All Threads

We are going to have a Back to Back Challenge in Middelburg on the 11th of September 2010.

I am copying the story which I found on the following website: http://kurrajonghandspuncrafts.weebly.com/back-to-back-wool-challenge.html Browse around on their site – they are very busy!

THE “BACK TO BACK” STORY

http://kurrajonghandspuncrafts.weebly.com/back-to-back-wool-challenge.html
  (Officially known as “International Back to Back Wool Challenge”)

  In 1811 at Newbury in Berkshire, England, a one thousand pounds wager was made to make a coat from a sheep’s back to a man’s back in one day.  Watched by 5,000 people, the coat was completed in 13 hours.  The sheep was then eaten with much quaffing of beer to celebrate!

  In Scotland, the story began again in 1992 with a keen young spinner who had developed thyroid cancer.  His desire to raise funds for Cancer Research sparked the Back to Back Wool Challenge.   The event created enormous interest in the UK because of the way it cleverly promoted wool and raised funds for Cancer Research.

  Australia first participated in 1994.  An International set of rules and a sweater pattern were developed – a team of 8, consists of a blade shearer, 7 spinners/knitters and a sheep.  The Challenge is to hand shear the sheep, spin the wool and knit the sweater in under 8 hours.

  At the Turpentine Tree, Kurrajong Heights, Kurrajong Handspun Crafts Inc group participated in 2010 for the 7th time.  In 2009, the team came 3rd in the world, in 7 hours 6 mins.  The world record was set in 2004 by Pembroke Merriwa Jumbucks (in NSW) – with the time 4 hours 51 mins. It is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.  The Turpentine Tree also raised the most money for Cancer Research in 2007, 2008 and 2009. 2010 has cause for celebration with the goal reached last year being far surpassed! Results are still pending.

  For 4 years, the worldwide winners have been overseas – Japan won for 2005 & 2006, and Canada in 2007 & 2008.   In 2009, the trophy returned to Australia with the Spinning Knitwits from Newcastle recording the fastest time.  2009 also saw a new team participating in Stroud, UK, and they shore a sheep from the organic farm of HRH the Prince of Wales.