Perhaps my favorite event in the spinning community is the Tour de Fleece. In case you’re thinking, “What on Earth is the Tour de Fleece?” or, “Don’t you mean the Tour de France, Sarah?!” it’s a spin-along that runs during the Tour de France. The riders spin and spinners spin. Goals are pretty personal — some people take it very seriously, some are more lackadaisical in their participation — but it’s an awesome time. The idea of the event, as stated in the Ravelry group, is:
“Challenge Yourself. Spin. Have fun.”
I can do that!
I do hold a special place in my heart for this event because it came into my life at a moment when I really needed it. I’d just left my job teaching and whether I knew it or not I needed to immerse myself in something new. I had owned my spinning wheel for over a year, but hadn’t really dug in to the craft. When I saw a post from a dyer I liked saying she was hosting a group, on a whim I joined. I didn’t even really knowing what it was or how it worked, but I was going to spin everyday for a month and that was that.
That year I spun like the wind and loved every minute of it. I learned so much, gained such comfort at my wheel, and met so many inspiring spinners. I’m still no expert and I’m learning a lot pretty much every time I sit down at my wheel, but I’m positive that I wouldn’t be half the spinner I am today without that first Tour de Fleece. Last year I joined two teams — its pretty common to participate on more than one team — and although I wasn’t around for the whole Tour, I had a great time and spun some wonderful yarns. I took a much more relaxed pace and yet still picked up a few tips that I use to this day and had a really fun time.
This year I actually looked ahead at dates and vacation plans and was ecstatic to see that I would be able to spin the entire Tour de Fleece. It runs July 4th through July 26th and I’ve been planning to take part for months. I’ve created a little stockpile of fiber and mentally made plans for what will be spun first, how I’ll spin it, etc. Then this week I found out that at least one of the two teams I’ve come to know and love definitely isnt’ happening this year and the second I haven’t heard a peep about yet. So a week before the start of my fave event and I am team-less. The horror!
Admittedly, I’m disappointed and really kind of sad. I totally, completely, 100% respect and understand why my past hosts are passing this year — it’s a lot of work to moderate and check in with a team pretty much every day for a month. There are usually added expenses as prizes are often offered as incentives. It’s an investment on multiple levels. Personally, though, I’ll miss the spinners involved and their inspiring work. It meant a lot to me to have see the progress of others, interact with them, and share ideas.
I spent some time looking through the teams on Ravelry, but I was a little overwhelmed by the size of some of the teams and didn’t really see one where I fit. Mr Knitting Sarah very sweetly offered to be on a team with me, even offering to try to spin, but I’ve seen the look his face when trying to knit and I just can’t put him through any more handcraft experiments. Handcrafts are really just not in my mister’s wheelhouse.
A little dismayed, I spent last night working on the giant bucket of hot pink merino/silk I’ve been spinning on for my daughter…
The fiber is really beautiful and lovely, but I’m struggling a bit with the insane pinkness of it all. My goal, however, is to finish and hopefully ply this and another singles yarn I have waiting before the start the Tour. It’s this goal that has kept me from stalling out on this project, so I’m glad to have a finite finish date that I’m working toward with it.
I also took a few minutes to pull out some fiber for the Tour…
A little from Northbound Knitting, a braid or two from Dyeabolical, some Cloudlover, some Spun Right Round, and a mohair blend that a friend picked up for me at a fiber show and I’m just long overdue in spinning it. I’m planning to really kind of wing it with what I spin, letting my mood dictate the fiber I choose so this is all subject to change. I just like having options close at hand. Plus, they are all beautiful and lifted my spirits about the whole event.
With my pretty pretty fiber close at hand, I’m getting my chin up. Even if I end up spinning the Tour alone this year, I’m determined to make the most of it. After all, I’ve been looking forward to this event for quite a while! If there are any other misfits out there in search of a team, I’d be happy to host in the Friends of Knitting Sarah Ravelry group. I most likely won’t have any prizes available because of the short notice, but I’d be happy to provide the space for camaraderie — all skill levels, fibers, wheels, spindles, ambitions would be welcome. Or, you can just follow along here on the blog as I’ll surely be posting my spinning adventures with my daily ‘Today on my wheel…’ installments as well as more involved blog posts throughout the month. Where ever the 2015 Tour de Fleece takes me, I’m committed to the message of the event: To take a month to challenge myself, spin, and have fun making yarn.
I finished in a couple hours and I’m happy to say that so far it was the easiest time I’ve had spinning a single
With a braid of Malabrigo Nube in the Archangel colorway. Totally inspired by Lolly of the lollyknits blog, I am attempting to do a lightweight single. I’ve never done a single lighter than worsted weight, so this is a bit of a leap of faith for me. I figure if it doesn’t work out, I can probably always ply it.
I’ll be taking this lavender & rosemary Love + Leche bar through its paces. I’ll report back with my thought in a week or so.
