First there was the Knitting Olympics (for knitters).
Then, there was the Knitting World Cup (for knitters).
I introduce to you, for the first time anywhere, the Tour de Fleece! (for spinners!):
Here is the first run at a set of guidelines, which I'll edit and refine once I get a moment. But the basics are here:
The Tour de Fleece 2006
Eligibility: Any spinner who would like to take on a spinning challenge during the 2006 Tour de France bicycle race.
Concept: You will set yourself a personal spinning challenge. You will begin spinning on the first stage of the Tour (July 1st), and finish on or before the last stage (July 23rd). You, of course, may spin on those days designated rest days for the riders.
Rules:
1. The idea is to set yourself a challenge. It doesn't matter what the challenge is -- it could be spinning fine for the first time, or producing an artsy fartsy yarn as an exercise, it could be spinning enough for a specific project. If you've always wanted to spin a little every day (say, a spinning meditation practice), but never seem to find time for it, perhaps that could be the challenge -- spinning every morning of the tour. What matters is you set out the challenge, and meet it during the specified time.
2. There will be no spinning before the start of the first stage.
3. You must finish spinning before the last stage ends.
4. You may sample and do other research as needed beforehand if it helps you decide on your challenge, or will help provide you the tools and information you need to meet the challenge.
The Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey)
As much as I enjoy the different categories of the Tour de France, for the purposes of the Tour de Fleece, there is only one option -- the Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey). Either you meet your challenge, or you don't.
Finishers will get a button for their blog. Once I figure out what it should be (I have the basic idea in mind, though). Of course, there is the immense pride in undertaking the Tour and riding -- er -- spinning to completion.
(I do want to offer up a prize. I'll figure this out in a bit. If anyone out there wants to donate something, that would be great, too, but if not, there will be at least one prize that will be drawn for at the end).
Who's in?
I'll be setting up a Tour de Fleece web page with links to all participants, as well as a permanent home for all the information for the Tour de Fleece. I've also got a button that you can put on your web site to show that you are participating, so I'll put that there, too. But in the meantime, if you leave me a message in the comments or send me an email (link in sidebar), I can gauge if there is any interest in the Tour de Fleece, or if I'm just going to be spinning by myself this year.
(Which is okay, because then I win the prize!...Ahem...)
What am I spinning?
Possibly a box of roving from Rovings, in the Parrots colourway, but they're away this week, so it couldn't be ordered, thus ensuring its arrival before the Tour starts. So I may set myself a different challenge. Possibly spinning a small amount of merino/silk blend to see if I can actually do it.
I would love to join the Tour de Fleece. I think I need a little push to work on my spinning. I am just learning to spin and my challenge would be to fill a bobbin. Unless you know of a better challenge for a newbie ;-)
Posted by: Cathy | June 06, 2006 at 10:29
Cathy, if it's a challenge for you, then it's a challenge, and it's fine. I decided to try to organize this so that each person could decide what they needed right at this moment.
So, that's two of us. Any more takers?
Posted by: k | June 06, 2006 at 16:12
Hey
I don't have a blog, but my school holidays fall in those dates, so I'd love to. I'm going to set my self the challenge of spinning up a bobbin full of singles to match one I already have, and then plying them together and finding a purpose for the yarn.
Does that sound okay?
I love the idea of the challenge, it seems like a brilliant incentive.
Becca
Posted by: Becca | June 07, 2006 at 00:05
I would love to join Tour de Fleece! After taking spinning classes last fall, I purchased my first wheel, but, and sit down, I have YET to spin on it...graduate school kept me too busy. So I'll be an amateur, but I'll give the challenge my best!
Posted by: beverly | June 07, 2006 at 08:25
I love, love, love this idea. I think I'm in. I'll just have to think about what my challenge will be.
Posted by: Cheryl | June 07, 2006 at 09:49
ooh, ooh, ooh!
Me!
I have to decide what a fitting (and reasonable) goal should be, but I think this might just help me get up, get off my tail, and get something -done- with that wheel rather than just using it for a room decoration lately.
great idea!
Posted by: eliza | June 07, 2006 at 12:07
Oh, I am SO doing this!
Posted by: Marianne | June 07, 2006 at 12:22
hehe, fun!
Let's see, a challenge for me. Spinning at least 2oz of the soy silk/merino blend I have, into a lace weight yarn. Should be fun cause by than I'd better have a newborn in the house.
Posted by: Betty | June 07, 2006 at 12:35
Oooh, I've got a raw fleece that I've been glaring at.
My challenge is to go from fleece to knitting ready yarn. Washing, preparing to spin, spinning. I've only ever spun from commercial tops, so this is my challenge.
Posted by: Emma | June 07, 2006 at 21:29
Ooh yes, me too please! I think I'm going to go from handpainting the roving (which I have done, but very badly) and try navajo-plying for the first time.
Posted by: Helen | June 08, 2006 at 11:23
I've been told by Herself how pleased she is at the positive response she's been getting to Le Tour de Fleece 2006, and she's asked me to get a web page set up for keeping it organized.
To keep the fleece, er, peace, I'll work on getting it up and running this weekend, Come Hell or High Water (coughs nervously, looks over shoulder for any evidence of some ancient dude gathering up animals two-by-two...)
Stay tuned for more details on where Le Tour de Fleece will flock...
Yr fthfl srvnt,
T.O.
Posted by: The Other | June 08, 2006 at 22:27
That's a fabulous logo. I wish I were a spinner, sadly, I'm not. But I'll cheer y'all on!
Go Spinners!
Posted by: Aarlene | June 08, 2006 at 23:42
Yes please! I think my challenge will be to spin up some of my roving and do a three-ply - I've never done three ply before, and I have a bunch of alpaca that would look stunning in three ply.
Posted by: Sarah in DC | June 11, 2006 at 12:34
I want to join the Tour de Fleece! I have some lovely 50/50 merino and tencel in a "fiesta ware" colourway - I intend to spin it lace weight (which seems to be all I'm spinning lately) and navaho ply it for a scarf/shawl.
Posted by: Kate | June 11, 2006 at 17:08
wow... now there's a challenge for me.. just to get myself back into spinning after a near 7 year absence. Turns out just this week I was given 4 bags of Alaskan Malamute dog hair, some of which I will spin into a couple skeins to gift back the person who donated it, mixed with some wool. So sure, I'm in..
Sadia.. a knitsib
Posted by: Sadia | June 11, 2006 at 19:07
Well, it's up. The page for Le Tour de Fleece 2006, that is.
You can find it at http://wabisabi.typepad.com/le_tour_de_fleece
Yr fthfl srvnt,
T.O.
Posted by: The Other | June 12, 2006 at 00:21
My first visit to your site and I find this - the Tour de Fleece. Very cool and something I really want to do. I will have to decide on my challenge, though. Maybe some fun novelty yarn using my angora.
Posted by: Fuzzarelly | June 12, 2006 at 21:52
I'm in! A friend just sent me to your site because she knows I'm a cycling nut, and this challenge is great for me because I am a very new, baby steps kind of spinner. So I hearby pledge to practice with my drop spindle during every morning of OLN coverage of the Tour (and that's 5:30am out here on the west coast!). I'll even post pictures of my results at the end. ;) Great idea!
Posted by: Sarah | June 13, 2006 at 23:12
Wow -- I'm so pleased at the number of folks joining up. It's great hearing everyone's plans, and it'll be great to check in on blogs during the Tour to see how things are going....
Posted by: katherine | June 14, 2006 at 08:27
Count me in!
Posted by: Carolyn | June 16, 2006 at 06:25
OK, the Participants List in the sidebar of Le Tour de Fleece (http://wabisabi.typepad.com/le_tour_de_fleece/) has been updated.
If I've inadvertently missed anyone who's thrown their spindle in the ring (so to speak), my apologies... please advise and it will be corrected.
Yr fthfl srvnt,
T.O.
Posted by: The Other | June 18, 2006 at 17:35
I'm in. I want to spin up all samples from Spirit Trails Fiber that I have in my stash. I think I have 16 of them. I want them all to be fine enough to nkit a lace shawl when done.. so it will be my first fine spinning. yippee!! Thanks for this.
Posted by: anj | June 20, 2006 at 14:54
I'm in! I dyed some roving a while ago in what can only be described as clown colours. I want to spin it for a pair of socks. The challenge for me is that it will be spun on a drop spindle and I've not spun for a specific project before. I may just be getting a wheel in time for this so then the challenge will be to learn to spin with the wheel and produce something usable. The best thing is that I'll be on hols from work for the entire challenge! I couldn't actually have planned that better. :-)
Posted by: Sue | June 24, 2006 at 11:19
Ooh--great idea! I'm in. I am a total newbie spinner and want to think about a reasonable challenge for a day or two.
Thanks for organizing this!
Posted by: The Purloined Letter | June 26, 2006 at 10:51