Customer Reviews

Spin Off

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Spin-Off is the MUST HAVE subscription for anyone spinning fiber (wool, silk, cotton, flax, etc.) on a spinning wheel or drop spindle. There are also articles on using the yarn once spun, such as knitting, embroidery and weaving, and how spinners can learn to spin particular fibers for particular uses. Featured articles have been about dyeing fiber and yarns for knitting socks, spinning dog wool, and how to restore or tune-up a spinning wheel. There are often contests on spinning particular fibers. Advertisements inside offer a huge variety of spinning wheels, drop-spindles, combing cards and other accessories, which are often handcrafted. There are notices about upcoming shows and displays of spun fiber-arts.

It is an EXCELLENT magazine for new spinner and veteran alike!

Spinning is an ancient craft. You read about it in all kinds of literature. You may recall Rumplestilkin. Many of the needle arts suggest you start with spinning. In the 60's one would carry it with them as they would knitting material. We would find many stores in crafty neighborhoods selling equipment and fibers at many stages.

Today for the general public it is relegated to a few TV programs or magazines. The skill is not lost, yet is not as visible as it once was.

For those still dedicated of having items that still take skill and craft we have this magazine. For dyed in the wool spinners a subscription is a must. For many others an occasional issue may have a particular pattern that they can use with had crafted or commercial fibers.

Don't be fooled by its glossy cover this magazine is technically ept and serves as a professional magazine. Even the ads alone are worth the price. We learn where to get materials for spinning dying and even ways to use our finished products.

Too bad it is just a quarterly.

Interweave press also produces some excellent books.

Spin Off has lots of articles, not just on spinning, but weaving and knitting too. Lots of good patterns and info. I don't spin but love yarn crafts so I like it and get something from each issue. One recent issue had a hat pattern that I intend to knit for using odds and ends of yarn - just like we all have left over from past projects!

This is my favorite magazine. It has great pictures and great instructions to help the beginning and even advanced spinners. It offers projects and info. that I dream about. I read these magazines over and over.

Spinning yarn must seem to some people really insane...I mean, you can BUY yarn almost any where, and yarns range from the mundane workhorse yarns for afghans and plain stuff to incredibly decorative yarns adorned with spangles or made from exotic fibers such as yak, musk ox or llama. So why do you need to spin? I can only answer that fiber arts are fascinating to some of us, and spinning is a very interesting way to handle fiber. And it's relaxing. If I need to calm down and get a grip when the world is tossing me too many fast balls, I get out the spinning wheel and make a skein or two of yarn.

For hand spinners, this has been THE magazine for quite a while. Each issue features articles on a number of the aspects of spinning. For example, there might be an article on spindles from the ancient times, or how silk was spun in Imperial China, to a portrait of a wheelmaker or spindle craftsman, to technical articles on handling various types of fiber. There are often projects such as knitting or articles on making particular kinds of yarn (fine lace, bulky, cotton, silk or novelty.)

Now the magazine has the back issues and current issues in digital form and I think this is wonderful. Over the years, we crafters tend to collect and keep back issues of magazines and then you either have to index them or figure out how to organize them. With the advent of DVD's and digital media, you can have your magazine on your computer. While I like leafing through a print magazine, I've pretty much had it with shelves of back issues. I'm all for the digital now--ecologically sound and easier to organize and reduce clutter.

If you are a spinner, you probably already are a subscriber and if not, you NEED this publication. It's a joy. If you are considering if you'd like to spin, I recommend you try an issue of Spin-Off and perhaps attend one of the many fiber festivals around the US that are held during the year. The magazine really gives a good idea of the many aspects of handspinning.