Anne Merrow

Anne Merrow


Natural Dyes and More: Local Color in Spin Off

The scenery in Teotitlán del Valle, Mexico, is a study in tan, but the color I remember most vividly from my visit is red. The bold scarlet of cochineal insects, one of the world’s most important natural dyes, colors the rugs for which the village near

Spinning Books That Bite Back

Everyone has some favorite how-to-spin books. But what are the books no one should use to spin?

In the Craftermath: Picking Up the Pieces

I’ve invented a new type of disaster. It's the Craftermath, and every spinner has seen one.

A Spinner’s View of Cotton Crochet Thread

Understanding your yarn is the first step toward a happy yarn/project pairing. I love thinking about yarn, so I offered to turn my spinner’s eye to cotton crochet thread.

How Can You Tell a Handspinner?

You may have heard of the knitter’s (or weaver’s) handshake: instead of greeting someone by the hand, you reach over to examine and stroke the handmade piece they’re wearing.

Lost Sock Memorial Day: How to Avoid the Sad Solo Handspun Sock

I gave my husband a pair of handknitted socks (or at least the promise of the pair on the needles) for Christmas. He has barely worn them, but not because he doesn’t appreciate them—he’s terrified of losing one or wearing them out.

Brewing Up a Batch of Custom Hand-Dyed Wool

I was standing in Maggie Casey’s shop,Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins, when she handed me a braid of hand-dyed wool with a tag that read “The Hummingbird Moon.” I gave her a skeptical look.

What to Watch While Handspinning

When spinning becomes a matter of muscle memory, I like to enjoy doing two favorite things together: enjoying my favorite shows and spinning my favorite fibers. Here are 5 favorite things to watch while handspinning.

How Fiber Prep Is Like Riding a Motorcycle

One's a scary, sexy, expensive way to get from Point A to Point B, and the other's a bike.

How to Spin Faster: 3 Ways to Up Your Handspun Yarn Output (and Why You Shouldn’t)

Looking at my fiber stash, I sometimes feel a wave of panic rise. How will I ever transform all this fiber into handspun yarn? If I have any hope of finishing the sock spin-along/knit-along I’d better get spinning.