Meet JOAN, the Cotton-HEMP Spinner
JOAN S. RUANE TUCSON, ARIZONA
Joan S. Ruane: Lifelong Spinning Instructor
Joan S. Ruane has been teaching spinning for more than 45 years, sharing her passion for fiber arts with students around the world. A graduate of Springfield College, Joan began her career teaching in the Tucson public schools before traveling to New Zealand in 1971, where her lifelong journey with spinning truly began. In a country known for its sheep—then home to 30 million sheep and just 3 million people—Joan learned to spin under the guidance of Ruth Reid, returning to the U.S. a year later with two fleeces, a Pipy wheel, and a flick carder.
While continuing her spinning education through classes and workshops, one experience proved transformational: a workshop with Persis Grayson, whose ability to inspire curiosity across many fibers helped Joan discover her true passion—cotton spinning. This led her to study directly with cotton experts Harry and Olive Linder, authors of the definitive book Hand Spinning Cotton.
In Florida, Joan and her business partner Judy Kates opened Spin & Dye, a warehouse shop supplying imported wheels, fleeces, and dyeing materials. After relocating to Tucson in 1980, Joan owned and operated Spin & Weave for 12 years before eventually settling in Bisbee, Arizona. There, she founded Southwest Corner, a mail-order business supplying cotton fiber and equipment worldwide, and helped establish the Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild, making Bisbee a hub for fiber arts in southwest Arizona.
Over the years, Joan has written three books, produced four instructional DVDs, contributed to numerous fiber publications, and created a wide library of online spinning videos. Today, Joan is slowing her travel schedule and focusing on teaching in and around Tucson, while mentoring the next generation of instructors. Her legacy continues through Julie Drogsvold and Melanie Duarte, as well as through Lunatic Fringe Yarns, the distributor of Joan’s “Easy to Spin” cotton sliver and hemp fiber.
*see bottom of this page
A Turning Point in 2024
Change often arrives quietly, asking us to pause and reflect.
For many years, my life has been shaped by travel—moving from place to place to teach spinning, connect with fellow fiber artists, and share the traditions I love. These journeys, both near and far, have been central to my work and my joy.
In May 2024, a visit to New Zealand became something more than another trip. I spent time with Ruth Reid, my first spinning teacher, now 94, whose influence continues to guide me decades later. I also saw Jenny Poore, who—with her husband Philip—made my very first spinning wheel, the Pipy, a tool that helped launch my lifelong path in spinning.
That visit carried a sense of quiet completion. It felt like honoring the beginning of my journey while acknowledging that a chapter was naturally coming to rest. The experience was filled with appreciation, memory, and a deep sense of gratitude for all that spinning has given me.
This moment marked a gentle turning point—one that invites reflection, balance, and a renewed focus on sharing knowledge closer to home while celebrating the legacy of a life devoted to fiber.
Ruth Reid who is still living on her farm in Northland NZ
Jenny Poore who was the maker of the Pipy and Windy spinning wheels
Julie Drogsvold
9-2025 Julie is taking time off to pursue further education. Keep her in mind for workshops in 2027
Julie has been raising fiber animals since middle school. Her college studies focused on Secondary Education and costume design. Raising fiber naturally led to spinning and weaving and then into teaching. Julie’s ranch, Tangled Yarn Farms, nestled in the Sky Islands of southern Arizona, specializes in Navajo heritage Angora goats, Angora rabbits and heirloom cottons. Her teaching style reflects her love of natural luxury fibers and joy in learning. Twitter; TangledyarnF
Instagram@Tangledyarnfarm
Julie’s email: tangledyarnfarms@gmail.com
It is time for more young instructors to get into our fiber art field of teaching. I am thrilled to have found two very talented spinning teachers that are willing to travel and teach cotton spinning. Cotton is not their only fiber they love and will teach but each have proven that they can continue spreading the word that “cotton is easy to spin”.
.
Looking to have a Cotton Spinning workshop!!!
Melanie Duarte
Melanie Duarte is a fiber artist and teacher from Maine. First a knitter for many years, Melanie started spinning in 2014 and began teaching in 2019. She has written articles and been a guest blogger at Ply Magazine. Her specialty is long draw, and favorite way to spin is from hand carded rolags, however she is happy to spin from the fold. Melanie’s love of long draw led her down the cotton path around 2018. She often spins cotton sliver on her wheel and is proficient on the taklis and charkhas. Melanie is also a weaver. She writes monthly on Substack at melanieduarte.substack.com and posts regularly on Instagram @porchpegasus
Mel’s email: melanieduarte@me.com