If you’ve ever knit with handspun yarn, you’re well aware of the unique charm it brings to your knit (or crocheted) pieces. Whenever I’m knitting with handspun yarn, I always happily think about the farm where the animal was raised or where the plant was grown. Although it may be a little more expensive, the artisan craftsmanship and personal story behind each skein of handspun yarn is undeniable. It makes knitting that much more enjoyable!
To spread awareness of handspinning and weaving, The National Needlearts Association’s (TNNA) Spinning & Weaving Group is proud to present the 2nd annual Spinzilla!
From October 6-12, yarnies around the world celebrate their love of delectable, handspun fiber goodness by seeing how much yarn they can spin. Although spinning is awesome (and so much fun), the event is about much more than just spinning for the heck of it. Spinzilla is designed to increase education and awareness of handspinning on a global level, empower fiber artisans to continue their craft, support existing small business owners, and to help fund educational programs for future fiber artisans. Last year, Spinzilla raised $5,826.98 to establish a spinning component of the Needle Arts Mentoring Program (NAMP)!
For one whole week, participants spin as much yarn as they can either on a team (hosted by small businesses) or by themselves. At the end of the week, the winning team will be announced after all submissions have been processed. In addition to the grand prize, there will be additional drawings and gift certificates for which all participants are eligible.
Here’s a look at last year’s event:
So why is it important?
Besides being a ton of fun to participate, the proceeds for Spinzilla go to the Needle Arts Mentoring Program. NAMP supports children’s programs on the various needlearts: crochet, cross-stitch, knitting, needlepoint, and spinning. The funds will go toward providing materials, educational materials, and mentoring services.
Let’s spread awareness of handspinning!
Spinzilla is about encouraging existing spinners to better their craft and to encourage the spinners of tomorrow. The week is sure to be full of fiber, fun, and happy memories for all.
Team Registration is open until September 22
Rogue (Individual) Registration is Open until October 3!
There are plenty of teams with open spots, grab your friends and create an alliance! All registered spinners are entered into a drawing for random prizes! To join a team or spin rogue, visit Spinzilla’s homepage and click on the appropriate registration link. For more information about Spinzilla, check out their FAQ page here.
Spinzilla Handspinning Giveaway Kit!
To promote awareness of Spinzilla and to get you in the spinning frame of mind, we are giving away one skein of Westgate Waters Roving, one Jug of Unicorn Baby Beyond Clean fibre wash, and two packets of Unicorn Fibre Wash and Rinse.
Read the full review of Westgate Waters Roving here.
Read the full review of Unicorn Baby Beyond Clean Fibre Wash here.
Official Rules for Contest
There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
Winner will be contacted by the email address provided.
You have until September 4, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
Tell us about your favorite yarn.
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I don’t have one favorite yarn, but blue is my favorite color, so the yarn I could spin from that roving would be way up there on my “Love It” list. Thanks for a great giveaway.
I have two favorite yarns, Canon and Bernat. I choose between the two according to what I am making. I check out the pattern to see what yarns are recommended also. Thank you so much for putting together this giveaway.
Hopefully my yarn room finished. I’m converting a 1940’s carriage house. I’ve got it demoed down to the studs and ready for the construction team.
My favorite yarn is any that I can spin myself. I love that I can spin the yarn and then made something that I can use. It is an amazing thing.
I love any baby yarn. love the softness. I recently made me a blanket with brown, orange, blue, & white in baby yarn . it is so soft!
I usually use Caron’s one pound yarn… however, recently I was lucky enough to win a skein of Sweet Georgia yarn that is silk and cashmere and WOW- I really began to appreciate the value and significance of better quality yarn! I will probably still purchase mass produced yarns for baby and children’s projects- those that have to be washed a lot…. but for those one of a kind sweaters, scarves, shawls, etc, I will only purchase the best “one-of-a-kind” yarns I can find! I have never spun my own, but would love to try, as I can see that spinning my own would make an heirloom present that much more valuable!
Thanks for the giveaways!
The yarn that I use the most is Redheart – it is carried in a wider variety of colors and is on sale more often which allows me to knit more. Years ago I had a spinning wheel and did spin some wool from sheep that we had, but work and children put an end to that. I have thought about starting again thou.
I don’t think I have one favorite yarn, it really depends on my mood and what I am making. I am usually impulsive and buy whatever I think will work well.
The only thing better than finding a bargain on the yarns I need for a project, is getting free yarn as a gift or prize. Thank you for one more opportunity to win some lovely boutique yarn.
I am loving alpaca yarns right now! So soft! However, for most of my work, I prefer 100% merino wool.
My favorite yarn is one that patterns itself because its hand-dyed that way. It’s such a lovely surprise!
I don’t really have a favourite yarn. I like soft yarns in wonderful shades. I am trying to learn to spin yarn. Love the colour.
At 75 yrs of age, I want to try a NEW CRAFT that I never tried before; that is Spinning and I am going to end up learning to use a Tapestry Loom, a dream I have had all my life; putting it off because of unexpected problems that just appeared.
Thank you for this opportunity….
My favorite yarn are self patterning ones … I love how the colors come together.
My favorite yarn is one that I spun myself. It was the first time that I had ever even seek Yak’s fiber and I received a gift of a pound of a beautiful silver Yak and silk 50-50 blend to spin. It looks just like a silver ring when you put it around your finger. I spun it into a fingering weight and can’t wait to find that perfect pattern to create with it. The problem is that nothing seems just right to me so I have this beautiful, soft, yarn that just sits there begging to be knit into something!
I haven’t been knitting for very long yet but so far my favorite yarn is Lion brand Nature’s Choice organic cotton. It is so soft. I’ve just started knitting with wool yarns recently & I am enjoying the peruvian highland wool yarn my friend sent me.
My favorite yarn to crochet with would probably be Lion Brand Amazing, a worsted-weight wool-blend yarn with long color changes. My favorite yarn to “pet” thus far would probably be Fibranatura Oak (a DK-weight blend of silk, linen, and superwash wool); I started to use it in a crocheted shrug pattern and love the feel of the yarn — but the project’s been on hiatus since last winter, so it’ll probably get frogged and reused in an easier shrug pattern).
I haven’t done any spinning yet, but I’d be willing to learn for that lovely roving, and maybe do some needle-felting with any leftover bits. The wool wash would be a great help, too, as I am always looking for better products for washing delicates & handknits with.
I tend to use Berroco or Classic Elite. I like their selection of fibers and colors. I am going to try spinning and then knitting a project. I am sure I will love it!! I could sure put this prize to use for my future projects. Thanks for the opportunity
My favorite yarn is my own handspun wool.
I don’t have any one favorite yarn, but as far as my budget is concerned, Red Heart Super Savers and Cannon Eco soft are my favorites, I have a 100% alpaca yarn I bought on clearance that I adore, but I lost the label (my husband threw them away ): ), and my mohair/nylon blend is my favorite yarn that I’ve homespun so far, well I love the 100% bamboo yarn that I’ve spun too but it’s a lot harder to work with.
I love Red Heart yarn and I also love the soft yarns like baby yarn.
My favorite kind of yarn is soft and has a nice hand feel to it. I don’t have a specific brand in mind because there are so many different kinds that it is impossible to choose from. Plus home made hand spun yarn is wonderful and normally doesn’t come with a brand name.
My favorite yarn is Red Heart Soft.
I don’t have a favorite brand, usually I buy the one recommended by the author of the pattern for my project, but if I find a similar with better price to substitute , I go for it!!!!
I love Loops & Threads, Bernat and Caron
I don’t have a favorite brand. My favorite color is a blue/grey.
I don’t have a favorite brand, but I do value the softness of the yarn, and the brightest of color. I use yarns for craft projects for small children.
My latest favorite is Juniper Moon – Moonshine; it’s so soft and fluffy.
I am just starting using yarn and have not found a favorite.
I don’t have a favorite per say. Every project is different so it is a scavenger hunt sometimes to find the right yarn to work with.
As a new spinner I am finding the joy of my own homespun. Something very satisfying about spining and knitting from roving to finished item
I love any and all yarn and have tried quite a few throughout my life time making projects for family, friends, veterans, homeless and animals….I use what I can get my hands on as I know, whomever gets what I’ve made, their day may be alittle brighter and warmer 🙂
Commercial yarn: MadTosh Vintage or Malabrigo Rios. Love them both.
Handspun: Polwarth silk blend, BFL, or alpaca. I recently had a babydoll Southdown fleece blended with mohair and nylon. Spins into a great sock yarn!
Thanks for offering the promotion! Spin happy folks!