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Roving Reports

Report from the Spin-Off Annual Retreat (SOAR)

gentle readers... this year's SOAR was held in the Poconos, PA, and boy was it a grand time! For those who've never been, SOAR is a converging of passionate spinners from all across the Americas, and around the world for a week of spinning learning, camaraderie and hijinks!

Everyone there is dressed in their best handspun fiber finery and petting can be seen and felt at every opportunity. The most often asked question is not "what is your name" or "where do you live" or even "what class are you taking". Rather it's "what fiber is it?" because everyone knows that is the most common ground among the participants. Details of name and place are secondary information, incidentals to be discovered once the important information is out of the way.

This year Spin-Off arranged an excursion to the Home Textile Tool Museum in Orwell, PA. It was a trip well worth taking. It's a museum that houses many, many different types of spinning wheels, looms and other textile tools.

here is one of the volunteers demonstrating the use of a "gossip" wheel with two flyers. Contrary to popular belief, these wheels were not used simultaneously by two people, but rather one spinner could spin with both hands simultaneously, thereby increasing their production. These wheels were mostly used for flax, a method which would put the fiber on a distaff so that only one hand would be needed to guide the fiber into each orifice.

one of everyone's favorite parts of SOAR 2008 was the visit of Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez, her husband Paolino and their friend Aquilina Castro from The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, Peru. Nilda taught a class in Peruvian spindling, and Aquilina demonstrated spindling and weaving in impromptu moments throughout the week. Here Amy Clarke Moore, the editor of Spin-Off, is admiring Aquilina's skill at the backstrap loom.

Although Aquilina didn't speak english, she spoke to everyone's heart through her hands and her smile.

The final night of SOAR is always a big spin-in with music and merriment and last minute hugs, and promises to keep in touch. Everyone tries to keep the magic going as long as possible, and Sunday is always the saddest day.

If you've never been to SOAR it's well worth starting your savings now. Next year SOAR will be in Bend, Oregon.

Video of Aquilina and Denny dancing at the final spin-in by Ann (FiberMusings)

keep an eye out for our roving report on NY sheep and wool in Rhinebeck coming soon!

If you are interested in being a roving reporter please email