Amy's Blog

Green Spinning

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:23:00 GMT

If you have ever attended our Spin-Off Autumn Retreat (SOAR), you know the sweet anticipation that precedes the release of the Spring 2010 issue of Spin-Off and the announcement of the workshops and mentors. Of course, now that we have a website, those...(read more)

Treasure Box

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:10:00 GMT

Most knitting magazines today are to a large extent about style—lovely models, this season's new yarns, this year's fashion looks. I love them for their freshness, inspiration, and inventiveness—I get some really good ideas from them...(read more)

A Heart For You

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:26:00 GMT

I have my Spin-Off 2010 Calendar hanging right next to my desk; the image for February is one I put together for the calendar when we designed it last summer. February is a fun month for our family because we have a lot of birthdays to celebrate—and...(read more)

Spin-Off 2008 Compilation CD

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:28:00 GMT

There's something wonderful about how a craft as basic and transcendental as spinning flourishes in this age of iPads, Blackberries, and Netbooks—and, in fact, is sometimes enhanced by the technology that often seems the antithesis of spinning...(read more)

Happy 1-Year Anniversary, Spinoffmagazine.com

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:21:00 GMT

Can you believe that it's been a year already since we launched spinoffmagazine.com —amazing how quickly time passes when you're having fun, isn't it? We have more than 18,500 users (hey, that's a lot of spinners all in one place...(read more)

Thank-You Cards

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:10:00 GMT

Recently, I received a thank-you card for my thank-you card. It made me smile (can you imagine the spiral of thank-yous that could occur—I mean—when do you stop?). I guess handwritten thank-you notes are going out of fashion. Or maybe not...(read more)

What are your plans for Roc Day?

Amy Clarke Moore — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:27:00 GMT

Happy New Year! Roc Day or St. Distaff's day is coming up--January 7th. It is traditionally the day that women returned to work (ie spinning) after the feast of the Ephiphany and the twelve days of Christmas. Ironically, today is the day that I put...(read more)

Respect the Spindle

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:08:00 GMT

This past June, the Spin-Off office had a special treat. Abby Franquemont flew out to Colorado from her fiber-filled house in Ohio to spend a couple days filming footage for two videos ( the first one is already available ). Stefanie Berganini and I were...(read more)

Why you haven't heard for me in a bit

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:14:00 GMT

I've been working on a very special project. Meet Sarah Helen Moore, born September 25, 2009. Hannah adores her little sister and can't kiss her enough. A friend made matching hats for the girls and a blanket for Sarah....(read more)

The All New Homespun, Handknit book

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:26:00 GMT

About twenty-two years ago, sitting in my college dorm room, I opened a care package from my Aunt Debby and found an amazing book—a collection of small handspun and handknit hats, scarves, mittens, and socks called, Homespun, Handknit. Published...(read more)

Does this sound familiar?

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:57:00 GMT

For years, you've had a secret, inexplicable yearning to make yarn—a subconscious desire that you've resisted, rationalized away, and pushed to the back of your mind. Things have happened, though, that make this resisting harder. Perhaps...(read more)

It’s Fall, Already!

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:05:00 GMT

I'm surprised by the crispness in the air in the mornings and the smatterings of autumn leaves on walkways. Fall sneaked up on me, and I really have no excuse since I work on the Fall issue all summer long, but there it is. Can you believe that the...(read more)

Navajo-plying with Sarah Anderson

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:21:00 GMT

A note from Amy: I first met Sarah Anderson virtually through a submission to Spin-Off magazine where she introduced me to her wrap-and-roll spinning technique; she spun a lively, buoyant yarn using a spindle and a spinning wheel simultaneously. You can...(read more)

What It Takes to Make a Calendar

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:42:00 GMT

When our publisher, John Bolton, suggested that we make a 2010 calendar for Spin-Off in the tradition of Quilting Arts Magazine 's annual calendars, Stefanie Berganini, Linda Ligon, and I were enthusiastic about the suggestion and full of ideas. Linda...(read more)

Color in Spinning

Amy Clarke Moore — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:10:00 GMT

*Click the links to see lots more photos!* I've been working on a baby blanket for my sister's baby since last autumn, and in May my sister Julia gave birth to a little girl. The blanket is domino-knitted from my Navajo-plied handspun yarn. The...(read more)