~Every year since 1992 there has been a Back to Back Wool Challenge with a mission of “Promoting wool world wide & fundraising for cancer research.” The challenge started in England, spread to Australia, and then the rest of the world until it is now the International Back to Back Wool Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to make a sweater from a sheep’s back to a person’s back in one day. “The team consists of a blade shearer, a sheep and seven handspinners & knitters. Team nominate time keepers, assessors & coordinators monitor each team competing at their own wool related venue. All teams follow the identical Challenge rules and pattern exactly as they are written.” The rules can be found here. You can also read a more complete history. “In 2004, Merriwa, New South Wales, Australia broke the 5 hour barrier. Their time:- 4 hours 51 minutes 14 seconds is now in the Guinness World Records book.
Merriwa also raised a record $15,000 for Cancer Research.”
Our very own San Diego County Spinners is the only team from the US. They are all members of our spinning class and have been practicing in class so we get a chance to watch them and listen to strategies for knocking off time. Competition day is quickly coming.
San Diego County Spinners, USA – the spinning and knitting portion of the team
Since the fiber is spun “in the raw” it’s important to protect the spinner’s lap from all of the goo.
The knitters have a timer (on left leg) to monitor their speed.
Spinner checking wraps/inch, WPI. (Sorry for the horrid snap)
If anyone wants to catch a glimpse of this team in action they will be “on display” in Bonita in May. Will post particulars closer to the event.
Tina
Oh how fun!!! Looks like a great group of gals
Curls & Q
Q – It is! Have you spun “in the grease”? I have and can’t say I really like it.
nicolekneedles
This is fascinating! I had no idea such a contest existed. Is there a live stream of the action as it happens? If not, there should be.
Less than five hours…unbelievable!!
Curls & Q
Q – The team quite after it broke the record.
They spent about 10 years perfecting their “game”. Each team set the day they are going to do the contest, so there are a bunch of different days and the locations are at the teams home towns.