Over the past month, I have been helping as captain & riding along with Team Spindlers 2015 in the Tour de Fleece. It’s been amazing & a big honour – I started with this team as a rookie in 2010!
We are 165 members strong. The spinning projects are a fabulous mix from returning spindle spinners, and those who are new to the craft.
My main focus is keeping the ‘fleece’ in Tour de Fleece! This California Variegated Mutant wool (link takes you to my last update post) was being hand-carded & spun on 4 low-whorl drop spindles when it started to go on breaks for long stretches.
This was the status at the start of the Tour: 4 plying balls of 4-singles each, and more on the spindles themselves. The front spindles are Andean turned pushkas from the CTTC, and the others are Andinas by R. Leach.
Plan of Action
For most stages of this Tour, I have carded 2 (or 3) rolags per spindle, and then rotated through until each is all spun-up.
Never one to obey rules that he can’t completely understand, Melvin has found his way into some of my update posts. This incursion happened for Stage 6 after I left the room to get a glass of water. He’s quick.
Focus has paid-off, and I have broken into other spinning projects when much too tired to lift the hand-cards.
Stage 4, Tour de Fleece 2015
A 5th plying ball at Stage 6!
Egyptian Cotton for Stage 9 in-couch spinning
As at Stage 10
Stage 11 with yak/merino/silk blend on Tabachek mini spindle
Less fleece at Stage 13!
Stage 15 and forward
Sharing has also been with spinners in the Guild, and another unofficial wildcard, the Canadian Yarn & Fibre Market group on Ravelry.
It’s been a wild Tour, and I am looking forward to the last half of this week into Paris. For all who love spinning while they spin as much as I do, a big, “Allez!” from me to you for after our gap day!
