It was truly wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends at this year’s Spin Off Autumn Retreat (SOAR). Each year, the event is just a little bit different, but every year we are delighted by the spirit and creativity of our fellow spinners. We hope you’ll join us next year at Heritage Hills Resort in York, Pennsylvania—mark your calendars for October 11–16, 2026, and keep an eye on your email for ticket information. We can’t wait to make more memories together, but in the meantime, here are some cherished memories from SOAR 2025. —Spin Off editors
The Highlight of Fall
Sadly, I didn’t take any photos from SOAR 2025, but my photo app popped up a reminder of what I was doing two years ago at the same time—enjoying SOAR. Visiting with the spinners and friends who have been coming to the event for years, seeing how the projects they started at last year’s event have turned out, and welcoming new spinners into the fold are the highlights of every SOAR for me. I’m delighted that the participants who pulled up a chair for the first time a few years ago have become old friends after a few years. SOAR has been the highlight of my fall since 2006!
—Anne Merrow, Co-founder and Editorial Director, Long Thread Media
The folks at Louët graciously provided a yarn-winding station, featuring the new Louët ballwinder. Yarn pictured is Mandy Slub in Flamingo, available from Yarn Barn of Kansas. Photo by Tiffany Warble
The Heart of SOAR
It had been ages since I last went to SOAR—back when I was part of the cheerful crew organizing our fiber-filled gatherings across the country. Being back among fiber friends felt like coming home. Meeting PieceWork readers and fans, and spending time with one of our talented authors and designers, was such a treat. But the best part? Reuniting with longtime SOAR attendees I hadn’t seen in over a decade. How is it possible they haven’t changed a bit? Their laughter and whimsy, kindness and talents are still the beating heart of SOAR—just as they always were.
—Karen Brock, editor, PieceWork
Karen Brock, Kate Larson, Julia Gomez, and Debbie Blair at SOAR 2025. Photo courtesy of Julia Gomez
Colorful Colcha
What can I say about Julia Gomez’s Colorful Colcha Embroidery class except, “Wow!” I’ve long admired embroidered works of all sorts, yet have only dabbled in the craft myself. So I jumped at the chance to take Julia’s sampler class on colcha embroidery.
Julia teaches traditional colcha embroidery, meaning this couching stitch is worked on sabanilla cloth, woven from wool, using hand-spun and naturally dyed yarn from Churro fleece (and all without the aid of an embroidery hoop). What I loved about working the colcha stitch was that it was a bit freeform in nature and I could fill in each motif fairly quickly, tacking long sections of yarn to the fabric using small, repetitive stitches.
As we sat meditatively stitching away, Julia talked about the history of colcha embroidery, the Churro sheep, her three decades teaching in New Mexico’s public schools, and her recent trip to Washington D.C., where one of her embroidered pieces was selected for a special exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum through September 2026. I’m excited to have found a new passion where I can use my small bits of handspun to add decorative elements to pillows, shawls, and more.
—Debbie Blair, associate editor, Farm & Fiber Knits
Tasty Samplers
Besides the opportunity to hang out with other spinners for a week, one of the great things about SOAR is how much variety there is in the classes from year to year. This year, I enjoyed learning about new yarn structures, first in Kate Larson’s intensive, Sweet Feet: Spinning for Socks, then enjoyed learning new plying techniques like ply on the fly with Amelia Garripoli’s sampler, Spindles Can Ply! And like, so many others, I was blown away by the possibilities Charan Sachar presented in his sampler, Creative Knitting with Art Yarns.
—Pamela K. Schultz, editor, Spin Off
Pamela’s class samples from SOAR. Photo by Pamela K. Schultz
Will we See You at SOAR 2026?
Be sure to save the date for next year’s Spin Off Autumn Retreat October 11–16, 2026, at Heritage Hills Resort in York, Pennsylvania. Tickets go January—be sure to keep an eye on your email for more information!
