Hello Spinners,

First off, I would like to wish all of our readers a happy and healthy holiday season! As I write this I have just returned from the "Mecca" of spinning, SOAR - the Spin-Off Autumn Retreat. I had a really incredible time meeting spinners from across the country and around the world who congregate once each year to share their passion for spinning. Interweave puts on a really first class event, and it is an event that can be a lifetime experience. Barbara di Jeannene reports on SOAR for us in this issue, and we also have a report from Rhinebeck's New York State Sheep and Wool festival from Ted Myatt, a knit blogging friend with a wonderful sense of humor.

Our featured spindle makers this issue are Sheila and Michael Ernst, who make glass spindles! We have dedicated this winter issue to the supported spindle, a spindle that is often overlooked by spindle enthusiasts. Yet this type of spindle is incredibly versatile and has played an extremely important role throughout the history of spinning. If you are not yet familiar with supported spindling, I hope this issue's pages entice you try it, and if you are already a supported spindle spinner, I hope you find inspiration from our articles and projects.

We are pleased to announce the winners of our Spunky Top hat contest in this issue's Reader's Gallery. All of the entries were wonderful and we appreciate all the photos that you folks send in. So if you've completed something recently from handspun yarn (doesn't have to be spindled, it could be wheel-spun), we welcome you to share it with us and all of our other readers!

We're also excited to introduce a new venture for us: our upcoming cruise to Alaska in fall 2007. You will find links to the information in this issue, and we really hope to meet some of you next autumn in Alaska! As we begin our second year of publication we are looking to the future with new ideas, projects, inspirations and events. We hope you will join us as we sail into 2007!

-- Janel