Most mornings, before I’ve looked at email or the news, I sit down and spin, usually with vibrant, cheerful colors. Color is powerful, whether you reach for bright, saturated hues or calm, soothing pastels. It provides comfort during tough times, a refreshing break after a long day, and the motivation to embark on new creative projects.
While I love color, I haven’t always felt confident about how to choose it, often defaulting to the same colors and color combinations. Luckily, there’s always something to learn, and there are plenty of new ideas, techniques, and ways to be inspired in this annual color issue.
With Ladianne Henderson’s advice, you’ll learn how to understand your preferred color relationships so you can refine your choices or even step out of your routine—without stepping out of your comfort zone. Debbie Held revisits the combo spin, a much-loved technique that is a fun and freeing way to work with color.
If you’re excited by dyeing with natural color from plants in your own backyard and beyond, we have a trio of natural-dye articles by Andrea Deck, Theresa Hornstein, and Stefanie Johnson. If you want to dip into dyeing without much equipment, try Katherine Augustine’s approach to dyeing in the kitchen with food-safe dyes.
If you want to jump right into a project as you experiment with color combinations, check out the Color-Block Socks by Summer Lee. These bright, fun socks are a wonderful way to try lots of color combinations and bust your stash at the same time.
Wherever you find yourself in your color journey, my hope is that this annual color issue reminds you that color is both a refuge and an adventure—and that this issue inspires you to spin something new.
Happy spinning,
Pamela
Ready to explore this issue? Get your copy of Spin Off Spring 2026 in the library or by subscribing today.