Silk


What Are Natural Fibers?

We gathered some fibers we had on hand for this introduction to natural fibers. The list is nowhere near exhaustive, but it provides examples of common plant and animal spinning fibers.

What Do Yarn Numbers Mean? Weaving Yarns

Wonder what the numbers such as 5/3 or 2/20 mean in weaving yarn? Amy Tyler has the answers.

Visible Mending: 7 Tricks to Know Before You Sew

Patch it, mend it, or darn it—visible mending is hot! Transforming a worn piece of clothing with vibrant stitchwork offers a great way to show off your handspun yarn.

Learn to Cross-Lace Your Flier—Judith Shows You How

Every spinner should know this trick! Learn how to cross-lace your flier to save your hands.

Snarled Marls? Judith Will Smooth Your Path with This Quick Tip

Spinning marled yarns can be tricky. Judith MacKenzie will show you how to keep your drafting in tip-top shape in her new silk spinning course.

Long Thread Podcast: Karen Selk

Season 4, Episode 1: Weaving her first skein of silk yarn was nothing like Karen Selk expected, but the fiber enchanted her enough to shape her craft, career, and the course of her life.

Producing a Luxury Cloth from Herdwick Sheep

Few spinners are eager to spin the coarse blend of wool, hair, and kemp that makes up Herdwick fleece. But what happens when that fleece is combined with sari silk?

Five Things You May Have Missed from Spin Off this Year

A quick look back at some of our favorites from 2021.

My Three Favorite Lessons from Watching Judith Spin Silk

Build your spinning skills with Judith MacKenzie’s new video course on unusual silks.

A Lustrous Treasure: Silk in Mexico

Read about the fascinating history of silk arriving in the Americas.