As we wrap up 2025, we’re taking a moment to look back at the many topics our contributors and the Spin Off staff explored over the past year. Out of 120 (and counting!) articles published on the Spin Off site in the last 12 months, these were the ones readers loved most. From fleece to tools, fiber to finished objects—and everything in between—here are 10 standout posts. We’ll let you decide which ones are your favorites.
10. Plying Help! 4 Ways to Splice Your Singles
When one bobbin runs out of singles for plying, it's time to splice! Photo by Kate Larson
What do you do when one bobbins runs out of yarn during plying? It depends! Kate Larson walks you through the pros and cons of four options. Find your favorite method here.
9. Knitting the Zig Zag Tunic in Handspun
Amy Tyler's Zig Zag Tunic is cozy and comfortable. Photo by Gale Zucker
Amy Tyler’s Zig Zag Tunic is a crowd favorite. Originally designed for millspun yarn, this pattern has the cozy feel of a favorite sweatshirt, with a fun zig zag detail to keep the knitting fun. We asked Amy how a spinner might choose a fiber or yarn style to pair with the Zig Zag Tunic, and she had lots of great tips!
8. Can I Spin an 8-Ply Yarn Without Cabling?
Discover Kat Pong’s method for making multi-ply yarns. Photo by Kat Pong
When we ply, most of us are working from a lazy kate that has space for three bobbins—or maybe four, at the most. Cabled yarns are often the trick for adding even more plies, but this adds extra weight to your yarn and gobbles up yardage. Spinner Kat Pong solves this problem with the “laziest kate,” plus offers some tips and tricks for dealing with all those singles. Read the full article here.
7. Willowing Wool
Willowing Corriedale wool. Photo by Jesse Telephone
You might have heard of waulking wool, but have you heard of willowing? This is one way to remove debris from washed wool before spinning. It requires nothing more than a few good sticks, but benefits from friends to join in and make it a community event. Read about Riley Kleve’s experience with Willowing Wool.
6. Spinning Nettle in the Himalayas
Purnima and Nun Suba are washing and pounding fibers from the giant nettle plant, also called allo or sisnu, in the Himalayan village of Sikles. Photo by Kathleen Mahoney
Harvesting and processing this prickly plant is labor intensive. In the Himalayan village of Sikles, the whole community pitches in. Follow the process from harvest to spinning to weaving with Karen Brock and Kathleen Mahoney.
5. Full of It: 6 Ways to Rough-Finish Handspun Yarn
What’s the best rough-finishing method for wool? It depends! Photo by Pamela K. Schultz
Spinning your yarn is just the beginning—how you wet-finish it plays a big role in how it will act! For knitters who want to make wool yarn more sturdy, rough-finishing is a great option. But how? There are lots of ways to do it, from mild to intense. Editor Pamela K. Schultz puts six rough-finishing methods to the test so you can choose the right one for you.
4. Why Choose a Blending Board if I Already Have A Drumcarder?
Blending boards are portable and easy to store
A blending board is a seriously cool tool—you can use it for many styles of fiber preparation, it’s less expensive than a drumcarder, and it’s portable. Learn why the blending board is Debbie Held’s tool of choice.
3. The 2025 Spin-Along: With a Twist
Sivia Harding’s Equinox Cowl, which appeared in the Winter 2025 issue, inspried the 2025 spin-along theme.
Spin Off readers get excited about our annual spin-along every year, and 2025 was no different. And 2026’s spin-along is just around the corner, so get your wheels, spindles, and e-spinners ready for even more fun!
2. Scandalously Easy Scouring: My Quick-and-Dirty Method for Washing Wool
Take your fleece from dirty to sparkling clean the easy way. Photo by Joann Zeman
A hot-button issue among spinners is how to scour wool. It can be messy and fussy, but Joann Zeman blew us all away with her method for Scandalously Easy Scouring. Give it a try yourself!
1. Kumihimo 101: Getting Started
Make a variety of braids with a little bit of yarn and a simple braiding disk. Photo by Angela K. Schneider
If you’re looking for an easy way to use up little bits of handspun yarn, keep kumihimo in mind. This Japanese braiding technique is one you’ll want to add to your repertoire. Get tips and tricks and a free video showing you how to get started in Kumihimo 101.
What topics would you like to see us cover in 2026? Drop us a line at [email protected] to let us know!
P.S.
Stephenie Gaustad in her kitchen, which doubled as the set of her video course Spinning Cotton, in 2010. Photo courtesy of Long Thread Media
On a more somber note, in 2025 the spinning world said goodbye to Stephenie Gaustad. Spin Off co-founder Linda Ligon joined Stephenie’s many students and colleagues in paying tribute to this legendary spinner, teacher, and friend.