There are Sheep to Shawl /Sweater competitions at many of the Wool festivals out there. I am amazed that they actually a.) are insane enough to try this b.)actually do it! c.) get it done in 6 hours or so!!!! AMAZING!
I can just tell you.. if I was doing this. I sure would want Wannietta on my team..And as we turn our eyes northward to a vaguely possible move to the Toronto Area.. some time I might be able to watch her team do it.. For those of you who are already in the area you might want to go to this:
On Sunday, May 27, the Toronto Spiders will take up the International Wool Challenge (Back to Back Competition) for the fourth consecutive year. This competition, involving teams around the world, requires that a sheep be shorn and the fleece spun, plied, and knitted into a sweater (according to a standard pattern) in one day.
After two years at the Ontario Handspinning Seminar and a year at Toronto’s Riverdale Farm, this year the Toronto Spiders will be at the Pickering Museum in Greenwood, as part of their Opening Day. The team is made up of Wannietta Prescod (the Fastest Knitter in North America in 2005 & 2006), Barbara Aikman, Julia Lee, Judy Pergau, Denise Powell, Karen Richens, and Lorraine Smith of Spinners Quarterly. Our shearer is Bob Comfort, and Joan Kass and Judy Findlay will be our timekeepers and educators. We look forward to having lots of interest and support from passers-by. Like all Back to Back Challenges, we will be raising money for cancer research.
We will be attempting to beat our Canadian record time of 6 hours, 51 minutes, and 15 seconds, so hope to finish some time between 4 and 5 p.m.
If you are in the neighbourhood, please do drop by and wave, say “Hey y’all”, but don’t expect us to stop what we’re doing to chat with you until the sweater is done!
Please if you go! Tell her I said hello (don’t expect her to answer..) and cheer the Spiders on for me! (great name for the team BTW)
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