Skip to product information
1 of 2

Long Thread Media

Spinning the New Fibers Video Download

Regular price $24.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $24.99 USD
Sale Sold out

Access more than 140 video courses (including this one) with a Long Thread Media All Access subscription, bringing you up close to experts in spinning, weaving, needleworking, felting, and dyeing. View Spinning the New Fibers on our streaming platform.


What are you spinning right now? Bet it's not bananas ... or steel. But did you know those materials can create some great fiber for spinning?

The textile industry is inventing new fibers at an astonishing rate. Many of these are based on recycled waste materials (yep, recycled, which means they are eco-friendly): tofu liquid, banana plants, sugar cane stalks, and more. The results are often finer and softer than their natural counterparts (silk, cashmere, cotton), and gentler on the environment.

Patsy Zawistoski has researched a wide range of these fibers in depth and has used them to spin up beautiful and useful yarns. Now, you will get all her great knowledge in this video workshop. She'll show you:

  • How to identify mystery fibers with a simple burn test without setting your hair on fire
  • What to look for in a spinner's market, and why you should buy it now (because it probably won't be there later)
  • How to spin a garment that will protect you from evil rays
  • How to spin glow-in-the-dark yarn
  • And oh, much more

Break away from the traditional and take an adventure with these new fibers!

But even if the idea of "synthetics" makes you itch, you'll want to know about these new offerings–how you can identify them, blend them, dye them, spin them, and use them.

Or just toss off fascinating facts for party conversation. Throw this fun trivia out there and everyone will be impressed: "Did you know you can knit mittens out of stainless steel and wool, and wear them while you use your phone?" They will be even more impressed when you tell them that you can make that stainless steel yarn.

If you're purely committed to the good old standbys of wool, silk, cotton, flax, and all their relatives, that's okay! But open your mind to learning about this brave new world. It's full of surprises.

If you'd like to purchase the streaming version of this video, visit: Spinning the New Fibers

Running Time: 98 minutes

Author/Designer: Patsy Zawistoski