autumn Retreat, where I had the opportunity to meet new spinners from all over the world, connect with old friends, and learn techniques that I can’t wait to incorporate into my regular spinning practice.

Returning to “real life” after such an amazing experience is always bittersweet, but one way to have part of this experience year-round is by connecting with your local guild.

What Is a Spinning Guild?

There are many different ways a spinning guild can be organized, but at its most basic, a spinning guild is simply a group of people who share something in common—a love of spinning! Some guilds meet in person, others meet online, and others have a hybrid model. Many guilds are volunteer-run, and most have a small yearly fee to help cover the cost of meeting spaces, refreshments, and speaker fees.

Why Join a Spinning Guild?

Joining a spinning guild is the perfect way to break out of your spinning corner and meet other spinners. Many guilds include educational programming as part of their regular meetings and sometimes bring in teachers for longer workshops. And, if you’ve been wanting to get out in the community and demonstrate spinning but don’t want to do it alone, guilds often have outreach programs you can volunteer with.

In addition to the opportunity to meet and learn from other spinners, many spinning guilds have lots of extra resources. Often called the “guild library,” these resources include books, DVDs, and even equipment like spinning wheels, drumcarders, and other tools that you can check out before you commit to buying them.

How Can I Find a Spinning Guild?

We’ve made finding a spinning guild easy with the Spinning Guild Directory, which includes both US and international listings.

Is Your Guild on the List?

If you don’t see your guild in the Spinning Guild Directory, we’re happy to add it to the list! Simply send your guild’s information to spinoff@longthreadmedia.com to add your guild to the list or update contact information.