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What Is Saint Distaff’s Day? (And what does it have to do with rocks?)

Learn what a distaff is and the history behind Saint Distaff’s Day.

Your Finished Object: Rumpelstiltskin Shawl

Learn how one novice spinner overcame the challenges of drafting and spinning a combination of long silk fibers with shorter alpaca and camel fibers to create this beautiful striped shawl.

A Little Gift: The Helix Scarf to Knit

Enjoy this free garter-stitch pattern with short-row ruffles—a quick knit using handspun yarn!

Long Thread Podcast: Stephany Wilkes, Sheep Shearer & Author

Season 8, Episode 6: Seeing a need for sheep shearers in her region, Stephany Wilkes picked up clippers and learned one of the most demanding—and necessary—trades in agriculture.

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Blending Ratios: Experimenting with Nepps, Noils, and More

How much recycled sari silk do you need to create a pop of color? Does a pinch of Angelina lead to a glitter-bomb batt? Riley takes a deep dive into carding ratios.

Her Handspun Habit: Why Targhee Makes For Great Handspun, Handknitted Socks

I was sure I didn’t much like spinning Targhee, nor did I love knitting socks. That is, until I came across a pair of socks so sensational that they called into question whether I knew myself at all.

Subscriber Exclusive

A Little Gift: Small Change Scarf

As 2023 comes to a close, our wish is that you give yourself permission to play and time to use your handspun! As a thank you to our subscribers—and a nudge to use some precious leftovers or spin some fresh color—we have released a bonus knitting pattern.

Spin Off’s Top 10 Posts of the Year for 2023

We’ve rounded up a list of your favorite Spin Off posts of 2023—and what a varied list it is!

5 Tips for Suri Alpaca and Wool Blends

Do you want to add a bit of bounce to your suri fibers? Jacqueline has tips for combing technique, wool types, ratios, and more.

Holiday Gifts for My Spinning Tools

When I was growing up, my mother told me about the legend of the animals that would talk at the stroke of midnight on Christmas. I never checked what our old horses might say; it was too cold to go to the barn at midnight.