Ursula's Alcove

Catalog : Books : Spinning & Felting

Spin-Off Magazine
Interweave Press

$7.99
Spring 2010
112 pages.

Spin Off - It's about making yarn by hand. "Learn how to spin thick singles", all silky and plump for texture. A great discussion by Madelyn van der Hoogt about the mechanics of spinning silk and the needs of weaving yarn. "Buying a spindle" -find out what weight is best for you by Amelia Garripoli. "Spinning Fine Yarns" by Carol Huebscher Rhoades takes a look at commercially availble fibers that allow you to achieve that really fine yarn. She also covers a little bit of entertaining history in her definitions of how fine is fine. The armchair traveler visits Montreal. We learn the difference between a bobbin lead and flyer lead (single drive and double drive) by Abby Franquemont or as I like to think of it - "what the heck is that scotch tension thingy about?"

The Great Yarn Caper at SOAR 2009 by Linda Ligon - see what goes on and what you missed! There are some great shots of Jeannine Glaves from the Tulsa Spinning Guild. Side note: If you are heading out to the castle for the Oklahoma Renaissance Faire, you'll see a lot of the Tulsa Spinners in action. So come on by! End blatant plug.

Diane Lalomia helps us learn which fibers to choose. And finally, this month's fiber focus is on Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) by Patsy Sue Zawistoski. She includes instructions for making crocheted earrings and an inkle woven necklace. (Yeah, patterns other than knitting!) The gallery this month includes a pattern for knitting button-up neckwarmers. And that does not cover all that you can learn by reading this quarter's issue of Spin-Off!
-Ursula