Get your wheels and spindles ready! The Tour de Fleece starts tomorrow, Saturday, June 26. During this annual event—which runs concurrently with the Tour de France—spinners of all levels challenge themselves to spin every day (except on the two rest days).
The beauty of it is that you’re not competing with anyone but yourself. You set your own goals and try to meet them. A new spinner, or someone with only a little time to spare, might aim to devote just a few minutes a day to spinning. A more advanced spinner, or someone with a lot of spare time, might aim to spin up a sweater quantity of yarn. It’s all fine—the only rules are to challenge yourself, spin, and have fun (Ravelry link).
You can spin solo or join teams, if you like. They’re a fun way to keep yourself motivated and learn from other spinners’ projects. Plus, you get to ogle lots of beautiful fibers and colorways.
This year, I’m spindle spinning on two teams. For the Three Waters Farm team (on Ravelry), I’ll be working on a WIP of some lovely BFL in the Rainy Day Man colorway. My goal is a minimum of ten minutes a day, hopefully more.
I’ll also continue spinning my WIP of heathered BFL in the Amethyst colorway for the Greenwood Fiberworks team (they’re on Facebook—the group is private but you can request an invite). I’ve already finished one 2-ply fingering weight skein of this colorway; during the TDF I hope to finish a second skein, or at least get close. My goal for this project is also a minimum of ten minutes a day. So I’ll be spinning at least 20 minutes a day, more on the challenge days.
Are you participating in the Tour de Fleece (TDF)? If you are, drop me a note in the comments. If you’re posting on Instagram, I’d love to follow you. For me, one of the best things about the TDF is learning from observation—seeing how other spinners prepare fiber for spinning, or wind their cops, or ply a skein.
I used to be an off-again, off-again spinner. Last summer, being on the Three Waters Farm team helped me become a devoted daily spinner. I’ve missed very few days since then, and now I look forward to those quiet moments each day when I set everything else aside and simply watch the spindle twirl round and round.
Below is the project I’ve been knitting with the Three Waters Farm Targhee I spun during last year’s TDF. The colorway is Rocks and Sand, which I spun randomly, without aiming for any particular outcome. I’m really pleased with how it’s worked on the yoke of this sweater (Branches and Buds Pullover by Carrie Bostick Hoge, with modifications, which you can read about here).
If you’re spinning, have a fun and productive Tour de Fleece!
LINKS
2021 Tour de Fleece (Ravelry link)
Team Three Waters Farm (Ravelry link)
Greenwood Fiberworks Team (Facebook link)